Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Lighting Design/Product Company HLB Lighting Design
Lead Designers Brandon Thrasher
Other Designer's names Elizabeth Johnson, Tonya Diller-Robertson, Faith Jewell, Prianka Giridharadas, Luis Carrasquillo-Ali
Architecture Company Studio Gang, TEF Design
Client University of California, Santa Cruz
Photo Credits Jason O'Rear
Completion Date 10/28/2023
Project Location Santa Cruz, California, United States
Entry DescriptionNestled within a serene redwood forest, this university campus renewal reimagines exterior lighting for a historic campus, supporting its expansion while preserving its timeless charm. The original 1970s architecture, defined by its rustic ambiance, is complemented by new residential and academic buildings that doubled the campus’s capacity. The design required a lighting approach that harmonizes with the environment, ensuring safe navigation, minimizing glare, and maintaining the forest’s natural darkness.
Custom solutions honor the vintage aesthetic of the original campus lighting. Historic pole-mounted fixtures and sconces were upgraded with energy-efficient LEDs, carefully recessed to reduce glare and hotspots. Recessed step lights, integrated railing luminaires, and canopy lighting discreetly illuminate critical paths, achieving an even distribution that prioritizes safety without over-lighting. By strategically focusing on pathways and minimizing light spill, the lighting preserves the forest's tranquil atmosphere.
At night, softly illuminated ceilings cast a gentle glow through glass facades, transforming interior spaces into glowing lanterns that enhance the campus’s visual warmth and support natural wayfinding. This harmonious interplay of light and shadow elevates functionality and aesthetics, seamlessly uniting architecture, nature, and user experience.
Sustainability ApproachSustainability was paramount throughout the design process. Full cut-off fixtures control light pollution, while photocells and occupancy sensors optimize energy use. These controls ensure lights operate only as needed, maintaining uniform illumination along walkways and dimming in unoccupied areas. The design meets and exceeds California Title 24 energy standards, setting a benchmark for environmental stewardship.
By focusing light where needed and minimizing light trespass, the project ensures an environmentally responsible approach that respects the surrounding ecosystem. Thoughtful illumination enhances accessibility and wayfinding, empowering a growing academic community to thrive within a setting that harmonizes built and natural environments.
