Historic restoration and renovation projects present unique challenges due to stringent preservation standards, requiring lighting designers to adapt their approaches based on whether the project is a restoration, renovation, or rehabilitation. Restoration focuses on returning a building to its original state or a significant historical moment, emphasizing historical accuracy, period-appropriate technology, regulatory compliance, and careful integration of power sources and control systems. An example is the careful retrofitting of original luminaires with modern technology while preserving their historical integrity.
Renovation updates a historic building for contemporary use while preserving its character, using modern lighting systems that complement the architecture and reflect the building’s historical ambiance, such as at the Robert F. Kennedy Ambassador School of Global Leadership. Rehabilitation involves repairing and upgrading a building to meet current codes and standards, allowing for more creative solutions, like custom luminaires integrated with architectural features at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. Each project type requires tailored lighting strategies to balance historical preservation with modern functionality.
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