An innovative structure transformed with light

It’s called “The Barn” but no farmer would ever recognize it. This innovative, multi-use structure wasn’t designed to store hay. It’s intended to bring people together along the Sacramento Riverfront, in the up-and-coming Bridge District of West Sacramento, California. Though made of barn-like materials (beams, shingles), it lacks the blocky simplicity of traditional barns. Its curved structure, more like a river or a bridge, is designed so that no two views are the same. Structurally, it seems to defy gravity, while echoing the aquatic curves of the nearby Sacramento River.

The space that The Barn creates is equally unusual. There are 6,000 square feet of canopied shade against the summer heat, anchored by approximately 3,000 square feet of usable interior space. Its initial tenants include Friday night food trucks, a speakers series, music, and other activities intended to bring people together under the shade of its generous canopy. The Barn’s intent is to remind visitors of the region’s agricultural heritage while bringing the concept forward with its decidedly unconventional, otherworldly look.

The nightly illumination of the Barn is equally unconventional—and just as powerful. “This was our most unusual project to date,” recalls the lighting designer, Michael Sestak. “With the architect’s restriction that no lights could be mounted on the structure, we relied on the concept of precise floodlighting to provide 360-degree illumination of the Barn.”

Sestak and his team selected Color Kinetic Burst Powercore luminaires for their high level of illuminance. Plus, these flexible luminaires provided a choice of precise aiming lenses and cut-off shrouds that enabled them to carefully tailor the floodlighting. This capability was particularly important given the non-linear design of the building, since each luminaire would be lighting a very different portion of the structure, and the lighting needed to be as inobtrusive as possible for visitors.

To provide comprehensive, consistent floodlighting, the designers positioned four custom-fabricated 30-foot steel powder-coated poles to north, south, east, and west locations about 25 feet from the façade of the Barn, in locations that didn’t block pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Each pole contains four Burst luminaires mounted on custom-fabricated junction boxes that create a flat surface for mounting and convenient wiring. Each luminaire includes a glare shield, trim ring, honeycomb louver, and linear spread lens to allow for extremely precise aiming and fine tuning.

As part of the project’s commitment to energy efficiency, the 16 luminaires require total power consumption of a remarkably low 480 watts. And their reliability ensures constant illumination even during the arid, hot weather conditions of the region.

The ability to bring color-changing light to the structure was also critical, since project managers wanted general illumination, as well as ever-shifting color light that enhanced visual appeal, Light System Manager (now specified with iPlayer 4) gives tenants (such as a restaurant manager) simple remote access to (and control of) the lighting system, enabling custom-themed colors for events.

Judging from the enthusiasm of attendees of all ages, the Barn exerts a strong pull on local residents, drawing them to the riverfront and its River Walk Promenade. At the crossroads of culinary and cultural events, public and private partnership, and land and water, the Barn is a remarkable place. Dynamic lighting from Color Kinetics serves to further amplify its unconventional appeal.