Illuminating the Canadian Museum of History

Lightmotion

 

Jan 8, 2018

After two years of work, Lightemotion has added another noteworthy project to its list with the lighting design for Gatineau’s Canadian Museum of History. The museum welcomes over 1.2 million visitors each year to its celebrated complex in the heart of the National Capital Region, making it the country’s most-visited museum. With roots stretching back to 1856, it is one of Canada’s oldest public institutions and a respected centre of museological excellence, sharing its expertise in history, archaeology, ethnology and cultural studies both within Canada and abroad.

 

 

For Lightemotion’s President, François Roupinian, designing the lighting for this type of museum is an exciting challenge: “The light should act as a magic wand, directing the viewer’s attention to key areas.” Through a skillful combination of museum and architectural lighting, Lightemotion has highlighted the work of architect Douglas Cardinal while showcasing the museum’s history.

Success is in the details

To accomplish such a feat with a maximum spectrum of effects, the team used over 40 kinds of light fixtures. From theatrical floodlights to gobo projectors and miniature LED heads for subtly illuminating even the smallest details of the displays, all equipment used was carefully studied and adjusted in order to create a unique path of light.

According to François Roupinian, “Flexibility is important for creating the right lighting.” Nothing was left to chance, with features including interchangeable lenses, zoom, anti-glare accessories, an integrated potentiometer to adjust the lighting level for conservation needs and ambience, and the option to add colour filters. For this purpose, the lighting manufacturers were chosen with particular care so that a wide range of choices would be available to ensure colour consistency.

A technical challenge

Beyond the myriad fixtures required, this type of project comes with its own set of challenges. The first is using LED technology to recreate the warmth and subtlety of halogen, as LEDs are often too bright for the more subtle needs of a museum. Another important element to take into account was that certain fragile artifacts are sensitive to heat. When fine-tuning the lighting, Lightemotion worked closely with the museum’s conservation team to provide consistent and suitable lighting, carrying out tests that included thermal models to ensure optimal conservation conditions for the artifacts.

The museum’s unifying element

The Canadian Museum of History’s emblematic dome acts as a visual reference point throughout most of the museum pathway. As the dome is an immense structure where it is impossible to install lighting, the team had to use a special approach: “We wanted to use this constraint as an advantage. That’s where we got the idea to use the dome to create light with indirect lighting. We wanted to make it the centrepiece of the museum’s ecosystem.” After many colour tests, the team was able to create their desired effect: a timeless tone for a comfortable atmosphere where visitors feel as if they have stepped into the museum’s very own world.
As explained by François Roupinian, “The light ultimately needs to tell a story. The visitors shouldn’t have to be aware of the technical feats behind the scenes. The lighting should create a complete sensory experience.”

Lightemotion is a lighting design consultant with offices in Montreal and Toronto, and award-winning local and international projects. Lightemotion’s project portfolio spans across many diverse project types from cultural, hospitality, retail, corporate, government, transportation and academic to landscape and master planning; www.lightemotion.ca

Photo credit: Gordon King

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • Leviton Canada Announces Structural Changes to the Sales Organization

    Leviton Canada Announces Structural Changes to the Sales Organization

    January 16, 2025 Leviton Canada is pleased to announce structural changes to its Canadian Sales Department, effective January 1, 2025. These changes aim to enhance sales synergy, optimize resource allocation and strengthen their relationships with customers across the country. Jason Denstedt now assumes the role of Vice-President of National ED Sales, overseeing the national Electrical… Read More…

  • Nesco Announces New Sales Agent for Northern Ontario

    Nesco Announces New Sales Agent for Northern Ontario

    January 16, 2025 Nesco is pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Atkinson at Resilient Sales as their sales agent for Northern Ontario, effective January 1st, 2025. “Sean is replacing Steve Wallace, who after decades of providing tireless customer service and sales support is focusing on family and enjoying some well-deserved downtime in retirement,” commented… Read More…

  • ABB and Wieland Electric Partner to Redefine Efficiency in Modular Construction

    ABB and Wieland Electric Partner to Redefine Efficiency in Modular Construction

    January 15, 2025 ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings Division and Wieland Electric have announced a strategic partnership to revolutionize modular and serial construction with advanced prefabricated electrical installation systems. The collaboration combines Wieland’s innovative connector technology with ABB’s extensive portfolio – including switches, sockets, installation boxes, energy distribution, and smart home solutions – to deliver plug-and-play… Read More…

  • ABB Expands Residential Energy Management Portfolio in North America with Lumin Acquisition

    ABB Expands Residential Energy Management Portfolio in North America with Lumin Acquisition

    January 15, 2025 ABB has announced the acquisition of Lumin, a U.S.-based pioneer and leading provider of responsive energy management systems, to expand its home energy management capabilities in the North American residential sector. The acquisition follows a strategic minority investment by ABB into the company in 2023. Financial terms of the transaction were not… Read More…