Prize(s) Winners in Bridges and Public infrastructures Lighting / LED Exterior Lighting Design
Lighting Design/Product Company Dark Light Design
Lead Designers Jill Cody
Other Designer's names Amber Thimmesch, Shannon Kowski
Architecture Company NBBJ
Interior Design Company NBBJ
Client Washington State Ferries
Photo Credits NBBJ, Dark Light Design
Completion Date October 2023
Project Location Seattle WA USA
Entry DescriptionThe Seattle Ferry Terminal, serving 10 million annually, blends architectural elegance with functional design, enhancing the visitor experience.
Two buildings are connected by an elevated plaza that separates pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The Entry Building activates the street edge and transports visitors to the elevated plaza, where sweeping curves intuitively direct visitors to the Terminal Building, which sits at the water's edge, serving walk-on passengers as a waiting and loading zone.
The lighting design elevates the architecture by seamlessly integrating illumination within the building's facades, accentuating their geometries and materials. Backlit yellow panels clearly define critical wayfinding points and intuitively guide passengers throughout the facility. Lighting integrated into handrails accentuates the sweeping curve of the plaza and provides walkway illumination without obstructing views. Throughout, the application of straightforward lighting tools, carefully integrated with architecture, ensures that every journey through the terminal is an intuitive and visually coherent experience.
All of this was done with a public project budget and adherence to strict agency security requirements. A testament to thoughtful design, it sets a new benchmark in transportation infrastructure, balancing utility with environmental stewardship and user-centered design.
Sustainability ApproachSustainability and respect for the terminal's maritime setting were paramount in the design process, resulting in energy consumption that is 16% below the stringent requirements of local codes, while still maintaining the minimum light levels required by agency standards. Special attention was paid to preventing light trespass into the adjacent marine habitats, safeguarding the natural environment.
Company DescriptionDark Light design was established in 2008 to provide interior and
exterior lighting design services and consulting to owners, public agencies, and the design community.
Our experience with a variety of project types and sizes brings a unique perspective – one that is driven by solving design challenges and enhancing environments through the application of light.
