Sage Architecture taps an energy-efficient modern look with MaxLite’s LED flat panels

Dec. 13, 2011
Date Announced: 13 Dec 2011 When Sage Architecture was building out the loft space in its 1400-square foot office in Sacramento, California, the principals wanted a sleek modern look that offered high-quality, energy efficient general and task lighting. The architectural firm, which recently renovated its space from the raw shell of a racquetball court, specializes in highly refined residential and commercial projects with a strong focus on sustainable architecture. The renovation began in December 2010, and Sage occupied the space in March 2011.“We were going for a modern minimalist, high-tech look,” said Pam Whitehead, AIA Principal of Sage Architecture. “We needed high quality lighting fixtures that would give good overall general and task lighting with energy efficient LEDs. The LED Flat Panels project a warm light, not a cold blue light like fluorescents.”Working with Sacramento Lighting Systems, MaxLite, a leading, global manufacturer and marketer of energy efficient luminaires and lamps, supplied six 1’x4’ LED Edge Lit Flat Panels that were installed and suspended from the office’s 20-foot ceiling on the mezzanine level. The panels are suspended by aircraft cables, and from the ground, appear to be silhouettes floating in mid-air below the finished ceiling, which has gray rigid insulation panels attached directly to the beam joists on the roof deck.“Clients and colleagues are very impressed and intrigued with our unique lighting design,” continued Ms. Whitehead. “This follows our mission to offer architectural ideas that are both thoughtful and thought-provoking. People are amazed at how thin the panels are and at the amount of light the Flat Panels generate. If you look at our space at night from outside, the entire office glows.”All six panels are lined strategically in a row, allowing for even illumination from the front of the office to the rear wall. The luminaires are suspended over the plotter, copy machine, workstation and library and can be controlled as a group or as individual units. The Flat Panels are highly compatible with a multitude of building control systems and programmable, so they can be switched on/off and dimmed to meet user preferences. The Flat Panels recently received the 2011 Lighting for Tomorrow “Honorable Mention,” and is part of the coveted group of the best of the new energy-efficient residential lighting products.“When I walk in in the morning, we have the power and control to switch on each fixture individually for the space in which we are working,” said Ms. Whitehead. “The luminaires are silent and cool. They don’t emit heat over the office surfaces and desktops and they don’t make that annoying buzzing sound like other fixtures. The panels provide comfortable lighting and outstanding color rendition that is ideal for choosing color finishes for a project or reading contracts and architectural drawings. They create a nice, bright working environment that we all enjoy.”MaxLite’s LED Edge Lit Flat Panels, which have a thin profile of just 1.6 inches including the control box, offer even, shadow-free light distribution and an excellent 85 CRI (Color Rendering Index). In compliance with California’s stringent energy efficient standards, the energy efficient LED Flat Panels deliver high performance and a potential life of 50,000 hours – at L70 standards – for more than 13 years of long life, based on 10 hours of use per day. The Flat Panels are RoHS compliant and constructed without carbon emission, heat, UV or IR radiation or hazardous materials, and provide a significant reduction in energy consumption, costs and maintenance.“Our workspace is a great place to meet clients and colleagues,” said Ms. Whitehead. “They are fascinated with the amazing thinness of the fixtures and the floating effect. We looked at a wide range of lighting products, and nobody was remotely close to the look, performance and efficiency of MaxLite’s LED Flat Panels.”About Sage ArchitectureWith a goal of creating designs that are both thoughtful and thought-provoking, Sage engages clients in the design process to develop highly refined and unique projects that reflect the character and lifestyles of clients, with an emphasis on sustainable Green architecture. As Northern Californian architects, they take full advantage of the region’s temperature climate as a component of the Green design approach. Projects range from highly refined residences, to wineries and loft spaces. Sage Architecture’s designs have been built throughout Northern California, and projects are currently under construction in Canada, Mexico City, and as far away as Massachusetts. Earning AIA Design Awards for four of its projects and with published work in multiple books, the firm strives to create projects where spatial arranges work naturally, the connection form indoor to outdoor space is fluid, the composition of rooms is graceful and the building feels it belongs in the space.About MaxLiteFounded in New Jersey in 1993 as a joint venture with SK Enterprise Co., Ltd., a leading South Korean manufacturer of energy efficient lighting products, MaxLite inherited a true tradition of energy efficient lighting manufacturing that dates back to 1955. Today, MaxLite is a privately held lighting company which designs, manufactures and distributes LED and fluorescent energy efficient lighting products. Since its founding, MaxLite has worked to develop a reputation as a leading global manufacturer and marketer of energy efficient and environmentally friendly lamps and luminaires. MaxLite offers an extensive line of indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures including LED and fluorescent luminaires. MaxLite established the MaxLED™ brand which includes: Edge Lit Flat Panels, Direct Lit Flat Panels, full cutoff Wall Packs, Garage and Canopy Luminaires, Nightlights, Exit Signs, Optical Panels, Lightbars, and LED light sources. MaxLite is headquartered at 12 York Ave. in West Caldwell, New Jersey 07006. Tel. 1.800.555.5629 Website: www.maxlite.com

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Christopher Pica T 1.631.262.0374

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Web Site:www.maxlite.com