4 minute read
Magical Lighting in the Music City
Transforming Volunteer State Bank’s Façade
By Randy Reid
The person who's thinking, 'There's got to be a better way'— that's the person I like to work with, because there truly is a better way.
-Danny Streit
The existing 5-story building in Nashville’s West End area was recently sold, and the new owner, Volunteer State Bank, sought to illuminate the building exterior to enhance its aesthetics and improve visibility. Hastings Architects was hired for the project, and DHS Lighting Design, led by Danny Streit, was engaged to design the lighting for the building façade.
ABOUT THE LIGHTING DESIGNER
Based in Nashville, Danny brings 25 years of experience and a diversified background in architectural lighting and control system design. He has a history of providing innovative lighting solutions for various design applications. Danny holds several professional memberships and certifications, including being an associate member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), Lighting Certified (LC) through the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions, member AIA and USGBC, and past president of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The building façade is predominantly glass along the front, with tall narrow pilasters evenly spaced around the building on three sides. The fifth floor protrudes out from the lower floors, with the pilasters following the contour, giving the appearance of cradling the top floor.
Danny and the architect met on-site to discuss possible concepts. They agreed that accenting the pilasters using ground-mounted controlled beam projectors was the best approach. Fixture locations were determined through computer mockups to create the optimal contrast of light and shadow. They utilized a 3D export from the client's Revit model to create a SketchUp replica of the building, allowing the use of lighting software to create visual concepts.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
The first concept (previous page) used ground-mounted 3,600-lumen projector spots with a 7-degree beam positioned to illuminate only the sides of the pilasters, providing a nice light/shadow contrast on the pilasters and in between.
For the second concept (above), the projector spots were relocated to the front of the pilasters. Although this illuminated less of the overall vertical surface, it provided a better contrast of light and shadow, adding a nice accent to the top of the building.
IMPLEMENTATION AND DETAILED EXECUTION
The consensus was for option two. However, the design was updated by adding small seven-degree spots just below the highlighted roofline to illuminate the tops of the pilasters.
GVA Lighting was chosen as the fixture provider due to their precision and quality. The ground-mounted fixtures were 50-watt luminaires with a color temperature of 4,000K, consistent throughout the project. The top-mounted fixtures were 10-watt luminaries, also 4,000K. The seven-degree pencil beam added precision for the building's architectural features.
Mockups played a crucial role in the success of this project. The slight inward tilt of the pilasters required meticulous planning to achieve the desired lighting effect. By conducting mockups, the team could test different settings and make necessary adjustments before finalizing the installation. This process ensured that the final lighting design met both aesthetic and functional goals.
INSTALLATION AND CONTROL
The luminaires were installed on concrete pads, providing a stable base for the fixtures. Each fixture featured a yoke for adjustability, allowing for precise aiming during installation. The fixtures at the top of the building were powered by remote drivers, making them almost invisible against the building’s facade. And the 0-10V dimming control system allows the owner to adjust the lighting levels as needed, adding to the overall functionality of the design.
Despite the complexities of the project, the team did not encounter significant supply chain issues. GVA Lighting’s reliable supply and the support from Southern Lighting Source, the local representative, ensured a smooth process. The primary challenge was achieving the correct lighting angles and integration with the building’s architecture, which was successfully addressed through mockups and commissioning.
The project’s success was evident in the owner’s satisfaction. The lighting design matched the initial renderings closely, and the final result impressed the stakeholders, whose building now beautifully adorns one of Nashville’s busiest streets.
PROJECT TEAM
Client/Owner:
Volunteer State Bank
3200 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN
Architect:
Hastings Architecture
Nashville, TN
Lighting Designer:
DHS Lighting Design
Nashville, TN
Lighting Equipment
GVA Lighting
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
