Lighting The Way to Safety and Efficiency

Project: Parking lots contribute to the overall effect that properties have on their visitors and employees. While looks are important, keeping a parking lot safe was a significant motivation for this company’s investment in lighting. The project consisted of a lighting upgrade for an employee parking lot and walkway for a major Midwest utility.

Planning: The project was conducted in the fall. Construction needed to be completed no later than November 2, 2018 in order to facilitate paving of the lot before the onslaught of inclement winter weather. Careful planning and collaboration were necessary to ensure that upgrades went smoothly and without disruptions.

Challenges: Weather in the Midwest is always a consideration when working outside, but when you throw in a previously scheduled company picnic to the mix, it becomes even more of a challenge. In order to make the imposed deadline, it was necessary for construction to take place during normal work hours. A detailed phased approach was implemented to ensure the safety of employees and limit inconvenience. Additional challenges incurred:

• Work limited to small sections at one time due to employee parking needs
• Parking lot needed to remain lit during construction
• Coordination of timing for removal of old lights with timely shipment of new materials
• Electrical construction needed to be completed prior to new paving
• Demolition, excavating and concrete work needed to take place without disrupting employees

Scope:

• Lighting upgrade for 372,000 Square Foot Employee Parking Lot
• Removal of 56 light poles supporting 92 (400watt metal halide) heads
• Removal of 36 (175watt metal Halide) bollards
• Removal of existing concrete bases, conduit and wire feeding existing lights
• Installation of 56 new concrete bases, 8,000’ of conduit and 28,000’ of wire
• Installation of 56 twenty-foot light poles supporting 92 LED lights
• Additional installation of 36 LED bollard lights for pedestrian walk ways

Result:

• Project completed on time and within budget
• No injuries incurred
• No employee down time due to construction
• Seventy-five percent lower power consumption anticipated
• LED life expectancy 50,000-100,000 hours
• Reduced environmental footprint
• Annual energy and maintenance savings of $13,659.00

Conclusion:

When installed correctly, parking lot lighting is perhaps on of the most dramatic enhancement an office building can make. Illuminating landscape and parking lots has multiple benefits. Lighting not only makes a building more appealing at night, it adds security and safety while significantly reducing energy and maintenance costs. Assisting in the design of this project were Chicago based KSA Lighting and Acuity Brands Lights. Together as a team with our client, success was achieved.