Commercial Architecture – April 2019

26 APRIL 2019 COMMERCIALARCHITECTUREMAGAZINE.COM

L

ighting was an integral part of the plan when the District

of Columbia Public Schools embarked on a multi-million

dollar renovation of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts

in Georgetown. The project to modernize the facility and expand it

from 171,000 to 271,000 sq. ft. included the renovation and addition

of classrooms, dance and art studios, common areas, a media cen-

ter, and a 300-seat performance hall. The school occupies a building

originally built in 1898 as Western High School.

While traditional academics are offered, the primary focus is the

arts. Majors in dance, literary media and communications, museum

studies, instrumental or vocal music, theatre, technical design and

production, and visual arts are offered.

Architects Cox Graae + Spack, Washington, wanted to retain the

historic nature of the unique facility. MCLA Architectural Lighting

Design, Washington, was the lead on selecting the lighting used on

the project, in collaboration with manufacturer’s representative One

Source Associates, Columbia, MD. To support the architects’ vision,

the lighting design deviates from the standard educational template

to address the needs of the school’s students.

The lighting design called for products that would support the

PROJECT | lighting

Hubbell Lighting’s interior and exterior brands come together to inspire the next generation of artists.

Lighting The Path To Artistic Inspiration

Largent from Architectural Area Lighting
illuminates the building’s iconic front
entrance. The luminaire’s geometric
design and illumination capabilities
ensure safety, project a sense of scale,
and align with the design of the façade.