CLICK TO VIEW CLOSE-UP OF LIGHT SHELF

This light shelf provides control of light entering the windows both above the below the shelf.

Decorative lighting was a priority in the design of the public spaces at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. In public transition and sitting areas such as the reception area and atrium lobby, dimming controls were used to make these spaces appear unique and inviting. In the ballroom and restaurant, dimming is used for mood setting. And, in the boardrooms and conference rooms, dimming provides the flexibility needed to accommodate a variety of presentation media.

Daylight is plentiful in the multiple-story atrium lobby. Light shelves with angled slats are used to control the angle of the light that enters the low glazing and to reflect more daylight up through the higher glazing.

“The most enjoyable part of the building is our restaurant. It's very eclectic, and it has a lot of bright colors, a lot of different types of lighting, and a lot of different types of light fixtures. It is a kind of multi-purpose room: it's an open area that not only serves as a restaurant, but a bar, and a lounge. Throughout the day the lighting controls really set the whole mood of the area.” Ted Lorenzi, Director of Engineering Duration : 5 minutes 35 seconds

Cross-Section Diagram
Click on the floor plan below for more detailed information on the variety of lighting techniques used in the public spaces.

Design Goals
The main design goals for the hotel lighting were to use decorative lighting to enhance the unique appearance of the hotel, to use energy-efficient lighting where appropriate, and to use nighttime fade lighting sparingly. Ease of maintenance was another primary concern. In addition, the lighting designers were constrained by a strict and predetermined budget, and time was limited.

Solutions
Decorative incandescent lighting was used in public spaces, combined with energy-efficient cove lighting for ambient illumination. Discreet nighttime exterior building lighting was used to call attention to the architectural features instead of floodlighting large areas of the fade. Furthermore, glass and faux alabaster panels were backlighted to customize the reception desk, boardrooms, and corridors.

Lighting controls are standard issue in hotels. They are widely accepted and used for the flexibility they lend to the lighting design. Four-scene dimming control panels were installed in the public areas, such as the reception desk, atrium lobby, ballroom, boardrooms, restaurant and lounge.

Benefits
Decorative lighting integrated with lighting controls helps set the mood and ambiance of the public spaces. The lighting controls provide the flexibility to adapt the lighting to the time of day. For example, the ambiance of the restaurant is different for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and for the evening. The atrium lobby lighting can be changed in response to the amount of available daylight. The lighting controls lend flexibility to the ballroom and boardrooms, so that they can be adapted to their several potential uses.

Specifications & Credits
Owners :  Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, Chicago, Illinois
Controls manufacturer :  ALM Systems
Ballast manufacturer :  Advance Transformer Co.
Luminaire manufacturer :  Lightolier; Winona Lighting
Size :  32-story building
Construction cost :  $108 million dollars
Photography :  Michael Mutmansky