Design of Innovative Lighting Systems for a Control Centre

In 2013, a competition was announced to design a Control Center for a major electricity distributor in Germany. The Architects that won the competition chose our lighting design office to design lighting systems that follow the strict regulated norms and adheres to the users’ needs. The aim was to develop a conducive natural lighting situation at all times, working predominantly with natural light regardless of the time of year.

Studies have shown that the human body needs a sufficient amount of daylight to maintain a healthy, balanced and productive functioning in a long term. Hence, our thought process was converged to optimize and use the available daylight effectively. In compliance with the available daylight, an artificial lighting design solution was developed to subordinate in terms of effect and intensity.

As the control room is manned round the clock, the employees work in shifts. To ensure well-being and productivity, a lighting concept that supports the circadian rhythm was essential. A daylight threshold of 1,000 lux was set, ensuring this level for one to two hours a day from November to March. Together with the architects, three completely different daylight solutions were then developed and, after extensive calculation and analysis, tested under the artificial sky using a perception model. The architectural positioning of the control rooms allowed to equip them with the skylight solution that let a large amount of daylight inside.

The optimized skylight systems maneuver the daylight inside even when the sun is at a low angle. The cylindrical skylights, with diffused internal surfaces, were fitted with electrochromic glass and screens on the roof to regulate the daylight entering the space while eliminating glare. To maintain ideal lighting during the night, shielded tunable-white downlights were installed, providing adaptable lighting that shifts with the time of day. As daylight fades, warm white light gently illuminates the inner surfaces of the skylight tubes and ceiling edges, creating a soft, supportive environment. This user-centered design enhances the health and productivity of employees by providing ideal lighting conditions throughout day and night.