GPI International Blog: Beneath the Surface

GPI Begins Install at LEED Certified Office Building

GPI International - Friday, March 19, 2010
This week marks the long awaited kickoff of the installation of our Wells Fargo Center job in Norfolk, Viriginia.  From the time a project is initiated to the actual installation, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes.  Here’s just a little taste of why we’re so excited to finally be on the construction site:

1.  The Wells Fargo Center Office Tower is close to the hearts of Norfolk residents: despite a tough economic climate, the owners and developers pushed the project through with subsidies.

2. The orange Mercury onyx that the designers chose for this project is pretty unique (see below photograph of the unlit stone) and is sure to look gorgeous all lit up.  Can’t wait to get those stone photos up on the website!

3. All of the corners are meticulously quirk mitered and have been detailed down the the millimeter, so the vertical reveals are a clean architectural detail.

4. The tolerances on our products are pretty low, so the size of all the stone panels, LED panels, trims, and fasteners have also been detailed down to the mm before production.

5. We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure the book matched  seams are perfect.  So we’ve been harping on our stone guys to make the perfect cuts and account for stone waste.

6. Every single component will arrive on site at the same time; stone, LED panels, wiring, all of our tools, our crews, even stainless steel trims.  That’s a whole lot of coordination!

7. This marks the second large commercial job which will be using our NEWLY engineered increased capacity FLAT-Lite™ power supplies with integrated dimming capability.  So full dimming control can be achieved through the Lutron BMS, and can be set for each individual interior lighting scene!

After months of coordinating between the general contractor, electrical subcontractor, millwork subs, and owner to make sure everything goes smoothly, tomorrow the ball drops – check in daily for updates on the construction process.

Thanks to all those who behaved themselves on St. Patrick’s day to prepare for the trip to Norfolk!

View the Wells Fargo Center project rendering

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Dynamic Architecture: Building Management Systems and Interactive Controls

GPI International - Thursday, March 04, 2010

Imagine walking into a corridor that senses your presence and gradually produces light patterns on the wall that mimic your path of movement. Will central management of interior lighting eliminate the need for something as simple as a lightswitch?

With the evolution of building management systems from mere organization of a building’s technical services (electricity, lighting, heating, security) to complex digital sensory systems, the fundamental nature of architecture is shifting.




Central building management systems (BMS), traditionally used to monitor the practical functions of a building, now enable occupants to interact with space in a complex manner.  Visual and tactile experience are played against one another, as the experience of opening a door or flipping a lightswitch is often eliminated through automatic sensors and calibrated systems.  Lighting levels can fluctuate according to preset schedules, adjustments to ambient light at various times of day, or occupancy levels of a commercial interior.

Is this strong sudden emphasis on control systems driven by sustainability factors and the LEED© program, a response to modernism, or acceptance of the digital era?  It depends who you ask.  In the sustainability arena, BMS integration can significantly reduce energy usage.  The energy reduction and optimization of systems is most attractive to owners of large commercial buildings who wish to trim budgets and achieve LEED© certification.  For the conceptual architect or interior designer, control systems offer a chance to choreograph complex building functions and illustrate visual patterns for the occupants.  With sophisticated central management systems, the Corbusian ideal of “building as machine” becomes a delicate balance between an automated shell of a building and transferring control back to the end user of the space.  The scale of the building and the scale of the occupant are negotiated, as occupancy affects HVAC loads through careful calibration by a BMS system.  

Our daily interaction with architects and lighting designers echoes this trend.  In addition to designing lighting systems that integrate at a central control point, we’ve been seeing unprecedented interest in LED dimming control and the ability to set scenes.  For the architecture and interior design community in general, awareness of the capabilities of BMS systems has increased.  And with LED lighting technology sweeping into commercial markets, the interface between the two technologies is just beginning to be explored.  

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