Transformational lighting reinvigorates I.M. Pei’s original ceiling and lighting design
In the early 1980’s, I.M. Pei and Henry Cobb designed a spectacular dining hall for this high-ranking Fortune 500 company’s headquarters. The modern dining area also serves as a town hall meeting space for the employees. A much needed expansion of the dining hall and servery is designed by JWA, but with strict adherence to maintaining the simplicity of Pei’s original design.
The exposed coffer structure features original custom suspended downlights with disk-shaped housings and indirect light sources in each coffer. BEAM redesigned the integral light sources replacing the aging fluorescent technology with LEDs to provide a glare-free luminaire. Close coordination with the custom lighting manufacturer was required to refurbish these luminaires, and ensure light source locations are not visible from normal viewing angles, as well as provide easy maintenance for long-term use. Dynamic color was added to the indirect light, and as a separate direct-view ring around the downlight trim. This enhances the organizational identity, excitement, and celebration during town-hall style announcements and large meetings.
The unique food service stations in the servery convey variety and each have their own aesthetic. BEAM worked with the interior designers to define each counter with task lighting for servers, defining horizontal and vertical planes and concealing lighting where it was not a direct decorative element. Highlighting the vertical borders with small suspended linear strips, recessed light coves, and millwork-integrated linear strips defines each unique station. Suspended track and downlights were used for general illumination throughout the servery’s transitional spaces.