by Stan Schwartz
Many real estate owners want their buildings to stand out, particularly in an urban environment. In the 70s and 80s neon lighting was used extensively for this purpose.
But more recently owners and architectural lighting designers, have sought a more subtle and attractive lighting scheme for building facades. This includes buildings devoted to retail sales, but includes residential and office buildings as well. While there are many ways to achieve these effects, designers have gravitated towards solid state lighting for its well-known virtues: durability, low maintenance and, of course, energy efficiency.
Rosco’s Custom LitePad is increasingly specified by designers whose mandates include getting attention for their buildings. LitePad offers three unique advantages over other LED fixtures. First, its slim profile: at only 1/3” (8 mm) thick, it can easily be integrated into the structure. Second, it can be customized into virtually any size or shape, allowing designers and owners maximum flexibility. But perhaps most important is the quality of the light. Unlike many fixtures, the LEDs around the perimeter of the product are not beamed outward towards the viewer. Rather, the lights are bounced against a reflective surface. The result is a soft, even light that provides a glow, not a blinding flash.
Decorative metal sheets and fabric cannage patterns were used with the slim profile LitePads to provide a unique look to this iconic storefront in midtown Manhattan. More on Dior.
A softly illuminated canopy provides a safe, distinctive entrance portico for this Canadian residential building.
This two-story lighting system, 20 feet high and six feet wide, lit the elevator lobbies inside the office building. The system was visible on the street through the building’s glass façade.
Custom LitePads back-light acrylic triangular texture to produce an eye-catching glow for the Vince Camuto storefront on 34th Street in Manhattan.
