3 minute read
Intelligent Retrofit Brings Brighter Days to Millard North High School
By Parker Allen
Images courtesy of Stones River Electric
When Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska, began Phase 4 of its building-wide modernization, its goals were clear. The school sought to enhance energy efficiency, improve lighting aesthetics, and implement user-friendly control systems. Tasked with delivering this transformation was Superior Lighting, a division of Stones River Electric.
A SYSTEM-WIDE LED AND CONTROLS OVERHAUL
Superior Lighting executed a comprehensive retrofit that included replacing over 1,000 existing light fixtures throughout classrooms, hallways, and the natatorium. The team installed:
607 Lithonia 2x4 LED troffers with integrated nLight controls
289 strip & vapor-tite fixtures upgraded to LED
50 LED can retrofits
The result was a high-performance lighting system that not only looks better but dramatically reduces energy use while maintaining excellent color rendering and lumen-per-watt output.
NLIGHT CONTROLS FOR A SMARTER CAMPUS
The lighting system’s backbone is a fully networked Acuity nLight controls infrastructure. Superior Lighting installed over 600 fixtures with embedded controls, 53 low-voltage power packs, 91 Cat6 switches, and 183 ceiling-mounted occupancy sensors. In each classroom, dual-switch control panels allow users to toggle lighting levels or activate preset scenes like “projector mode.”
All devices are connected via more than 30,000 feet of plenum-rated Cat6e cabling, routed through ceiling bridges and terminating at two new nLight ECLYPSE™ control modules. These integrate with six existing controllers, creating a schoolwide online lighting system that is configurable, monitorable, and future-proof.
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE IN THE NATATORIUM
One of the most technically demanding elements of the project was the natatorium retrofit. Superior Lighting removed 30 outdated 400W metal halide box fixtures and 14 indirect fixtures, replacing them with 280 linear feet of LumenWerx Via 4 Seal direct/ indirect LED fixtures. All fixtures were integrated into the nLight network via six dedicated power packs and dimming lines.
The sloped ceiling presented a unique challenge. Because the ceiling varied in height by more than a foot across its width, mounting stems had to be factory-cut to exact lengths. Precision layout and measurement were critical to ensure a clean, level installation. Additionally, all natatorium lighting circuits were upgraded using PVC-wrapped aluminum conduit to ensure long-term performance in the humid, corrosive environment.
LIGHTING THE WAY FORWARD
This $740,000 project reflects what’s possible when intelligent design meets executional excellence. The benefits are measurable:
Energy Efficiency: Thousands of watts in energy savings through LED and smart controls
Enhanced Visual Comfort: Higher-quality illumination for learning and safety
System Integration: A unified online system provides total visibility and control
Future-Ready Infrastructure: Robust electrical upgrades, especially in demanding environments like the pool
With this project, Superior Lighting has demonstrated how innovative, intelligent solutions can create safer and more inspiring spaces for education, combining the best of energy efficiency with lighting quality.
