Product category:
Lighting Services
News Release from: Siteco Lighting Systems | Subject: Mirrortec
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 May 2005
Siteco lighting system educates
architects
Lighting technology that is embraced in Europe but has still to switch on UK architects generally has been used to award-winning effect at Britain's national school of public health.
Lighting technology that is embraced in Europe but has still to switch on UK architects generally has been used to award-winning effect at Britain's national school of public health Siteco's secondary lighting system Mirrortec was specified by Devereux Architects for a free-standing office extension in a former loading yard at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, part of the University of London, after they saw it in operation at North Hertfordshire College
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 4 May 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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They were anxious to minimise gloom in the internal environment and maximise natural light as well as to lift the light levels of the Grade II listed buildings on three sides of the courtyard to create a brighter ambience all round.
The Mirrortec system recommended by lighting engineers Hoare Lea serves both purposes by using light projectors fixed, for easy maintenance, to the edge of the top cast floor of offices that are open to the glass-roofed atrium.
These project onto mirrored reflectors hung from the roof structure that reflect the light naturally around the atrium space as far down as the original courtyard floor, giving glare-free illumination.
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The use of three 168mm-diameter SiCompact projectors for each 1200mmx1200mm Mirrortec 100 reflector and two switching circuits enables the system to be "dimmed" by using three, six or nine projectors depending on the level of natural light available.
For instance, nine projectors would be used at night, perhaps three at midday.
The "North Courtyard" won a commendation in the small project category at the Quality in Construction awards 2005 and was opened by Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the school has strong links, particularly regarding AIDS, with South African universities, hospitals and research institutes.
The GBP 5million seven-storey free-standing extension is linked by pedestrian bridges to the existing building and has enabled the school to reclaim external space for more than 2,000m2 of much-needed office space as well as create a new, top-lit atria.
The existing facade of the Art Deco building was also renovated, with the brickwork cleaned and surface-mounted services rationalised, to improve the outlook for more than 100 staff and students in the new open and cellular offices and meeting and seminar rooms.
There were many challenges for the contractors - access, noise pollution and working in a confined environment with minimal impact on staff and students.
Installing the lighting, even seven floors up, was relatively easy.
Getting a system specified that was relatively unknown in the UK was harder.
But Dominic Meyrick, lighting principal at Hoare Lea, said: "We recommended Siteco's Mirrortec system because it is low maintenance and gives the wow factor that was an issue from the client's point of view".
""Luckily we had a client who was willing to explore new technologies, because although Siteco and the European market is well advanced with secondary lighting systems, the UK is still a bit stuck in the mud.
"There were discussions about whether the Mirrortec system was appropriate but after they went to see the high atria at North Herts College it was a done deal".
"Our very proactive client who wanted something a bit different had certainly found it.".
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