Location
California, USA
Time
June 2024
Architect
HMC Architects
Application Scenarios
Corridor / Stairwell / Learning areas
Product
Long linear ceiling fixtures
LED module solutions
Dual CCT high-efficiency linear module
Project Background:
In June 2025, we participated in the lighting renovation project for the Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences in California. The client operates an educational campus that includes classrooms, laboratory learning areas, administrative offices, and high-traffic areas. The existing lighting infrastructure had been in operation for many years, primarily relying on fluorescent tube systems.
In early discussions, the most prominent point was that the client wasn’t simply looking to reduce electricity bills. At first glance, it seemed like a simple fluorescent-to-LED conversion project. However, as we began assessing the installation environment and usage patterns, we discovered that this was not a simple “bulb replacement” project, but a critical building lighting upgrade with stringent requirements for visual consistency and long-term reliability.
Especially in hallways and stairwells, lighting is more than just visibility—it directly impacts people’s confidence as they move through the space. Any uneven lighting, intermittent shadows, or flickering is immediately perceived as a safety hazard, not a comfort issue.
In the initial on-site feedback, we also noticed some important things: many renovation projects in similar environments failed not because of insufficient brightness, but because the lighting transition behavior (especially dimming and color change stability) did not meet people’s expectations in frequently moving spaces. From an engineering perspective, we immediately viewed it as a continuously operating infrastructure lighting system, rather than an office lighting upgrade.
Customer Needs:
The client’s requirements initially seemed straightforward: match fluorescent brightness while improving efficiency. However, once translated into engineering constraints, the project became significantly more complex.
They required dual color temperature control (3000K and 4000K) with smooth switching behavior, as different zones served different functional purposes—warmer tones for learning and collaborative environments, and neutral white for corridors and circulation paths.
At the same time, the system needed to support long operational hours, including sections running continuously throughout the day and night. This placed strong emphasis on long-term lumen stability and thermal reliability rather than peak performance alone.
A key constraint we identified early was the lighting safety requirement in stairwells. Unlike general office lighting, stair lighting must maintain consistent step visibility without creating hard shadows or excessive contrast, which means optical uniformity becomes more important than absolute brightness.
From a technical standpoint, the client also defined target parameters:
| Requirement | Target |
|---|---|
| Color Temperature | 3000K / 4000K switchable |
| CRI | ≥ Ra80 |
| System Efficiency | 130–140 lm/W |
| Dimming Control | DALI + Push Dim |
| Lifetime | ≥ 5 years continuous operation |
Engineering Challenges & Risk Considerations.
The most critical challenge in this project was not achieving brightness equivalence with fluorescent lamps—it was replicating the behavior of fluorescent light in space, while using a fundamentally different light source architecture. Fluorescent tubes emit light in a near-omnidirectional pattern, which naturally fills the fixture cavity and produces soft shadow transitions. LED linear modules, by contrast, are directional and segmented, which can easily lead to visible striping or discontinuous illumination when installed in long linear housings. This difference becomes especially noticeable in stairwells, where shadow continuity directly affects perceived safety.
Another major engineering constraint came from the continuous operation requirement. Some zones were expected to operate 24 hours a day, meaning thermal accumulation and long-term phosphor degradation could not be ignored. Based on our previous field experience, this type of usage pattern often reveals issues such as gradual color shift or lumen depreciation if thermal paths are not properly optimized at the PCB level.
Finally, we had to ensure compatibility with DALI dimming systems. Low-level dimming stability is often underestimated in retrofit projects, but in reality, flicker-free performance at low brightness is one of the most sensitive aspects of perceived lighting quality.
Higntek's Solutions:
Rather than directly replacing fluorescent tubes with a single LED strip design, we redefined the system architecture based on luminous flux equivalence and fixture geometry. The client required an equivalent of approximately 4000–5000 lumens per fixture, so we implemented a dual-module configuration inside each luminaire. This allowed us to distribute thermal load more evenly while improving optical uniformity across the full fixture length.
