Beetham Organization HQ, West Tower
Liverpool, England, 2008
The Beetham Organization are property developers with an unusually clear architectural vision. Having outgrown their existing office space they took the opportunity to develop the bottom four floors of the West Tower in Liverpool as their new headquarters. KSLD were tasked with providing a lighting scheme that reflects Beetham's involvement in design and development.
The lighting design had to meet the usual criteria for function while showing a distinct coherence as all the ceilings are visible from street level through the glass curtain walling. A linear motif was agreed for the majority of ceiling fittings and cove edging details are incorporated to define and unify the cores on each floor.
At street level, a grand single entrance is used by all visitors to the building. This tower includes individual flats, penthouses and a bar restaurant as well as the Beetham Organization’s headquarters. Lighting provides identifying features for each of these functions with the linear elements of the Beetham offices cascading out of the ceiling to become pendants and light surfaces identifying the concierge point and lift lobbies.
The office lighting is controlled by a single comprehensive lighting control system. This provides full astronomical time-clock control for interior lighting elements that stay on as building identity lighting after working hours. The control system is integrated with a photocell to provide daylight harvesting control and presence detectors for secondary areas such as toilet lobbies and is also integrated with the audiovisual system in meeting rooms and board rooms. When the AV touch screens are operational, lighting and blinds control are provided through these, button panels are also provided for when the screens are not in use.
Overall the lighting scheme is closely integrated with KKS Strategy's interior design following through the key design elements. Lamp colour choices were made specifically in response to the interior design materials thus enhancing the pattern and colours chosen.
The success of the project is the result of the client being extremely interested in the design process as well as the outcome. The Beetham Organization remained in close contact with the design team throughout the project and they understand the necessity for good communication within the design process.
The lighting design had to meet the usual criteria for function while showing a distinct coherence as all the ceilings are visible from street level through the glass curtain walling. A linear motif was agreed for the majority of ceiling fittings and cove edging details are incorporated to define and unify the cores on each floor.
At street level, a grand single entrance is used by all visitors to the building. This tower includes individual flats, penthouses and a bar restaurant as well as the Beetham Organization’s headquarters. Lighting provides identifying features for each of these functions with the linear elements of the Beetham offices cascading out of the ceiling to become pendants and light surfaces identifying the concierge point and lift lobbies.
The office lighting is controlled by a single comprehensive lighting control system. This provides full astronomical time-clock control for interior lighting elements that stay on as building identity lighting after working hours. The control system is integrated with a photocell to provide daylight harvesting control and presence detectors for secondary areas such as toilet lobbies and is also integrated with the audiovisual system in meeting rooms and board rooms. When the AV touch screens are operational, lighting and blinds control are provided through these, button panels are also provided for when the screens are not in use.
Overall the lighting scheme is closely integrated with KKS Strategy's interior design following through the key design elements. Lamp colour choices were made specifically in response to the interior design materials thus enhancing the pattern and colours chosen.
The success of the project is the result of the client being extremely interested in the design process as well as the outcome. The Beetham Organization remained in close contact with the design team throughout the project and they understand the necessity for good communication within the design process.