5 minute read
HLB Revitalizes Mid-Century Marvel
Lighting Design Transforms Museum with Seamless Architectural Integration
By Randy Reid
Nestled in the small town of Duxbury, just outside of Boston, the privately-owned Art Complex Museum recently underwent a transformative lighting renovation led by HLB Lighting Design in collaboration with Oudens Ello Architecture. Spearheaded by Carrie Hawley, CEO of HLB Lighting Design, and Amy Huan, Senior Associate at HLB, the project blended architectural heritage with innovative lighting solutions. Originally constructed in 1969, this mid-century modern gem was revitalized for its 50th anniversary.
Architectural Enhancements and Lighting Strategy
The museum’s renovation included subtle architectural upgrades, such as expanding the entrance, visitor services lobby, gallery, and administrative office spaces. Key architectural features, including the undulating timber roof and iconic barrel-ribbon roofline, guided the strategic placement of lighting fixtures. The design team aimed to respect the building’s original character while introducing a fresh lighting approach that minimizes energy consumption and improves visual comfort.
A pioneering uplight-only strategy emerged as a key solution. Exterior inground lighting created a captivating floating canopy effect, while strategically placed uplights highlighted the building’s distinctive features, including the transparent entrance canopy and exquisite wood ceiling. The vertical wood louver system added solar shading and a sense of warmth, particularly in the evening.
Hawley explained, “The building had this interesting structure during the day, but it kind of went dark at night. The family owners wanted to infuse some new life into it.”
The design features a sleek, minimal canopy that enhances the open, welcoming feel. “They wanted the canopy to be structurally super thin, like razor-thin, and just float,” Carrie noted, emphasizing the delicate profile and transparency that were key to the building’s transformation.
Collaboration and Integration
The building’s transformation was a testament to collaboration between HLB Lighting Design and Oudens Ello Architecture. Hawley praised the architecture firm’s approach, saying, “They’re incredible collaborators. We got into great discussions about how lighting influences architecture and how architecture influences lighting.”
Inside, the design featured track lighting integrated into the wood beams, creating a soft, layered glow throughout the space. “We tried to keep all the lighting as discreet as possible,” Hawley explained, ensuring that the fixtures complemented the architecture without drawing attention to themselves. The combination of uplighting and track lighting transformed previously dim areas, including office spaces and displays, into vibrant, functional environments.
“We integrated lighting into the displays and even into the wood wall behind the reception desk to make it stand out,” said Hawley. “This project was all about integration, designed so that you don’t notice the fixtures themselves but instead experience the quality of light they provide.”
Huan reflected on the color of the project, adding, “One of the most important aspects of this project was maintaining consistency between the natural and artificial lighting. We chose 3000K with a 90+ CRI to ensure that the colors remain vibrant and true under any conditions.”
Technical Precision and Aesthetic Enhancement
The exterior lighting was equally well-considered. Uplights bathed the structure in a soft glow, accentuating the metal’s matte finish. “As much as something is matte, it’s not really matte when it’s metal. It picks up on the cues of the light,” Hawley remarked. Portal lights were installed around the doors, adding another layer of illumination and enhancing the space’s visual appeal and functional lighting.
A key design feature was the addition of a third lighting layer inside the building, creating depth and a radiant glow from the exterior. “There’s an enormous uplight running all the way along here, and that’s what’s providing that lantern effect,” Hawley noted, highlighting how the lighting system enriched the experience inside and outside the building.
Control Intent and Zoning Design
For this project, the HLB team was responsible for designing the control intent—a concept unfamiliar to many. Hawley explained that it defines how lighting controls are planned and implemented. In roughly half of their projects, HLB designs the control systems, while the engineer takes over in the other half. “Some clients want us to handle everything, while others are comfortable with the engineer managing the controls,” she said.
During the schematic design phase, the team provided a high-level overview of the control intent, outlining their vision for how the lighting controls should function. As the project progressed, they issued detailed control intent narratives and zoning diagrams. “We break the space into zones and designate how the lighting should be controlled and dimmed,” Hawley explained. The engineer then specifies a control system that complies with this design vision.
The museum’s lighting scheme reinforced the architectural ambiance by accentuating pivotal elements like the transparent entrance canopy, iconic barrel-ribbon roofline, and exquisite wood ceiling. The exterior in-ground lighting crafted a captivating floating canopy effect, while discreetly integrated fixtures spotlighted the building’s distinctive features. Thoughtful control mechanisms ensured adaptability and efficiency in regulating light levels across the space.
Reflecting on the project, Hawley credited Oudens Ello Architecture, noting “They’re a fantastic team to work with—very collaborative and open to creative ideas. They have a great design sense and know how to execute things simply and beautifully. Their attention to detail is impressive, and when we collaborate, the projects often feel effortless. That’s something I always strive for—an effortless, seamless design.”
FIXTURE SCHEDULE
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