Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Lighting Design/Product Company SmithGroup
Lead Designers Patrick MacBride
Other Designer's names Matt Alleman
Architecture Company SmithGroup
Interior Design Company SmithGroup
Client City of Sunnyvale, CA
Photo Credits Anthony Lindsey
Completion Date August 2023
Project Location Sunnyvale, CA
Entry DescriptionSunnyvale’s City Hall redefines standards for civic engagement, sets benchmarks for sustainable design, and provides accessible and engaging indoor and outdoor public spaces.
The lighting concept “Internal Glow” sought to transform the building into a lantern. Indirect lighting creates an even building glow. The PV canopy floats on a soft glow of light from concealed downlights. Sweeping limestone benches integrate lighting within milled raceways and handrail lighting at the monumental stair guides visitors to elevated terraces.
The interior sculptural stair is illuminated with continuous lines of light, tracing the striking organic form. Ceiling cove lighting wraps the elevator core to improve wayfinding and to highlight local artwork. At reception, custom backlit panels create a dappled light array within the triangular wood modular ceiling.
Lighting illuminates wood portal entrances to the council chamber. Triangular openings are accented with an unbroken ring of light, housing both functional lighting and AV equipment. A warm glow grounds the dias and a backlit insignia establishes it as the focal point. Adjustable spotlights balance vertical illumination at presenter faces with the background. A wash of cool perimeter light contributes to a sense of shelter and calm. Scene controllers quickly adapt lighting levels to respond to space functions and setting changes.
Sustainability ApproachThe unique open office pendant optics mimic the bird-friendly glazing pattern. A balance of indirect and task illumination creates a bright, glare-free experience. All LED lighting minimizes energy use.
Interior lighting control is accomplished with a combination of occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting, timeclock-control, and wall switches. Wall dimmers and scene controls provide an intuitive, user-friendly interface. The interior lighting system wattage is 17% below Title 24 2019 requirements.
Exterior lighting is designed to eliminate uplight and achieve LEED dark sky compliance with full cut off fixtures and automated controls. Motion sensors integrated into light poles automatically dim general exterior illumination levels during inactive periods. All accent illumination switches off at curfew. The outdoor lighting system wattage is 24% below Title 24 2019 requirements.