Each LED module was designed with a length of 1100mm to match the 1160mm fixture housing, leaving controlled tolerance space for mounting and end-cap integration. We also selected a 2.0mm PCB width, which provided sufficient routing space while improving thermal spreading capability compared to narrower strip designs.
For color temperature control, we adopted a dual-channel architecture (3000K and 4000K), each with independently controlled LED arrays. Instead of mixing phosphors or using spatial blending alone, we intentionally separated the thermal and electrical control paths. This allowed smoother transitions during dimming and reduced visible chromatic instability at intermediate states.
The driver system was designed around a constant current architecture supporting DALI and Push Dim control. One of the key decisions here was ensuring stable low-level dimming performance rather than maximizing peak efficiency, because in real-world corridors and stairwells, systems often operate at reduced brightness for extended periods.
We used high-efficiency 2835 LED packages with LM-80 validation data, focusing on system-level stability rather than theoretical peak efficacy. Each module was designed at approximately 16W, which we found to be the optimal balance between brightness, thermal density, and driver compatibility for this fixture type.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Module Type | Dual CCT Linear LED Module |
| Length | 1100 mm |
| Width | 20 mm |
| LED Count | 160 pcs per module |
| Color Temperature | 3000K / 4000K |
| Control | DALI + Push Dim |
| Voltage | 60V constant current system |
| Power | 16W per module |
| Efficiency Target | 130–140 lm/W system level |
Project Results:
After installation, the most immediate validation came from visual continuity rather than numerical measurements. In corridor and stairwell environments, the light distribution appeared significantly more continuous compared to the original fluorescent system, particularly in transition zones where lighting artifacts are usually most visible.
One of the most important outcomes was that we successfully matched the perceived brightness level of the fluorescent system while reducing overall energy consumption. The client confirmed that no redesign of the existing lighting plan was required, which is often a major cost factor in retrofit projects.
Each module achieved approximately 4000 lm output, and when installed as a dual-module system, the total fixture output reached around 8100 lm, while the entire luminaire system operated at approximately 34W.
From a system engineering perspective, this resulted in a significant efficiency improvement while maintaining lighting consistency across different architectural zones.
Why the Client Chose Higntek?
From the client’s perspective, the decision was not based solely on efficiency gains or product specifications. What mattered more was that we actively participated in redefining the retrofit logic itself.
Instead of simply offering a LED replacement module, we engaged early in discussions around optical behavior in stairwells, dimming stability under DALI systems, and long-term thermal reliability under continuous operation. In other words, we were not treated as a component supplier, but as part of the lighting system engineering process.
If you are working on similar retrofit or architectural lighting projects, we can support:
- Educational building lighting upgrades
- Office corridor and stairwell lighting systems
- Fluorescent-to-LED retrofit engineering
- DALI-compatible linear lighting modules
- Long-term continuous operation lighting design
Start Your Retrofit Lighting Engineering Project
If you are planning a fluorescent replacement or architectural lighting upgrade, we can help you evaluate feasibility from an engineering perspective before committing to tooling or mass production.
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Dai Shunli
Founder & CEO
I founded the Higntek brand in 2013. Driven by technology, we provide high-efficiency LED module customization, development, and manufacturing for professional lighting applications. Leveraging over a decade of expertise in the LED lighting field, we offer one-stop OEM lighting solution manufacturing services, from theoretical design to production, including: requirements analysis, solution design, prototype development, testing and verification, and mass production. We are committed to providing customized manufacturing for the unique lighting needs of different industries, application scenarios, and customers.
Through continuous development, Higntek now has a 3,000-square-meter factory and over 200 employees, providing more than 1,500 customized LED solutions to customers worldwide. In the future, we will continue to uphold the principles of efficiency, excellence, and innovation, making the development and manufacturing of professional lighting modules simpler and more reliable.
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