Lighting in Design Q2 2021

Lights used as a ‘celebration’ in new green building The new Algoa FM building in Baakens Valley, Port Elizabeth, boasts a funky interior – a reflection of the radio station’s motto: ‘Fun is serious business’. Province Lighting played an integral part in creating the desired atmosphere by providing dramatic decorative lighting.

N elson Mandela Bay’s newest green building has saved an estimated 40 000 kg of CO 2 emissions in the past 12 months, according to Algoa FM managing director Alfie Jay. This sav- ing in fossil fuel emissions is thanks to the iconic Algoa FM headquarters in the Baakens Valley being designed with sustainability in mind, by incorporat- ing solar panels to minimise power use. Technology being used to reduce power consumption in the building includes the fitting of LED lights through- out, which are controlled by 40 motion sensors in low-traffic areas. The interior of Algoa FM’s new, green building was designed to be ‘edgy, fun and vibey’ with a ‘sound’ theme. The decorative lighting needed to complement the theme, but also play a functional role enhancing and filling gaps left by natural light and standard light fittings. The building, with large windows across its façade, is visible to everyone driving into the Baakens Valley – a factor which was taken into consideration when deciding its finishes. Province Lighting only got involved in the project after its PE branch opened and by then the Algoa FM building was midway through construction. When architect Johann Staats saw the lights in Province’s catalogue – lights that weren’t yet available in South Africa, he said: “Those lights are coming into this building!” Algoa FM’s tech- nical manager, Chris Wright agreed: “When we saw what Province Lighting had to offer, it sent us in a different direction for the finishes inside the building.” The solution Before providing the lights, Province did light metering to ensure it would provide LEDs at the correct wattage and level of lighting. The lights were designed, manufactured and assembled by Province, and all the electrician needed to do was suspend and plug them in. Each light has an alu- minium extrusion or profile which is custom-made to the required shape and size of the fitting. The LED lights are placed inside these profiles. Enough aluminium needs to be used for each profile to act

as a heat sink, to dissipate the heat generated by the LEDs and LED drivers. Centaurus : The oval suspended Centaurus light was used in Algoa FM’s boardroom. The aluminium profile was made according to the boardroom’s size and was fitted with an up-down luminaire (light fitting). This meant that one row of LEDs was placed inside the profile facing upwards, to light the boardroom ceiling, while a second rowwas placed facing downwards to illuminate the boardroom table. The LED lights used were selected based on the lumen (or light) output required for the room. Polaris: Suspended from the ceiling in the open- plan office area at various levels are circular lights of different sizes. These lights mimic the patterns

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LiD Q2 - 2021