The Impact of Improper Lighting

Through the research and study of interior lighting and its effects on mental cognition and performance, researchers have found that a lack of access to daylight along with poor lighting conditions are inhibitors of long-term memory, concentration, and motivation (Cajochen, 2000). Poor lighting standards are  specifications which fail to meet the accepted illuminance levels recommended by the Illuminating Engineers Society and the American National Standards Institute.

Studies surrounding the lack of access to daylight have concluded there is significant evidence to support a direct correlation between lack of daylight access and lowered cortisol levels as well as poor levels of melatonin suppression during the day (Leproult, 2001). This leads to building occupants who end their days more tired and with a higher amount of stress hormones compared to those with proper lighting.

The lighting research community holds a well-documented track record of the importance of light and its role in the built environment. It is essential. In stark contrast to their Industrial Revolution-era counterparts, modern buildings prioritize daylight availability while allowing lighting systems to mimic daylight as much as possible while staying within the project’s budget. Lighting designers also continue to explore the human psyche’s relationship with light and how we can adjust color and intensity to aid building occupants with day-to-day tasks. (Jamrozik, 2019)

In education, for example, fluorescent lamps typically create a harsh overexposure of light intensity and, due to the physics of the lamp, generate a flicker rate that can be detrimental to learning and performance (Morrow, 2018).

When working on a project with a tighter budget, finding a balance to provide adequate energy conservation, longevity of use, and effective illuminance levels remains a high priority for architects and designers. Alvine Engineering’s lighting design team has found that tunable white lighting offers an exceptional solution for offices looking to capture benefits linked with color-correlated temperature (CCT) lighting while also balancing energy consciousness and maintainability. Certain CCT tones and light intensities have been proven to affect cognitive performance positively (Wei, 2014). Providing adequate CCT functionality for office spaces can assist employees as they mimic daylight’s differing light color and intensity throughout the day (Van der Zande, 2018). Additionally, providing differing lighting temperatures throughout the day provides office workers with ample opportunity to use different lighting for different tasks. One study found that warm white lighting can assist adults with project collaboration, while cooler lights are more optimal for reading cognition, attentiveness, and focus (Baron et al., 1992).

“Our shades automatically adjust to the amount of light and angle of the sun to ensure that occupants receive ample amounts of daylight without distracting glare or lighting overexposure,” she explained. “While the research on lighting’s effects on cognition isn’t completely conclusive, a combination of different elements and design allows us to provide the most comfort for building occupants as they go about their work.”

The Alvine Engineering corporate headquarters offers a dynamic and multi-faceted solution that provides optimal light levels while also offering spaces that cater to personal preferences. The award-winning design touts tunable white fixtures in open office areas that are paired with a sophisticated controls system. The system adjusts the CCT based on the time of day and outdoor weather in an effort to blend the indoor light cohesively with the incoming daylight. The code programming the color adjustments for the lighting system was written by the Alvine Engineering lighting design team. The open-office pendants are organized into rectilinear shapes, and provide ample illuminance while minimizing glare.

Conference and shared personal work areas can be catered to different light intensity settings and shade control using a control system. Pre-set options are integrated into every conference room’s light switch. Each conference room touts a unique lighting design with custom pendants.

The design utilized RGBW color-changing luminaires in select areas with simple controls that cater to the comfort and ability of users while minimizing glare. Many students are limited to different assistive devices, which often results in their heads being positioned toward the ceiling for large portions of the day. This made it vital to integrate multiple points of visual stimuli within the ceiling’s design, while being cautious of potential glare issues, to ensure a comfortable and enriching environment.

The architect and the Alvine Engineering design team collaborated to select luminaires that meshed with architectural wall treatments. LED illuminators with twinkle wheels were used to integrate end-emitting fiber optics with patterned architectural ceiling tiles that create a playful ceiling effect. In the entryway, students are welcomed by an audiovisual experience via a controls system that continuously monitors the levels and frequency of an audio track. Lighting levels and colors are adjusted in real-time to mimic the pace and rhythm of the audio track.

Changing a Tune in the Office

Tunable white lighting solutions have been instrumental in implementing human-centric lighting systems in a wide variety of structures spanning multiple building designs. An ever-growing understanding of human biological response in relation to electric lighting has revealed non-visual reactions which affect circadian phase shifting, alertness, melatonin suppression, etc. While the current research is indicative that there’s no true replacement for sunlight (Esposito, 2022), there are a handful of studies indicating that tunable white lighting which thoughtfully complements daylight access has been associated with improved work performance and overall feelings of satisfaction in both the office and classroom (Grangaard, 1995; Jamrozik, 2019; Van der zande, 2018).

Full-color-tunable systems are more complex in nature and are less energy efficient compared to tunable white systems. The Alvine Engineering team has found that, when confined to special areas, full-color systems add their unique benefits to a structure without compromising a project’s budget (read more about our full-color-tuning solutions below). In order for tunable white systems to be successful, the full breadth of the building’s design has to be taken into consideration so that building occupants can experience the desired effects found within these research studies (Collier, 2023; Tanner, 2008).

To suggest that human-centric lighting is the only factor impacting mood and cognition in the workplace would be one-dimensional. According to lighting designer Michelle Eble-Hankins, Ph.D., P.E., LC, proper lighting design for office tasks converge daylight access, glare mitigation, and effective color-correlated temperature scheduling. Proper illuminance/luminance values and a myriad of other considerations are important to consider as well.

Human-Centric Lighting in the Classroom

The Post-industrial movement in education architecture has involved a number of overarching motifs including multi-functional spaces built to suit growing learners with different needs. In some schools, human-centric lighting has played an integral factor in catering to these learners and those requiring special accommodations.

The Omaha Public Schools’ Dr. J.P. Lord School (JP Lord) serves handicapped students with hearing, vision, speech, and motor impairments. Support staff, teachers, and medical professionals are aided by the harmonization of the space’s architectural design and its unique lighting applications which earned recognition from the Illuminating Engineers Society.

The Alvine Engineering design team was pitted with the task of selecting luminaires that would complement the architectural design and also provide a visually stimulating environment for the students.

The effective use of dynamic lighting can be integral for communicating transitions to different activities throughout the day. For nonverbal learners and those with limited verbal skills, these visual cues are a vital indicator of signaling changes in their routines (Sleegers, 2013; Mott, 2012). Mary Wurst, P.E., an Alvine Engineering Project Manager specializing in the education sector, concurs the added level of communication that dynamic lighting brings to the “educational table” provides significant value for neurodivergent and neurotypical learners.

“Teachers love having that flexibility,” Mary explained, “Education has really transitioned to better cater to the users of the space, and dynamic lighting has been instrumental in communicating changes in activities and routines for teachers and students.”

Mary is currently developing an approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative feedback from teachers using these systems across Alvine Engineering projects. According to Mary, teachers are a direct link to insights within the classroom and their feedback can prove vital to finding breakthroughs in mood, cognition, and overall performance within the classroom.