Photos: Mulvany & Banani Lighting
A programmable system with an array of color schemes was integrated into the lighting surrounding the classrooms.
By Michele Zimmerman
Otherworldly pod classrooms inside the atrium of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto in Canada bring a whole new meaning to visual learning. Two orb-shaped classrooms seemingly hover above the atrium, producing a “mystical aura” that can be seen both from within and through its transparent base. However, the pods’ luminance began to wane over time, and design firm Mulvey & Banani Lighting was commissioned to rejuvenate the lighting system.
The renovation project, completed in 2022, brought a one-time symbol of futuristic architecture and state-of-the-art lighting back to its original radiance. Hired in 2021 to conduct a feasibility study, Mulvey & Banani Lighting was then tasked with providing long-term, low-maintenance retrofit solutions that would enhance energy efficiency.
Fixtures have been positioned to ensure optimal coverage on the orbs, with heights ranging from 10 to 40 ft above finished floor.
The lighting design’s most innovative feature is its dynamic illumination of the two orb classrooms: the larger ovoid room is approximately 44 ft by 37 ft by 20 ft while the smaller is approximately 36 ft by 25 ft by 20 ft. The unique learning spaces are accessible to students and faculty via a catwalk. By implementing sophisticated DMX-programmable fixtures, the levitating orbs were transformed from static, single-color elements into a canvas of creative expression. Now, instead of being limited to one uniform color, the university can craft intricate light patterns, layering colors and creating nuanced visual experiences that can shift seamlessly to match different events, moods, or themes.
“One of the key challenges of this project was balancing the preservation of the atrium’s original architectural design with the integration of modern lighting technology,” said Joseph Patrick, lighting designer with Mulvey & Banani Lighting and lead designer on the project. “The existing system had aged significantly, which resulted in diminished brightness and outdated controls that were no longer capable of delivering the dynamic visual impact the space originally had. The floating class-room pods…required a carefully designed lighting approach to restore their ethereal presence while introducing new capabilities…Achieving uniform illumination on the curved surfaces of the orbs with new LED fixtures required strategic repositioning, as well as precise coordination to avoid unwanted shadows or glare.”
To address these hurdles—while enhancing illumination and focusing on the relationship between the classrooms and surrounding walls—all fixtures are positioned on vertical, schedule 40 pipes that run along the glass atrium mullions. All luminaires are ellipsoidals, with framing shutters that use either a 90- or 36-deg barrel. Each fixture has a 36-in. side arm and is either top hung or bottom hung on the side arm depending on the fixture’s aim or focus on the pods. To ensure the continued ease-of-use for university staff, a lift is employed to reach high fixtures and a ladder is used to access fixtures located at low positions.
The new fixtures combined with the DMX control allow for a series of fresh capabilities to celebrate a multitude of events and themes including special occasions, holidays, seasonal themes, city-wide celebrations, and formal academic events. Just a few of the customizable scenes include one red and one white pod to celebrate Canada Day, all-orange for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and the various colors of the Pride flag.
On a nightly basis, the floating pods glow a soft white and transition through ambient scenes, allowing the building to remain visible to passersby while maintaining energy efficiency. Patrick added, “The DMX protocol facilitates precise adjustments in color, intensity, and transitions.” Though these scene changes are programed, the flexibility of the system allows for manual overrides by university facility workers when necessary—once again increasing the new lighting scheme’s longevity, ensuring it remains an eye-catching and ethereal component within the True Blue campus.
THE DESIGNER | Joseph Patrick, BFA, LC, Member IES, is a lighting designer with Mulvey & Banani Lighting.
Alan McIntosh, BA, CLD, Member IES, IALD, is vice president at Mulvey & Banani Lighting.
