Five Reasons It's Time to Look at Birchwood As You Go-To Linear Option
Birchwood has long been a leader in linear LED lighting; their ability to get modification and custom projects done is well know to lighting designers. Over the last two years, Birchwood has rebuilt it’s offering so they can be your day-to-day lighting company.
Birchwood is one of those companies that's deeply passionate about architectural lighting. There are lots of linear manufacturers out there who make the line of light, but few companies can produce custom projects and modifications the way Birchwood does. The Erika series of custom shapes, with so many impressive bespoke applications that Birchwood almost got pigeonholed as the"special" linear on the job. Often Birchwood gets overlooked for the more common types on a project.
BW165
BW165
The new 1.65" profile from Birchwood adds a small aperture form factor that had previously been missing. Bill and I will go through the specs and some of the performance features that put Birchwood squarely in the spec-grade category of linear.
Power Over Cable
Just some of the power of cable options
Let's be real; power-over-cable has been an option for many lighting manufacturers. Having the feature doesn't make Birchwood unique necessarily, but it does pull them into the conversation with other spec-grade linear lines that offer the feature.
Optics
This year Birchwood introduced some essential performance optics. Including a High-Efficiency lens, as well as Batwing, Asymmetric and Elliptical distributions.
Jake (recessed 3.25" and 2.25")
Collin (suspended direct/indirect 3.25" and 2.25")
Kelsey (surface or suspended rotatable 3.25" and 2.25")
10-Day shipping
This is probably the most critical shift for Birchwood in the last year. Speed of Shipping can make or break a project timeline, and too often, Birchwood could not be considered due to 4-6 week lead times. That's why I'm so excited about the rollout of 10-day shipping for the most popular Birchwood products.
Oh, and Custom
I know how I started this piece. But Birchwood hasn't lost its fastball when it comes to doing the unique things on a project. The team at Birchwood can handle both the standard linear products with 10-day shipping and the custom and modified products that require more design and fabrication time.
Project Walk-Thru: How iLight's Catenary Mounting Can Help You Make Magic
Ilight has been around for a long time. While the product has evolved over the years, the real strength of iLight has been in the company's ability to partner with designers to create amazing installations. The Wharf is a Waterfront installation near the Potomac River in Washington, DC. This incredible installation makes use of iLight’s Catenary mount and wet location Plexineon product.
iLight has done a terrific project write up. It's solid reference information about how these rings designed and mounted.
How ALW + BIOS Helps Illuminate The Soul
Throughout 2020, BIOS has partnered with many lighting manufacturers, but few align as well as ALW. With the mission to “illuminate the soul,” ALW is uniquely positioned to create healthier spaces by encouraging low glare, circadian lighting, and an acoustically calm environment.
If you've been following lighting news over the spring and summer, you've probably seen how BIOS has opened up partnerships with several lighting manufacturers. In general, I think this a good thing. The reality on most projects is they will be put out to bid, and if only one manufacturer offers BIOS as an option, it's not a "spec locker" but a VE target.
I can't speak to the strategy behind opening up BIOS to sp many lighting manufacturers. Still, I think that in terms of the real-world impact, it is much more likely to see BIOS get specified on projects.
So if so many manufacturers now have access to BIOS technology, why use one manufacturer over another?
ALW is on a mission to help designers create environments that speak to the whole person. Not only do they create beautiful light, but they do so in fantastic form factors. And beyond making beautiful shapes, they can also enhance the acoustic environment.
Bonus: What is BIOS and Skyblue with active dimming?
ALW's mission is to "Illuminate the Soul," and so partnering with BIOS makes sense. Fixtures that are interesting from a design perspective, acoustically and visually quiet and aid in circadian health check all the boxes in creating a lighting solution that's about much more than light.
Energy Management Hasn't Gone Away, and Douglas Keeps Getting Better and Better
So much has happened throughout 2020; it feels like we might have forgotten about energy management as a discussion. Sure, the codes in NY and California continue to get more stringent, and we know that lighting controls can lead the way in energy management, but what's new? Where's the innovation?
You've heard me talk about and might have seen me write about Douglas Lighting Controls before. Douglas specializes in bullet-proof dead simple architectural dimming solutions. I like Douglas because their systems are easy to design and layout, and they are simple for the contractor to install. Douglas' characteristics aren't new, but there are several updates/additions which are unique and make Douglas a more robust choice for complex architectural projects.
