Light Sketch Series 2

A. Dean's Office/Stone

This slightly enclosed space is not very brightly lit.  The only windows are near the door and the general illumination comes from overhead lamps.  This space would be much better suited with lighting that provided direction.  The hallway that crosses this entrance is narrow and with the dean's office being there the lighting should be sufficient and provide more contrast to highlight the dean's office.

B. Art Museum-Weatherspoon

The Weatherspoon is based on the illumination of the art that it exhibits.  The multiple track lights and the general illumination is very effective at focusing the attention on the artwork instead of the design of the space.  The only thing I believe could help would be to completely eliminate the visual of the light sources as well as lowering the ceiling because a lower ceiling would be less distracting although I don't know if it would be as versatile.

C. Restaurant-Bravo

Bravo, being an intimate Italian restaurant depends on ambient and indirect lighting for the most part, so that they may maintain the atmosphere.  This is a themed restaurant that is based on italian ruins so a small percent of the lights come from small pocket lights on the ceiling.  The large portion of the light is from large, half-dome shaped incandescent lights that are strategically placed in relation to the tables.  There is no glare and the intended atmosphere is achieved.  The only potential problem with the space is that the employees don't have enough task lighting near the computer screens.  This would be easily fixed by close-proximity task lighting near the computers.

D. Retail Store-Linens n' Things

This store's lighting is similar to that of a warehouse and for good reason.  The products are stacked almost to the top of what looks to be a twenty foot ceiling.  Most of the lighting is fluorescent bulbs that are exposed.  These lights cause very little glare and only on the floor.  Near the front of the building, in the check out area, it switches over to HID lamps that are fully covered and dispersed.  These provide much better light but the switch from the HID to the fluorescent lamps is distracting.  I would recommend that the areas that are differently lit be separated with a ceiling change.  The light is the only element in the space, with all shadow being minimal of accidental which makes sense for a retail store.  I would recommend however that the patterns in the lighting systems match so that it is not so distracting from the products.