Things to Consider for Lighting Design in Meeting Spaces
Offices are shedding away their stereotypical image of mundane and boring spaces. They are transforming into inspiring working areas where ideas bloom and important business decisions are made. An office has several spaces that cater to diverse needs. From employee cubicles to alleys, floor and conference rooms, all spaces have their unique applications.
Meeting and conference rooms inside an office require particular attention since they are the spaces where a plethora of important activities take place. From chairs to lights, everything should bear a synergy with each to get the maximum out of these spaces. Since lighting is an important aspect of the design, it should never be overlooked.
Gone are the days of conventional lighting systems, today LED lights are the preferred lighting solutions for illuminating office spaces. LED lights can help an organisation in maximising the productivity inside their office.
Here are things to consider for lighting design in meeting spaces
Lighting design for meeting or conference rooms is a complicated process and involves various factors like types of fixtures, intensity, colour temperature and so on.
1. Light Fixtures and Technology – Setup
LED lights are the lighting choice for office spaces as they are better in all aspects when compared to the conventional lighting solutions. They are energy efficient, maintenance-free, environmentally friendly and lasts for up to 50,000 hours. LED lights come in various fixtures such as recessed lighting and pendant lighting which are ideal for office use. When designing meeting rooms, it is essential to consider the fixtures that are in harmony with the rest of the elements in the room. For instance, if the table is round or elliptical in shape, choosing a fixture that is aligned with the shape will enhance the look of the meeting room. Be sure to consider the angle at which light fixtures are installed as it can make a substantial difference to the look and feel of the place.
2. Flexibility – Automation and Control
Meeting rooms inside an office are used for various purposes including conferences, presentations, client calls and more. The lighting solution must be able to accommodate these use cases well. Using LED lights help serve this purpose well, as they can be connected and controlled by various automation devices over a network. Certain smart lighting controls like occupancy sensors can be installed with LED lights to detect the absence and presence of people. It can turn the lights off and on respectively, enabling automation and saving energy.
3. Color Temperature – Productivity
When planning to consider lighting design in meeting spaces, it is essential to take the colour temperature in the account. The colour scheme is an important consideration as colour plays a vital role in defining the space. Color temperature is measured in Kelvins (K). As a measure, a colour temperature that lies in the range of 2000K to 3500K has a warmish tone to it, while 4000K is said to be neutral white. For office space, the preferred colour temperature is from 4000K to 6000K as it is favored for more active environments. Also, choosing the colour temperature depends on the geographical location of the office. Basis how the weather is outside, the colour of light fixtures can trick the brain into thinking if it is hot or cold outside. It can increase productivity and improve concentration.
4. Maintenance
Even though LED lights are maintenance free, they would require maintenance once in their lifetime. It is essential to consider how effectively the process can be carried out by service professionals. Keeping renovation in the account, make sure it is well-thought off to avoid it being a costly affair.
5. Lux Levels
The amount of light that is cast on a surface is called illuminance and is measured in lux (lx). Basically, lux levels tell how light intensity is distributed in an area. As a thumb rule, a single lux is equal to one lumen per square meter. For example, if a 100 lumen LED light illuminates 1 square meter of area, that area will be lit at 100 lx. Lux levels are of high importance in offices and tell how well a space is illuminated. Typically, offices maintain a lux level between 400-500 lx.
6. Uniformity
Lighting workspaces especially meeting rooms uniformly is critical as uneven illumination can be frustrating. In cases where lighting is uneven, it forces the eyes to make involuntary adjustments to stay in focus. With uniform light, a space looks even, and distractions are minimized. LED lights are known to provide uniform illumination and are flicker-free. The uniformity of an LED light fixture also depends on its reflector.
7. Glare
Glare refers to difficulty in seeing in the presence of bright light. It is the discomforting visual sensation felt when a light source is considerably brighter than its surroundings. Glare can be both direct and indirect. When considering lighting for meeting spaces, it is important to take glare into account and position lights in a way that the glare is minimum. Furthermore, using LED lights to design meeting spaces is advisable as these luminaires have minimum glare, especially when compared to conventional lighting solutions.
Lighting is of paramount importance and plays a vital role in defining the space around us. The working environment is undergoing a paradigm shift, especially in the corporate sector and lighting is becoming the torch-bearer in this transformation. Today, the need for a cohesive working space is necessary not only improve the productivity of employees but also to create an inviting and sophisticated space that has a mark of its own.
