When the Sigma Phi Epsilon building at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln campus was going through renovations, energy-efficient lighting was one of the desired amenities. While low-voltage LED landscape lighting was only one aspect of the improvements made, it will help the fraternity house compete with university housing and off-campus apartments by making the campus safer at night.
“Apartments and dorms have increased in quality and amenities significantly, and we have that expectation for our fraternity house. This project is all about meeting our high expectations,” says SigEp alumni, Brad Knuth, in an article by The Daily Nebraskan.
Outdoor lighting designer at McKay Lighting, Andrew "A.J." Coleman, says, "They didn't want huge lights to overpower the building. An alumnus was familiar with our work because his daughter attends Duchesne Academy. He saw how low-voltage could softly enhance a historical building while making the grounds safer and requested us for the lighting design."
The renovations included expanding the 1929 building's footprint by 8,000 to 9,000 square feet to the east and south facades while maintaining architectural integrity. According to A.J., we wanted to emphasize these architectural features at night by uplighting the facade. The light gently crawls up the building, catching the clinker brinks to create unique shadowing effects before reaching the peaks.
Nighttime campus safety is a general concern for many schools. When properly done, the college campus outdoor lighting should eliminate dark spots and make students and visitors feel safe at night.
At the SigEp house, we installed path lights along the walkway as you enter into the gate and up to the front entry, including the sidewalk leading to the back entrance. A couple of well lights illuminate the columns near the back entrance. They help brighten up the back entrance and enhance the architectural detail of the house. These measures help make the walkways and entrance safer at night for students and guests. See more photos of this project, HERE.
The right educational facility and campus lighting strategy can enhance architectural beauty, increase security and safety, and offer energy saving benefits. It's an practical opportunity to add aesthetic appeal and improve safety.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help you increase campus safety and aesthetics with energy-efficient low voltage landscape lighting, you can schedule a free consultation online with one of our designers. We'd be happy to meet and discuss your campus outdoor lighting needs.
Our dedicated team at McKay Landscape Lighting works with you to create a custom landscape lighting design that's unique to your property. From design to installation to service, you can count on our team of experts to make sure you are happy with your lighting system for years to come.