Allies & Morrison Architects have specified an innovative lighting scheme for this media centre, including over 2,000 Avic pendant luminaires from WILA...

Light and architecture united when Allies & Morrison specified an innovative concept of illumination for the BBC's media city in White City, London. Allies and Morrison specified the lighting throughout the project with Buro Happold (Building Services Engineers) for the office and back of house areas, and with Equation Lighting (as sub-consultants to BH) for specialist areas. A&M considered numerous suspended direct/indirect linear luminaries for the office areas. Suspension heights varied because of different floor to ceiling height within the buildings and between the main office buildings and the aim was to achieve the correct lighting levels at the reference plane whilst maintaining an even lit effect on the ceiling plane. Wave guide products, originally evaluated, were rejected on cost grounds. The Wila Avic proved to have the best optical performance and best appearance from above of conventional louvred fittings (the fitting can be clearly seen from above while descending the Atrium staircase).

More than 2,000 of WILA's dimmable and ergonomic Avic pendant luminaires, with their distinctive minimalist form and visual height of only 28mm, have been installed across open-plan and individual office areas and, with the aid of individually utilisable illumination dynamics, reflect the concept of a flexible office landscape whilst achieving a comfortable working environment for the user, and offering excellent glare control for demanding VDU tasks. The prismatic cover over the rear of the luminaire also makes it an ideal solution in the modern office with atria, ensuring it looks good from all angles whilst promoting well-being, motivation and productivity.

The atria offered unique possibilities for creating a dynamic, daylight-oriented atmosphere of light. Special, discretely integrated surface-mounted luminaires fitted with 35W and 150W CDM-T high-pressure discharge lamps, illuminate the architecture in such a way that the light both stimulates and motivates, day and night.

Over 400 metres of a multifunctional aluminium profile, specially developed for the project with A&M, integrate building management functions, low-voltage halogen spotlights with 100W AR111 lamps and downlights for high-pressure discharge lamps with 35W CDM-T lamps. In the communication areas the flush-mounted ceiling system accommodates both accentual luminaire modules and the emergency lighting. Thus, with the integration of lighting and technical components its clear-cut and visually timeless form, the profile system creates a well-organised ceiling landscape and modern lighting ambience.

In the Reception, Cafˇ and some conference room areas, A&M wanted to organise all the ceiling mounted services together with the lighting, into a system, thereby allowing the monolithic ceilings to be uncluttered. The system had to cope with sprinkler integration as well as lighting, PA/VA, CCTV, smoke detection, presence detection, and supply air. No proprietary system was able to cope with sprinkler integration so A&M designed a new product, which WILA then took on and developed for the project.

For the exterior of the building, Light Engine supplied Hess street lighting.