Here are some of the additions Douglas has made this year.
Approval by DesignLights Consortium under Network Lighting Controls for the Dialog System
IoT Enabled Wireless Intelligent Fixture Sensors and controllers
Addition of RGBW DMX for the Dialog Family
Introduction of the CheckLight Energy Management Platform
Three Key Products from Senso
One of the first shed videos I did at the start of the COVID-19 shutdown was about Senso. After the acquisition by Luminii, I got to know this factory (which admittedly, I didn't know much about), and I was blown away by their capabilities. I've written about Senso before. I remain impressed by the quality of their product and their ability to adapt and modify products to meet the project's needs.
Leto 11
This versatile family of cylinders comes in a variety of sizes and mounts. With its various optics lumen outputs, it truly can become a design workhorse cylinder.
Artemis 3
The Artemis line uses the same faceted reflector as the Leto and creates very quiet ceilings by tucking the LED source deep within the aperture. This downlight family offers unique characteristics, including a 2500K option, up to 3000 lumens delivered, and honeycomb louvers. Taken with the Leto family, these can provide a and optically tranquil opportunity for conditions requiring a recessed option.
Dao
Dao is a recessed linear profile for drywall ceilings. It offers a couple of really nice design features, including the option for a black lens, tunable white and RGB color, and static CCT as low are 2200K. It's a stunning linear option with the potential to fit into the hospitality and residential markets easily.
Nine new reasons to look at Williams this season.
HE Williams is the biggest "little" factory in the lighting industry. When you think of an all-purpose lighting company, you probably think about an Acuity or a Signify. It's time to look at HE Williams for your everyday needs as well.
Williams is consistently adding to its product portfolio to keep up with design trends while bringing products to market that are aggressive on price and performance.
Over the last few months, Williams has introduced several new products that we'll discuss.
Solving Acoustical Challenges in Office Spaces with ALW Harmonics
In this interview with Cory Tysoe of ALW, I go through ALW's new Harmonics family. Acoustics became trendy for lighting manufacturers to talk toward the end of 2019 with various companies getting in the acoustic game. ALW didn't leap out in front, instead they methodically thought through how to make the best acoustical offering possible and that's how the ALW Acoustics line was born. In this video we talk through why ALW went all-in on acoustics as part of their credo to "Light the Soul." Then we go through the products ALW has included in their harmonics line.
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Meet ALW's Cylinders
This explainer walks through the families of cylinders that are now part of ALW's offering. It this video, Pablo and I walk the design of the ALW cylinder families and then get into the specifics.
Families included:
Qube - customizable square pendants
Alto - high output cylinders
Nova - beautiful pendant and surface mounts
Aqua - wet location cylinders
Inza - narrow form factor pendants
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Get to Know Elliptipar's New Line up for 2020
Asymmetric lighting is both an art and a science and no one does it better than Elliptipar. Quietly, Elliptipar has been releasing a slew of new products with smaller form factors as well as full recessed (!) versions of their amazing wall washers. This collection of videos will take you through the new offering.
I recently got to sit down with the team from Elliptipar and talk about all of the new products for 2020. The webinar above is extensive, covering all of the new products and taking about 49 minutes. I’ve broken the webinar into bite size segments that cover specific products or concepts.
S104 and S170 <2MIN
Classic Elliptipar shapes for interior and exterior but with vastly improved performance.
S100 < 5min
The S100 is a small form factor linear wall and ceiling washer about the size of a quarter with remote drivers. It’s a sleek architectural form factor that delivers performance. You’ll want to watch this one to understand the visors, louvers and accessories.
S22x an S230 < 6min
Semi-recessed and now fully recessed wall washers from Elliptipar! If you’re interested in creating beautifully illuminated walls with minimal architectural impact, these recessed products will get it done. You'll want to watch this clip as we go through spacing and setback recommendations.
The Ensconce Series < 7min
This might be the most exciting development from Elliptipar in the last year. As optical options have improved long with chipset efficacy, Elliptipar has been able to create small form factor ceiling and wall wash fixtures called the Ensconce series. I know this is a longer clip, but I truly think these fixtures can find a place in many open plan offie environments as well as healthcare and educational facilities where softly lit ceilings with zero glare are desirable.
S410 < 3 min.
