The renovation of a prominent historic building in West Philadelphia creates a synergistic center of health education and outreach
Instead of following the status quo cold institutional environment, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) provides informal and lively spaces to relax clients and promote wellbeing. The complexity of the design reflects PHMC’s variety of services all provided in one location but requiring a distinct variety of spaces. The lighting design was devised to reinforce each department’s unique personality and function, and elevate each space of the 120,000sf project.
A variety of lighting techniques were employed: highlighting the ceiling elevation and geometry with recessed shapes and rhythmic patterns, scaling a space with large pendants, and bolstering activity with sparkle and arbitrary variety.
Judiciously placed light coves slice through ceilings to highlight vertical surfaces and invoke the space above the ceiling. Distinctive lighting at the interconnecting stair is detailed with LED tapelight to visually uplift each riser and meet egress required illumination levels. In the conference room, refurbished with original woodwork ceilings, trim and details, the suspended luminaire system provides light needed for the flexible use of the space, without detracting from the historic fabric of the building.