RAISING THE CURTAIN

All lighting is dimmable and zoned to create various scenes, including a lecture mode (pictured).

Photos: Courtesy of Simon Fraser University Harbor Front Theater

Vancouver is frequently ranked as one of the world’s top cities due, in part, to its natural beauty—beaches and mountains surround the city and greenspace is readily available in the downtown area. Located adjacent to Vancouver Harbor, Simon Fraser University recognized the need to bring that outside serenity indoors with the renovation of its Harbor Front Theater. The lecture theater had become antiquated and was targeted for a complete makeover of its interior including refreshing the lighting, structural, mechanical, electrical, audio/visual and security aspects of the building.

“The design objective of the 120-seat lecture theater was that it could be tailored to a broad array of programs such as presentations, speeches and movies with simple and intuitive controls in a warm and welcoming space that feels more like a performance theater than an institutional venue,” explained Ellie Niakan, principal, head of Light Studio at Introba. “The lighting needed to be adaptive and flexible…it was required to be subtle and soft. Playing with light/shadows and the textures of the lit surfaces were the key in designing the lighting of the space.”

The main challenge was dealing with an outdated facility that contained “lots of surprises,” Niakan admitted. Specular interior wood surfaces resulted in the potential visibility of the light sources and were addressed via various mock-ups to ensure that the light source and lamp imaging were concealed. Once the physical space was given a facelift, the layers of lighting and an updated lighting control system helped create a mixed-use facility.

The new lighting design guides viewers toward the stage with luminaires that are hidden from view. Small aperture Soraa Arc adjustable LED downlights with interchangeable magnetic optics— varying from 16 to 60 deg—provide precise beams of light to illuminate the entire seating area evenly and keep lamp imaging and scalloping away from the walls. The downlights are only 3 in. in diameter, and the beam spreads can be easily changed onsite, as they are controlled by magnetic snap-on lenses.

Various lenses with beam spreads ranging from 16 to 60 deg evenly distribute light over the seating area.

At A Glance

• The project earned a 2023 IES Illumination Award of Merit.

• The project’s budget was $1.35 million.

• Illumination level in the main area is 400+ Lux.

Avoiding lamp imaging due to the glossiness of the acoustic wall and ceiling paneling was a particularly challenging obstacle that was overcome. To create a quiet ceiling, the downlights were installed far from each other and the designers relied on the fixtures’ beam spreads and aiming capabilities to create even lighting on the seating area.

The lighting above the stage was zoned to allow for a flexible podium location, highlighting lecturers based on their position. The irregular shape of the coves is a distinct feature of the space. The team implemented diffused VarioLED Hydra HD light sources in the coves and concealed them from all viewing angles.

“The play of light and shadow on the warm, wood-clad surfaces creates visual interest while remaining soft and elegant and avoids any visual distraction for the audience and presenter,” added Niakan. “All the luminaires are dimmable, and the project was completed on budget and according to ASHRAE 90.1 energy requirements.”

The end result is a theater that can now serve diverse populations as well as offer an added revenue source for the university. “[It’s an] attractive space that can be rented out to groups outside of university,” Niakan said. “The lighting is accessible and can be easily maintained, and it’s easy on the eye for both the presenter and the students, with no visual glare.”