We are pleased to announce that Barton Lighting Studio’s Jennifer Harrington, PE, LC, LEED AP along with WTW Architects, Amy Maceyko, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP and Jacqueline Link, NCIDQ were recently honored with a 2020 Certificate of Merit as well as a 2020 Section Award from the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Philadelphia Section for the lighting design of Penn State University’s West Pattee Library Collaboration Commons and Central Atrium project. Barton Lighting Studio is proud to be recognized for the fourth straight year by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), which recognizes professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design. View the video below or magazine for the full list of winners.
The 47,000 square-foot renovation and expansion to Penn State’s academic library provided students with additional collaboration spaces offering interactive-learning opportunities. The cutting-edge, efficient lighting design provides consistent, even illumination using various schemes to support the students’ collaboration needs. The large nature-inspired chandeliers, lush living walls/planters and serendipitously unique lighting designs found throughout the project add elements of visual-interest around every corner.
Barton Associates is proud to have been part of the design team that successfully collaborated with WTW Architects, Penn State University Libraries, Penn State Office of the Physical Plant, Alexander Construction, Top Ridge Electric, and Laface & McGovern Associates to deliver this project for the University.
To expand and improve current pedestrian traffic-flow, the existing interior courtyard was enclosed to create a welcoming two-story atrium, the ultimate collaboration space for students to ‘see and be seen’ by their peers. The downside was the loss of natural light and exterior views by the adjacent library spaces. To compromise, the library expressed an overwhelming desire to incorporate nature- inspired elements into the design.
In response, five lush Living Walls/Planters were scattered throughout the floorplan. Without natural light, the lighting design required careful attention to exact light intensity, duration, and distance- to- source for each selected plant species. Working together with Horticultural Specialists, white LED Full Spectrum ‘Grow’ Lamps offering ideal performance characteristics, non- purple hue, and ease- of- maintenance were selected for track lighting. The track integrated easily into various mounting locations including baffle ceilings, recessed niches, and structural stair supports.
Large custom chandeliers inspired by the Heracleum (Hercules) plant, stand as the divine hero of the Atrium. With their thin delicate branches and large round leaves, the flora-inspired chandeliers pull the eye upwards emphasizing the grandness of the space without the heaviness this mass would usually invoke.
Custom lighting posed a challenge for the limited project budget. A collaborative solution was introduced through reuse of existing HVAC equipment now capable of handling the expanded building footprint due to 100% dimmable LED lighting implementation.
To learn more about Barton Lighting Studio or this project, please contact Jennifer L. Harrington, PE, LC, LEED AP at jlh@ba-inc.com or (814) 237-2180.