Integrated and indirect light from Zumtobel Group enhances refurbished university building

Zumtobel together with its sister brand Thorn, both lighting brands of the Zumtobel Group, worked with BDP to deliver a collection of standard and custom luminaires for the newly refurbished London Southbank University Hub (LSBU Hub).

The London Southbank University recently embarked on its most extensive and exciting environment transformation programme. Designed to affect how students and staff think, feel and study, the renovated facility is set to revolutionise the student experience.

With the modernisation of the learning spaces and technology, the new LSBU Hub will be fit for the future and serve the needs of generations of students, staff and the wider LSBU community. The goal was to create dedicated zones for learning, teaching, and staff by renovating the 1970s building and making better use of its current spaces across the whole campus.

The refurbished building includes a new 3000sqm library, teaching rooms, offices, lecture theatres, fitness and sports facilities, informal learning spaces, student support and catering facilities.

Architect Wilkinson Eyre and BDP’s lighting and building services consultants were quickly appointed. The project team also consisted of Winters Electrical Services and Wilmott Dixon Interiors as the main contractor.

To meet the demands of this project, BDP sought a lighting manufacturer with a broad, high-performance range of standard luminaires and the ability to engineer custom luminaires for specialised applications. Zumtobel together with its sister brand Thorn were selected for their technical competence and excellent all-round product offer.

The approach to the lighting design process was to complement the architecture with minimal intervention and ensure bright soffits – particularly in areas where daylight is low. The result is a considered and understated lighting scheme which seeks to reveal the interior forms and finishes at their optimal brightness.

Luke Smith-Wightman, design consultant for BDP, explains, “The LSBU Hub project is a refurbishment of a 1970s structure featuring concrete waffle slabs throughout the building. The slabs are exposed in many spaces and now form an integral part of the lighting strategy – in combination with a custom luminaire engineered by Zumtobel – STRATUS. The STRATUS linear suspension luminaire delivers purely indirect, neutral-white light to the slabs from a very slim aluminium profile. This creates an enhanced perception of spaciousness and, through interreflection, provides the required illumination in the spaces where it is used. The lit effect is calm and blends well with daylight, with excellent light uniformity to walls, soffits, and floors.”

Ed Haslett, Key Account Manager, Zumtobel Group, adds, “We worked closely with the site team as the coordination of the multiple lengths and runs required a combined effort to ensure we delivered the perfect solution.”

In addition to STRATUS, the comprehensive scheme includes Zumtobel’s PANOS infinity downlights, SLOTLIGHT infinity slim continuous rows and the striking ONDARIA pendants in the breakout areas and meeting rooms.

Luke explains, “The theme of linear lighting is continued with integrated SLOTLIGHT infinity slim continuous lines of light framing the library spaces, the main atrium and lighting the bookshelves. PANOS infinity downlights project warm-white light into the library areas, illuminating the spaces without disrupting the bold, wood-clad geometry of the library ceilings.”

Furthermore, PERLUCE luminaires light the stairways and the classic all-rounder TUBILUX lights the fitness suite. RESCLITE PRO provides emergency lighting, while Thorn’s Omega Pro2 has been used for the lecture halls and Aquaforce in the back-of-house and plant areas

Photograph accreditation: Tom Niven.