Finally, this one might be my personal favorite, mostly because I love big bright light fixtures. The S410 series was designed to make use of new LED technology to deliver Elliptipar level performance in large forma factors for asymmetrically lighting natatoriums, gymnasiums and atrium spaces. With tremendous efficacy these fixtures finally deliver not just the quantity of light but the optical performance necessary to beautifully light these spaces.
Bonus Video: Me in the shed with the S410…
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Coronet Launched Four New Products for 2020 - Here's the Run Down
Coronet is constantly innovating and creating exciting iterations on their existing products or whole new items meant to solve design problems. Above is the complete webinar which runs about 34 minutes. Below is each segment and new product.
LS2DL
Key points on LS2DL:
The modules are available as fixed downlights, adjustable or wall washers. The adjustable are available with 30 degree tilt and 360 degree rotation.
Beam spreads from 20 to 80 degrees.
Modules can be places anywhere within the run of LS2.
LS Curve
Key Points on the LS Curve
90 degree and 135 degree curves are standard and will hold to the 10 day lead time standard from Coronet. Other curves are possible, but they are custom bends and will increase lead time.
Recessed, Surface Mounted or Pendant with Direct/Indirect.
Joint
Key Points on Joint
The joint is a kit available for the Rush series. Its a simple kit of joiners that allows designers to create simple 2D and 3D patterns without the need for lit corners. Using the Joint kit keeps the lead time to the Coronet 10 day standard and substantially reduces cost.
Lucie
Key Points on Lucie
4’ x 8’ Luminous cloud (smaller sizes available as a modification)
12000-20,000 lumens
Only 3.4” tall!
Suspended, Surface Mounted or recessed into a grid or dry wall ceiling.
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Ready to learn more about Coronet’s new products or anything else they are launching? Use the calendar below to book an appointment, when you do, you get a $20 Grubhub credit!
Meet the New Inter-Lux P20
Book a Presentation
Inter-Lux offers a variety of products beyond the P20 family. Book a virtual presentation so you can learn more. When you do, you’ll get a $20 Grubhub credit!
AIA / IDCEC Course: A Comprehensive Overview of Lighted Mirrors - April 15th at 3:00PM
A well-lit mirror is one of those pieces of a project that take it from feeling pretty good to amazing. No one knows more about lighted mirrors than Electric Mirror, so we're thrilled to be hosting their AIA and IDCEC accredited course. Courtney Bush will be presenting.
The Purpose
Provide an overview of lighted mirrors and discuss key features including lighting, wellness, technology and energy saving options.
Learning Objectives
Understand the electrical and lighting components of a lighted mirror.
Understand the components of light and how they affect health and wellness.
Understand ways lighted mirrors can offer energy efficiency and create cost savings.
Understand integrated technology options that enhance a lighted mirror's functionality.
VIDEO: Get to know the Selux MRC Linear Wallwasher
In this quick demonstration Cynthia Turner of Selux takes us through the new MRC wall washer. The MRC builds on the M36 extrusion meaning it can be used in conjunction with all of Selux's existing optics in that line. In our video demo and with some still images, you'll see how well the fixture performs, recommended spacing, and how to specify patterns.
An Interview with Ben Rapkin and Lightglass
Lightglass is one of those rare products that transcends category. It’s built like a window and installs like one, but at its heart it’s a powerful tunable white luminaire.
In this interview with Ben Rapkin, employee #1 at Lightglass we learn about the company’s philosophy and how it influenced the product’s design. We’ll also go through some projects and specification tips.
Demonstrating The Selux M60 Wet Location
For my first demo in the moment of social distancing, I decided to play with the Selux M60 Wet Location. The M60 is a 60MM (2-3/8”) wide extrusion designed for wet locations (non submersible). Line of light details on the exterior are usually done with exterior tape light in extrusions. The M60 offers significant capabilities beyond that.
If you specify the M60 in a continuous length (up to 12 ft) you’ll just have gasketed end caps. It’s a very clean look.
It’s important to be aware that with continuous lengths there will be some gasket shadows.
When fully illuminated the gasket shadow almost totally disappears.
Optics
Selux brings all of their interior optics outdoors with the M60 wet location.
Diffuse
Symetrical
5 degree Asymmetric grazer
20 degree Asymmetric wall wash
Batwing
Mounting
Surface
Wall mount
Recessed
Suspended (direct only)
Selux can ship this is up to 12 feet long with a single lens minimizing the gasketed seams required for wet location. The M60 can also be provided with an integral EM battery.