NO.177
Bicentennial Hall / Bowie Gridley Architects (BGA)
Project: Bicentennial Hall
Location: Virginia, USA
Client/Owner: Virginia Theological Seminary
Lighting Designer: Stroik Lighting Design
Architect: Bowie Gridley Architects
Interior Designer: RAM Design Studio
Project Size: 1,400 square feet
Project Cost: Withheld
Lighting Cost: $100,000
Watts per Square Foot: 1.3
Code Compliance: 2012 International Energy Conservation Code
Lighting Product Manufacturers: Luminii, Elliptipar, Lighting Services Inc., Ecosense, Martin/Harman, Electrix
Concealed, indirect sources transform a centuries-old campus building into a gathering space with museum-quality lighting
When Bicentennial Hall was built in 1855, it wasn’t meant to be internally illuminated. Over the years, the oldest academic building at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) in Alexandria, VA, has served as a library, dining hall and, most recently, a classroom space. Then, in 2018, three stone panel carvings from the palace of the Assyrian king (circa 850 BCE) changed its course again—and this time, the building’s lighting followed suit.
After re-assessing the value of the carvings, which had been in the Seminary’s library for 150 years, VTS decided to sell one of the three and pour the funds into an adaptive re-use and reno-vation of the 1,400-sq ft building. A centerpiece of the project was the fabrication of a display case for the remaining two panels, and the commissioning of a replica casting of the auctioned panel. Thus, the Bicentennial Hall project team—including Bowie Gridley Architects, RAM Design Studio and Stroik Lighting Design—got to work transforming the historic interior into a flexible space that could accommodate gatherings and meetings, while also exhibiting the Assyrian arti-facts under museum-quality lighting.
The lighting concept required a non-invasive approach from Christopher Stroik, principal of Stroik Lighting Design (Washington D.C.). “The lighting is predicated on serving the architectural, exhi-bition and functional uses of this ‘jewel box,’ paying homage to each distinct element in a fully in-tegrated manner that attempts not to draw any attention away from the visual expressions and experiences of the space,” Stroik explains. “The biggest challenge was developing a strategy to reveal the quality and intimacy of the architectural volume and its ornament, as well as provide display and multipurpose illumination, all while not allowing the lighting hardware to distract, so that the room would be visually accessible.”
To that end, almost all of the luminaires are concealed in architectural profiles and details, includ-ing the indirect sources that simultaneously provide volumetric accent lighting of the vertical sur-faces and ceiling, as well as horizontal task lighting.
For example, linear LED adjustable double strip lights with asymmetric indirect distribution are mounted to a custom bracket behind existing historic wooden railings, as well as within a custom housing that has the same profile as the railing and includes a remote driver for the strips. “We worked with the manufacturer [Elliptipar] to modify their standard fixture that typically integrates the driver,” Stroik explains. “There are two conditions—one where we have mounted the linear adjustable asymmetric fitting to a metal shelf tucked behind the balcony balustrade and the other where we had a metal fabricator replicate the solid wood balustrade into a ‘flying’ metal balus-trade that carries the same adjustable fittings and remote drivers within. This was a really suc-cessful way to offer the same ambient and functional illumination throughout the room rather than suspending a pendant version of this fitting.”
Bicentennial Hall / Bowie Gridley Architects (BGA)
Project: Bicentennial Hall
Location: Virginia, USA
Client/Owner: Virginia Theological Seminary
Lighting Designer: Stroik Lighting Design
Architect: Bowie Gridley Architects
Interior Designer: RAM Design Studio
Project Size: 1,400 square feet
Project Cost: Withheld
Lighting Cost: $100,000
Watts per Square Foot: 1.3
Code Compliance: 2012 International Energy Conservation Code
Lighting Product Manufacturers: Luminii, Elliptipar, Lighting Services Inc., Ecosense, Martin/Harman, Electrix
Concealed, indirect sources transform a centuries-old campus building into a gathering space with museum-quality lighting
When Bicentennial Hall was built in 1855, it wasn’t meant to be internally illuminated. Over the years, the oldest academic building at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) in Alexandria, VA, has served as a library, dining hall and, most recently, a classroom space. Then, in 2018, three stone panel carvings from the palace of the Assyrian king (circa 850 BCE) changed its course again—and this time, the building’s lighting followed suit.
