Auerbach Glasow, Architectural Lighting Design and Consulting collaborated with the design team of SMWM on the San Francisco Conservatory of Music project.
The facility is home to the 445-seat Concert Hall, the 135-seat Recital Hall and the 100-seat Osher Salon. Auerbach Glasow provided lighting design and management services for the performance spaces, public circulation, classrooms, and administrative areas. The team worked closely with the architects and Conservatory staff to meet the unique aesthetic and demanding technical requirements for lighting each space. Special attention was given to the renovation of the historic Concert Hall, intimate feeling of the Recital Hall, and dual lighting systems in the Osher Salon and Recital Hall. Comfort and appropriate light levels were of primary importance in all the rooms including practice rooms and classrooms. The public circulation areas, especially the three-story atrium lobby, were designed to show off the volume of the spaces as well as finishes and special features.
An integrated architectural lighting control system functions alongside the performance lighting system and allows lighting preset recall for the operation of the entire lighting system by a single operator. The latest technology of sinewave dimming is applied to assure a quiet system with no acoustical intrusion.
Concert Hall
The Concert Hall occupies space in both the existing renovated historic building and the new building addition. The audience chamber is built within the ballroom of the historic building while the performance stage extends into the new building addition eliminating one of the ballroom’s walls and linking and straddling the two structures.
General lighting for the Concert Hall is provided by downlights integrated into the coffered ceiling. Low voltage accentlights highlight the pilasters and are incorporated into decorative rosette ceiling panels. Catwalks provide access to the fixtures for above ceiling maintenance. The historic sconces were cleaned, brought up to code and renovated with the addition of an uplight component. The architectural lighting is dimmable and controlled by the same dimming system as the performance lighting system. The system allows seamless integration between house lighting and performance lighting.
The Recital Hall
The Recital Hall supports small ensemble events, visiting artist showcases, and auditions. The decorative pendants suspended above the audience area add scale and intimacy to the space, illuminate the volume, and provide downlighting for the audience. The pendants are connected to lowering devices for easy maintenance. Low voltage adjustable accentlights illuminate the perimeter walls with a soft pattern of light and provide task light for seating under the mezzanine. The transformers for these fixtures are remotely located to eliminate any potential noise. LED steplights illuminate the circulation pathways.
As in the Concert Hall, the architectural and performance lighting systems are controlled by the same dimming system. Performance and architectural lighting can be controlled through the architectural lighting control panels as well as the theatrical lighting control console. The architectural controls offer different settings depending upon how the space is being used. For performances, the pendants and accentlights are dimmed to enhance the theatrical ambiance.
When a higher light level is needed for rehearsal or classroom uses, energy efficient metal halide downlights are added to the setting to increase the light level.
The Osher Salon
The Osher Salon is used for a variety of events such as orchestra rehearsal, master classes, intimate performances, or social events.
The performance lighting system and architectural lighting system intertwine in the Osher Salon. The control system is designed for a flexible stage or seating arrangement that can face any direction in the room. ETC Source Four PAR fixtures are used to supplement performance lighting and provide general light for intimate social events.
Fluorescent downlights are used for classroom settings to provide uniform task light. Red/blue/green color mixing LED cove lights add accent to the multi-angled sloped ceiling. Both fluorescent and LED lighting fixtures are hidden in the architectural slot and cove to minimize the presence of the fixtures.
Library
The library is located on the top floor of the building with central skylights, a high ceiling reading room and single story stack areas. The circulation corridor that bisects the library is illuminated with skylights during the day. During the evening the skylight wells are illuminated with fluorescent niche lights recessed in the vertical face of the wells. In the high ceiling area the architectural lighting provides uniform task light on study desks and bookshelves using a suspended linear direct/indirect fluorescent lighting system. In low ceiling stack areas, a linear direct lighting system is coordinated with the layout of the stacks to effectively light the books.
Classrooms, Studios, and Practice Rooms
Classrooms, studios, and practice rooms are lit by a direct/indirect linear fluorescent lighting system with a simple, contemporary design. Soft and diffuse light provides uniform and ample light levels for reading and practicing. The uplight from the linear lighting system shows off the volume of the high ceiling studios.
Dual switching allows students to select different light levels. The electronic ballasts assure quiet and energy efficient operation.
Terrace
The library and studios encircle the open-roof top terrace. On one side of the terrace is a main circulation area connecting the library and interior corridor. This circulation area repeats some of the interior lighting design elements such as the vertical light cove and simple glowing decorative fixtures. The perimeter of the terrace is lit with semi-recessed sconces to provide light for the studio entries. Accentlights for the landscape create visual interest. Metal halide spotlights accent climbing vines and linear fluorescent fixtures wash the wall behind a raised platform. All terrace light sources are energy efficient fluorescent or metal halide lamps.
Circulation and Atrium
The three-story high atrium lobby is the central circulation spine for the building and a gathering space for students during school hours and for visitors during performances. The lighting for the atrium comprises fluorescent recessed downlights for ambient lighting, wallwashers to highlight the architecture and a series of decorative elements to personalize and activate the architectural experience. At the top of the atrium, the ceiling encompasses an array of multiple low voltage small glass decorative pendant fixtures. The randomly scattered decorative pendants are visible from all levels, illuminate the volume and enliven the space. Spotlights organized in an architectural ceiling cove highlight translucent glass panels surrounding the atrium. Perimeter walls lit with fluorescent wall washers, vertical light coves, and decorative sconces emphasize vertical surfaces and the three dimensionality of the space.
The multiple layers of lighting create different looks for daytime, twilight, night time, and after-hours. When daylight fills the space, only the perimeter wall lighting is operating. At night, lights are dimmed to create a smooth transition from the dark outdoors to the brighter indoor environment. The combination of switching and dimming saves energy and eases maintenance.
The central circulation corridor on each floor utilizes simple glowing decorative fluorescent ceiling fixtures for general lighting. Architectural feature lighting is provided by concealed fluorescent striplights in curved ceiling slots. Secondary corridors with student lockers are lit with direct and indirect energy efficient fluorescent lighting fixtures to provide uniform light levels.
Statistical Information
Size: 73,000-sq-ft
Project Cost $80 million (entire project)
Auerbach Glasow Start Date: Spring 2001
Opening Fall 2006
Project Team
Auerbach Glasow
Auerbach Pollock Friedlander
Patricia Glasow, IESNA, LC, IALD, Principal Lighting Designer
Yukiko Yoshida, IESNA, LC, Associate IALD, Project Manager, Lighting Designer
S. Leonard Auerbach, ASTC, IALD, LC, Principal in Charge, Principal Designer
Greg Weddig, Project Manager, Sound, Video and Communications Designer
Other Team Members
Project Manager: Oppenheim Lewis, Inc.
Architect: SMWM
Historic Architect: Page & Turnbull
Acoustics: Kirkegaard Associates
Programming: Howard Montgomery Steger Performance Architecture
Electrical & Mechanical Engineer: Flack + Kurtz Inc.
Structural Engineer: Forrell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc.
Civil Engineer: Rutherford & Chekene
General Contractor: Swinerton Builders
Landscape Architecture: GLS