Architects: Stenfors Architects

Photography: Paul Turang

Working under Lighting Design Alliance, the team was asked to provide lighting design services to the new student dining 24-hour facility located in the University of California San Diego campus. The main element throughout the space was a series of square skylights that are introduced in the ceiling through splayed pyramidal components. This introduced the lighting challenge of providing even lighting while integrating into the skylights, and still keeping within the tight budget. 

A series of L-shaped lines of light were introduced at the skylight shafts to illuminate the space from above and still give the impression of natural daylight through electrical lighting, thus allowing for a well-lit diffused space even during nighttime hours. A limited amount of recessed adjustable accent lights were strategically deployed to keep the splayed surfaces as clean as possible, but still accenting programmatic aspects of the space such as casual seating areas and food displays. 

Due to Title 24 requirements, the dining hall's control system also contains daylight harvesting capabilities, and occupancy sensor capability in secondary spaces such as restrooms. This coupled with all LED lighting allows for an energy-efficient dining hall that can be used at any hour.