Transformational Lighting Design Project
Project Partners
- Reed Burkett Lighting Design
- Photos by Sam Fentress
Lighting Design Upgrade » Reed Burkett Lighting Design
Starting Point
Previously, 83,000 square feet of stunning mosaic artwork throughout the walls and ceiling of the Cathedral Basilica was muted in darkness. The functional light levels were so low that parishioners struggled to read hymnals.
Impact
In some areas, light was elevated by nearly 300% for an enhanced day-to-day experience and allowing formerly invisible details of the mosaics and other artwork to be enjoyed for the first time.
Discussions between RBLD and Monsignor Breier to improve lighting go back nearly four years. Lighting in the Cathedral had never been optimal, yet over time it got worse as many fixtures were replaced with those of lesser quality. A ban on the sale of incandescent bulbs this past summer made it increasingly difficult to replace burnt-out bulbs. With many more bulbs reaching the end of their lifecycle and the attractive benefits of LED technology, the project was approved.
Through technical surveys, including observations of various events at the Cathedral during different times of day, the team studied the colors and reflectances, came to understand the angles from which each piece would be frequently viewed by parishioners and determined the optimal angles to introduce light.
>> RBLD used only LED light sources to provide the desired control, achieve the best color within the space and maximize optical precision so the light would only illuminate where needed.
>> An artistic approach was used to highlight the marble statues in a way that draws visitors’ eyes to elements that tell the story of the Cathedral and the Catholic Church.
>> A dimming control system allows fine-tuning for each art piece and precise adjustments of ambient lighting levels. More than a dozen lighting “scenes” have been programmed to best serve the variety of interior cathedral activities.
>> Illuminating great expanses of glass tile art —30 to 40 million pieces in total —was one of the primary challenges. Many tiles are polished, while others are matte — each responding differently to light. Often, sources of light were introduced from several positions to best manage reflections and amplify the visual impact.
>> A lightbox assembly mounted at the apex of the nave’s center dome is the design’s most significant light source. Electricians had to be elevated 150 feet and into an 8-foot diameter hole in the ceiling to replace 35 large LED fixtures with 108, 500-watt incandescent sources.
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