How to Choose the Right LED Lighting for University Campus Areas

Choosing the right LED lighting for university campus areas is an important component of creating safe, productive, and supportive learning environments. Classrooms, libraries, laboratories, halls of residence, sports facilities, and outdoor spaces all have specific lighting needs, depending on how and when these spaces are used. LED lighting offers the versatility to meet these needs while supporting a more sustainable estate.

Here’s a topline guide to help you make the best lighting choices across campus.

Lighting for Classrooms and Lecture Halls: A Focus on Student Comfort and Wellbeing

Classrooms are the primary learning environments for students, where lighting significantly impacts their comfort, concentration, and academic performance. Appropriate lighting not only helps students see clearly but also contributes to a positive and conducive learning atmosphere.

Key considerations for classroom lighting include:

• Brightness and Colour Temperature: Aim for a blue colour temperature between 4000K to 5000K, mimicking natural daylight, which is ideal for reading and writing tasks. 
• Dimmable Options: Adjustable lighting caters to different activities and times of day, promoting optimal learning conditions, , including those with neurodiverse needs.
• Anti-Glare Features: LEDs with diffusers or anti-glare technology can reduce the harshness of light on screens, which is crucial in lecture halls with projectors or interactive whiteboards. 
• Energy Efficiency: Opt for energy-efficient lighting fixtures to cut consumption and costs.

Libraries: Lighting for Learning and Concentration

Libraries should foster deep concentration and prolonged study periods. To create an optimal environment for focused work, the lighting should be carefully considered. Adequate illumination is essential for preventing eye strain and fatigue, while also providing a sense of clarity and alertness.

Considerations include: 

• Uniformity: Ensure even lighting throughout to avoid dark corners that strain the eyes. LED panels or can provide uniform distribution.

• Warmth and Comfort: A slightly warmer colour temperature (around 3000K to 4000K) can create a cosy atmosphere without compromising visibility.
• Ambient Lighting: Soft, diffused ambient lighting creates a calming atmosphere. Avoid harsh overhead lights that can be distracting.
• Dimmable Controls: Incorporate dimmable switches or controls to allow users to adjust the lighting intensity based on personal preferences and the time of day.

Halls of Residence and Common Areas: Lighting for a Home-Like Environment

Halls of residence and lounges should foster comfort and belonging, with adaptable lighting for different moods and activities. Consider incorporating dimmers or smart lighting systems to create a warm and inviting ambiance for socialising, studying, or simply relaxing.

• Ambient lighting: Use soft, warm LED lights (3000K) to create a relaxing environment in bedrooms and lounges. Recessed lighting or LED ceiling lights are ideal. 

Corridors and Stairwells: Emergency Lighting is a Key Focus

Corridors and stairwells are high-traffic areas within a building, prone to accidents and safety concerns. Inadequate lighting in these spaces can contribute to a variety of hazards, including:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: Poor visibility can make it difficult to spot uneven surfaces, wet patches, or obstacles, increasing the risk of slips and falls.
• Trip Hazards: Insufficient lighting can obscure low-hanging objects, wires, or uneven steps, leading to tripping accidents.
• Assaults and Theft: Well-lit areas can deter criminal activity by making it harder for potential assailants to hide or remain undetected.
• Increased Anxiety: Dark, poorly lit spaces can induce unease and fear, especially for individuals who may be sensitive to enclosed or dimly lit environments.

To mitigate these risks, it is essential to implement a comprehensive lighting strategy for corridors and stairwells. This should include:

• Consistent rightness: Use bright, uniform lighting to eliminate dark spots where accidents could occur, consider LED downlights or wall-mounted lights.
• Motion Sensors: Implement motion-activated LED lighting to conserve energy by illuminating spaces only when occupied.
• Emergency Lighting: Include LED emergency lights that activate during power outages.
• Energy efficiency: Choose lighting fixtures that are both efficient and durable to reduce consumption and maintenance costs.

By investing in high-quality lighting solutions for corridors and stairwells, building owners and managers can significantly improve safety, security, and the overall comfort of their occupants.

Lighting for Sports Facilities: Optimising Performance and Safety

Sports facilities, both indoor and outdoor, require specialised lighting to ensure optimal visibility, safety, and performance.

Indoor arenas, such as gyms, swimming pools, and sports halls, necessitate well-designed lighting systems, which minimise glare, to create a safe and enjoyable environment for athletes and spectators.

Outdoor facilities, including stadiums, tennis courts, and athletics tracks, require lighting that can withstand harsh weather conditions while providing adequate illumination for day and night activities. The choice of lighting fixtures, intensity, and distribution is crucial in preventing injuries, enhancing athletic performance, and creating a visually appealing atmosphere.

• High-intensity lighting: Use high-intensity LED with a colour temperature of 5000K to 6500K. Tamlite’s REVO SPORT or EXPO provides bright, clear light for large indoor sports areas.
• Outdoor stadium lighting: LED floodlights with high lumen output and uniform distribution are essential for outdoor sports fields. 
• Durability: Select LEDs with robust housing to withstand impacts and vibrations.

Exterior Lighting: Ensuring Safety While Minimising Light Pollution

Effective outdoor lighting enhances visibility, reduces accidents, and boosts security in areas like pavements, car parks, and recreational spaces. By using appropriate lighting technologies, glare and light pollution can be minimised. Sustainable practices, such as energy-efficient fixtures and dark skies lighting, help protect wildlife and human health by reducing excess artificial light while maintaining functional, inviting spaces.

• Pathway Lighting: LED bollards guide students safely across campus at night. Opt for lights with a warmer colour temperature for a softer and more ambient illumination.
• Floodlighting for Security: Car parks and large outdoor areas require high output floodlights that offer a wide coverage of light. LEDs with motion sensors or timers can improve security while saving energy and reducing light pollution.
• Architectural Lighting: Use LED spotlights or ground lights highlight key campus buildings or monuments, with precise optics ensuring light is directed appropriately. Optics play a vital role in ensure light only falls where intended.

University campuses are large and complex, with multi-use areas requiring a balance of energy efficiency, safety, comfort, aesthetics and environment considerations. The right LED lighting choice can significantly enhance the campus experience and foster a more sustainable learning environment.  

• Tamlite offers a full range of products for the education sector designed with occupant wellbeing, sustainability and performance in mind. The products in this range can be retrofitted to existing lighting systems and includes luminaries specifically tailored to meet the specific lighting needs of sports halls, corridors, lecture theatres, classrooms and reception areas.
• For further information about our products for the education sector, please visit our website.