Abernathy Lighting Design Relights Presidential Library

April 6, 2010 0 Comments

With museum goals of low wattage consumption and supporting emerging technology, the lighting renovation to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library is a study in materials reuse and cutting edge technology. Primarily utilizing customized 30w LED and standard 20w MH track mounted luminaires along with 35w MH pattern projectors, the project achieves layered, high quality exhibit lighting.

(1888PressRelease) January 15, 2010 – Abernathy Lighting Design of North Providence, RI is pleased to announce completion of work on the newly renovated Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, located in Atlanta, GA. Brought onto the project by exhibit fabricator Design and Production Incorporated of Lorton, Virginia, ALD helped fulfill the client’s overall vision and goals utilizing our collective 25 years of experience in the areas of museum, commercial, theatrical, and entertainment lighting design to create a compelling environment for the museum and its patrons.

With an exhibit space of 16,800 ft2 the Museum requested use of the latest energy efficient LED technology

. Keeping the client’s wishes in mind, ALD worked closely with manufacturers and designers to develop a LED track head with custom accessory holder, which allowed the team to mold the tone of each gallery.

Along with the use of LED technology, the project’s lighting specification called for

the reuse of all existing track prior to the purchase of any new materials. The existing halogen track heads were repurposed to the renovated Temporary Gallery, where a new dimming system provides control of intensity and energy consumption. All told, for a calculated 1.3 watts per ft2, the new lighting system stands as an example of achievable energy-efficient, high-quality museum lighting design.

Working closely with library’s curatorial staff, ALD utilized the custom LED track heads, along with fiber, and dimming, to ensure the individual artifacts found throughout the library are preserved for future generations, while theatrical patterns, angles and color were used to immerse guests into the environment and give the “wow” factor as they explore a piece of American History.