After re-assessing the value of the carvings, which had been in the Seminary’s library for 150 years, VTS decided to sell one of the three and pour the funds into an adaptive re-use and reno-vation of the 1,400-sq ft building. A centerpiece of the project was the fabrication of a display case for the remaining two panels, and the commissioning of a replica casting of the auctioned panel. Thus, the Bicentennial Hall project team—including Bowie Gridley Architects, RAM Design Studio and Stroik Lighting Design—got to work transforming the historic interior into a flexible space that could accommodate gatherings and meetings, while also exhibiting the Assyrian arti-facts under museum-quality lighting.
The lighting concept required a non-invasive approach from Christopher Stroik, principal of Stroik Lighting Design (Washington D.C.). “The lighting is predicated on serving the architectural, exhi-bition and functional uses of this ‘jewel box,’ paying homage to each distinct element in a fully in-tegrated manner that attempts not to draw any attention away from the visual expressions and experiences of the space,” Stroik explains. “The biggest challenge was developing a strategy to reveal the quality and intimacy of the architectural volume and its ornament, as well as provide display and multipurpose illumination, all while not allowing the lighting hardware to distract, so that the room would be visually accessible.”
To that end, almost all of the luminaires are concealed in architectural profiles and details, includ-ing the indirect sources that simultaneously provide volumetric accent lighting of the vertical sur-faces and ceiling, as well as horizontal task lighting.
For example, linear LED adjustable double strip lights with asymmetric indirect distribution are mounted to a custom bracket behind existing historic wooden railings, as well as within a custom housing that has the same profile as the railing and includes a remote driver for the strips. “We worked with the manufacturer [Elliptipar] to modify their standard fixture that typically integrates the driver,” Stroik explains. “There are two conditions—one where we have mounted the linear adjustable asymmetric fitting to a metal shelf tucked behind the balcony balustrade and the other where we had a metal fabricator replicate the solid wood balustrade into a ‘flying’ metal balus-trade that carries the same adjustable fittings and remote drivers within. This was a really suc-cessful way to offer the same ambient and functional illumination throughout the room rather than suspending a pendant version of this fitting.”
Additional indirect sources include linear LED strip lights with custom curved metal angle baffles (Luminii), which wash the walls below the balconies, and linear adjustable luminaires (EcoSense Trov) mounted behind purlin arches, which illuminate bearing walls. Finally, linear narrow optic tape light (Luminii), mounted to each of the purlins with metal valances, further emphasizes the character of the ceiling. “We envisioned the entire room as a luminaire, where the articulated ceil-ing surfaces act as reflectors,” Stroik explains. “The indirect lighting delivers over 20 horizontal footcandles at the work plane, thus providing adequate task and ambient illumination for meet-ings, lectures and workshops.”
The two-sided glass case housing the original stone panel carvings also contains integrated line-ar LED strip lights (Luminii) for fill light at the top of the display volume, as well as a concealed very-narrow grazing strip (Electrix) illuminating the back surface of the panels. In addition, sur-face-mounted adjustable accent luminaires with very-narrow optics graze the replica panel from a high point above the arch wall. Finally, two motorized spotlights (Martin Lighting) offer flexible accent lighting for speakers.
A building-wide dimming control system (Lutron Quantum) interfaced with the A/V controls ena-bles multiple lighting scenarios for various room functions and helps minimize energy use via oc-cupancy sensors. “[It’s a] simple-to-use system that offers flexible lighting for different needs and times of day,” Stroik says. “Preset scenes allow for normal day or evening settings and display, as well as for specific activities—lectures from up to three locations, meetings around a central table, A/V presentations, and dining/lounge events.”
From behind the scenes, the lighting strategy helps transform two separate entities—the reno-vated interior and the artistic expression of the tablets—into one coherent concept. More im-portantly, the lighting enhances the space without intruding on the original, and unlit, design con-cept.
