Outdoor Illumination Enhances Architecture of Historic Chicago Residential Complex

Oct 24, 2019

Julia Lathrop Homes was constructed as a public housing development during the Great Depression. The 35-acre complex on the north shore of the Chicago River had degraded substantially over the years, so it was earmarked for a substantial transformation and modernization.

Plans included the restoration of the original 1938 buildings and re-vamping of parking, driveways, walkways and surrounding green space down to the river. The new neighbourhood was re-branded simply as “Lathrop” and now includes 1,116 units of mixed-income housing.

Developers sought to stay true to the designs of the original architects. While the interior units were renovated to modern-day standards, there was a focus on restoring building exteriors, including brickwork and limestone pillars, to their former glory.

Tree-lined front lawns and paved space for resident parking in the back of each building were also included in the architects’ original designs. Pathways are prominent, guiding pedestrians between buildings, parking, a new children’s playground and 11 acres of green space beyond.

Luminis’ Eclipse Mini EC600 fixtures were selected to illuminate the driveways and walkways throughout the residential complex. The classic design of the black luminaires complements the beautifully restored architecture.

“We were looking for a pole fixture with a clean, architectural profile that didn’t compete with the surrounding landscaping,” said Erin Held, design director at CharterSills, and lighting designer for the project. “And we wanted a luminaire that offered multiple distributions.”

Held selected EC600 luminaires with Type III distribution for the fixtures adjacent to the residential buildings, ensuring there was sufficient light pushed down to the nearby pathways without residual glare directed at the residence windows. Fixtures further along the paths and driveways feature a Type V distribution, where light is equally dispersed to the ground below, providing a safe, well-lit environment. Eclipse’s BUG rating of zero ensures that all light is delivered where intended.

All luminaires have a 3000K colour temperature, and Eclipse’s advanced silicone optics offer greater colour stability and performance, so residents and guests experience a warm, welcoming illumination as they enter the complex by car or on foot.

Each of the sixty-five Eclipse luminaires is affixed to a Luminis 5″ diameter round aluminum pole designed to offer maximum resistance to wind load. The components are made of a corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy and hardware is stainless steel. Combined with Luminis’ meticulous in-house powder coating technique that provides the highest paint quality and adhesion for protection against the weather, Eclipse will stand up to the most severe Chicago winters.

Developers will be seeking LEED and Enterprise Green Communities certifications in the affordable housing sector category. Energy efficiency is one of the benchmarks, and Eclipse is up to the challenge. It delivers significant advantages in lighting efficiency and energy saving and it has a lifetime beyond 130,000 hours.

“Luminis offered the aesthetics and light distributions we were looking for,” Held said. “The client is very pleased with the look of the luminaires and their performance.”

Project details

• Project name: Lathrop
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Category: exterior lighting
• Project completion: August 2018
• Specifier: Harley Ellis Devereaux
• Lighting consultant: CharterSills
• Luminis agent: Archibald & Meek
• Photography: Ben Romag