Sometimes designing lighting isn’t only about providing illumination, but how to celebrate the darkness that surrounds it. The recreation project at Squamish Oceanfront Park in The Great White North’s British Columbia was such a case. With the 700-meter (~2,297-ft)-tall granite monolith Stawamus Chief Mountain along one side, the park contains a multitude of natural wonders including freshwater lakes, black bears, waterfalls, and lush evergreens—and connects a vibrant community through activities like birding, camping, canoeing, and more. Thus, when PBX Engineering Ltd. was brought onto the scene to help with the decorative exterior lighting of a new Presentation Centre, illumination along oceanfront walkways, and the lighting of a nearby art piece, it was imperative that the team deliver a sustainable scheme that kept visual comfort and the natural landscape at its forefront.
As a result, the IES Illumination Award of Merit-earning project completed in spring 2024 meets Canadian electrical code and uses DarkSky-approved fixtures from the year in which the project began (2021) and was guided by LEED Neighborhood Development principals from the same period. Additionally, a LightLEEDer control system with smart controls and photoelectric cells that automatically turns the park’s lighting system on/off at dusk/dawn, mitigates lighting on rainy days, and reduces light pollution and glare throughout the grounds.
Photos: Gerald Wolfe/www.geraldwolfephotography.ca
The Presentation Centre, a locally sourced timber construction comprising reclaimed yellow cedar, accoya wood, and a galvanized steel canopy by Stephanie Laroye Architect, Inc., serves as a space for the community and guests to gather long past daylight hours.
Warm illumination around signage as well as sconces with uplighting and downlighting around the building’s perimeter demarcate the structure’s entrance and provide a welcoming ambience.
Short bollards by BEGA line the walkway from the Land’s End monument and provide 5 lux with a 5:1 uniformity, while tall columns with zero uplight illuminate walking paths from the Centre to the Oceanfront Park beach.
The 40-ft Welcome Gate sculpture in Sp’ákw’us Feather Park by Indigenous artist James Henry features LED lighting and pays homage to the Skwxwú7mesh people; “Squamish” is an English adaptation and translates loosely to “Mother of the Wind” and “People of the Sacred Water.” The sculpture required the team to work extensively with the artist, structural engineer, and fabricator to create specialized davit poles to withstand winds coming off the nearby Howe Sound.