“The most cutting-edge lighting strategy for the project was to almost completely conceal every luminaire used with the exception of the motorized spotlights and the accent lights that illuminate the artifacts and graphic panels,” Stroik says. “The use of the indirect sources to generate ambi-ent, architectural and functional illumination from one source type that is fully concealed from view is our greatest claim to the value of this project—where the engagement with this lovely little period piece is unfettered by imposing lighting hardware and elements that would detract from its integrity of expression as a unique 19th-century academic jewel box.”
The two-sided glass case housing the original stone panel carvings also contains integrated line-ar LED strip lights (Luminii) for fill light at the top of the display volume, as well as a concealed very-narrow grazing strip (Electrix) illuminating the back surface of the panels. In addition, sur-face-mounted adjustable accent luminaires with very-narrow optics graze the replica panel from a high point above the arch wall. Finally, two motorized spotlights (Martin Lighting) offer flexible accent lighting for speakers.
A building-wide dimming control system (Lutron Quantum) interfaced with the A/V controls ena-bles multiple lighting scenarios for various room functions and helps minimize energy use via oc-cupancy sensors. “[It’s a] simple-to-use system that offers flexible lighting for different needs and times of day,” Stroik says. “Preset scenes allow for normal day or evening settings and display, as well as for specific activities—lectures from up to three locations, meetings around a central table, A/V presentations, and dining/lounge events.”
From behind the scenes, the lighting strategy helps transform two separate entities—the reno-vated interior and the artistic expression of the tablets—into one coherent concept. More im-portantly, the lighting enhances the space without intruding on the original, and unlit, design con-cept.
“The most cutting-edge lighting strategy for the project was to almost completely conceal every luminaire used with the exception of the motorized spotlights and the accent lights that illuminate the artifacts and graphic panels,” Stroik says. “The use of the indirect sources to generate ambi-ent, architectural and functional illumination from one source type that is fully concealed from view is our greatest claim to the value of this project—where the engagement with this lovely little period piece is unfettered by imposing lighting hardware and elements that would detract from its integrity of expression as a unique 19th-century academic jewel box.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• Electrical conduits were hidden in channels carved out of the existing plaster walls to vis-ually preserve the historic character of the building.
• Careful planning and coordination of the mechanical and electrical spaces minimized vis-ual impact to the occupied spaces.
• Exhibit thermal sensors were integrated with the central campus BAS to enable monitoring and automated alerts.
SERVICES
This adaptive reuse and renovation project turned a classroom into a flexible meeting room and gallery space. 2RW’s services included MEP design for:
• An energy-efficient HVAC system that ties in to campus utilities and features variable air volume (VAV) controls and demand control ventilation (DCV) strategies
• Micro-environment controls with humidity and temperature sensors within the sealed ex-hibit panels
• Museum-quality exhibit lighting
• Lighting controls integrated into the building automation system
• Audio visual, telecommunications, and security system conduits
RESULTS
The new HVAC systems and lighting meet 21st-century museum standards without compromis-ing the historic fabric of the building.
#USA, #hall, #interior_design, #lighting, #HVAC
@revitalization
• Electrical conduits were hidden in channels carved out of the existing plaster walls to vis-ually preserve the historic character of the building.
• Careful planning and coordination of the mechanical and electrical spaces minimized vis-ual impact to the occupied spaces.
• Exhibit thermal sensors were integrated with the central campus BAS to enable monitoring and automated alerts.
SERVICES
This adaptive reuse and renovation project turned a classroom into a flexible meeting room and gallery space. 2RW’s services included MEP design for:
• An energy-efficient HVAC system that ties in to campus utilities and features variable air volume (VAV) controls and demand control ventilation (DCV) strategies
• Micro-environment controls with humidity and temperature sensors within the sealed ex-hibit panels
• Museum-quality exhibit lighting
• Lighting controls integrated into the building automation system
• Audio visual, telecommunications, and security system conduits
RESULTS
The new HVAC systems and lighting meet 21st-century museum standards without compromis-ing the historic fabric of the building.
#USA, #hall, #interior_design, #lighting, #HVAC
@revitalization