Lighting Up DC

Overall, the company pulled more than 1,000 linear feet 16/2 wire to power the LED low-voltage system. Technicians made sure to pull an individual wire run from each fixture to its corresponding transformer. As the contractor explained, "The wiring was installed under the deck and to prevent reduction in down time if a fixture had a problem."

Each summer, the luxurious Sofitel Hotel on Lafayette Square in downtown Washington DC, creates an outdoor oasis on the broad sidewalks of 15th Street. Landscape Contractor Outdoor Illumination was contacted and charged with creating atmospheric lighting that employed unobtrusive fixtures that could be integrated into a deck.

 

The contractor installed 28 LED fixtures to light this area. They chose 12 Hunza well lights, seven In-lite LED minis, six FX Luminaire bullets, and four white hanging bullets. To power the system, workers wired-in a single Kichler 200-watt transformer for each of the two area's opposite the hotel's main entrance.

The project required durable fixtures of a specific dimension. The installation was to be seasonal, so all aspects of the project had to be designed for easy removal.

As the weather warms, world leaders, office workers and tourists take advantage of better weather to enjoy the outdoors. In front of hotels, restaurants and cafes, concrete sidewalks become gathering places. Most are simply enhanced with some casual outdoor furniture and potted plants. Every spring, the Sofitel constructs a seasonal deck, which is designed to transform the otherwise bland and uneven concrete sidewalk. The deck is enhanced with comfortable chairs, large colorful umbrellas, exotic plants – and atmospheric lighting.

Located on Lafayette Square in downtown Washington DC, the Sofitel Hotel includes an outdoor sitting area on the broad sidewalks of 15th Street, complete with a lighting system. As the installation is seasonal, Outdoor Illumination had to deign and build a system that could be removed without causing scars to the landscape or hardscape.

The Project

Outdoor Illumination was charged with creating aesthetic lighting, employing unobtrusive fixtures that could be integrated into the deck. The project required durable fixtures of a specific dimension (4.5 inches deep), as most common "well" lights were too deep to fit in the deck. The installation was to be seasonal, so all aspects of the project had to be designed for easy removal.

The client's goal was to create a festive ambient lighting scene while also illuminating for safety on two exterior dining and bar patios. The design focused on accenting architectural elements of the historic hotel, plus selected plant material. Extremely detailed planning was required – great care was given to locate fixtures in places where they would not be covered by furniture or planters. Further, guests in the seating and pass – through areas could not be exposed to glare. Finally, the fixture could not have any pieces that could provide tripping hazards.

Timing

Timing was a huge concern. The original concept meeting with Director of Engineering Jose Ruiz and George Killian from The Brickman Group occurred on February 22. The contractor was hired to design and estimate the job within 48 hours. The contract was approved on the following Monday. The deck was scheduled to open on April 13. Then, with an early spring, the restaurant manager elected to open early. The contractor ordered specialized, custom-made fixtures and had then rush-shipped from New Zealand. As the company awaited the fixtures' arrival, they began the complex installation.

A custom deck company crafted two 40x20 decks, flanking the hotel's entrance. The technicians needed to core drill into the composite deck material. They constructed a model at their office to ensure precise cutting on-site. Because the deck was seasonal, workers wired each fixture individually to the power supplies, and harnessed the lines in pieces that mirrored the sections of the deck, allowing effective annual deconstruction and reinstallation. There was no "daisy chaining" for the fixtures in this design. By the time the fixtures arrived,, the deck was already opened for the season. As a result, the technicians had to install their lights during "off hours" – mostly early mornings and mid afternoons. Every day, they had to leave the deck as they found it – clean and free of any mid-construction debris and hazards.