Illuminating a New Landmark on Campus

Sam Houston State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine has raised the bar for campus architectural design with its five-level, high-tech parking garage. The highly visible parking structure amplifies the college's presence in Conroe, TX, USA due to its unique design and new lighting installation. The garage offers 983 parking spaces, gateless parking access, license plate recognition, a parking guidance system and a visually striking exterior to enhance the user experience. The structure’s newfound prominence allows it to even act as a billboard for those traversing Interstate 45.

The new lighting design aimed to enhance the connection to the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the visibility of the garage. The concept draws inspiration from DNA sequencing, expressed in Sam Houston State University colors.

The installation incorporates Color Kinetics Accent MX Powercore gen3 luminaires to backlight vertical colored fabric panels depicting abstract DNA sequences. This design supports the theme of the existing campus while also providing essential ventilation. The programmable lighting system allows the exterior to change colors for special occasions and national holidays, increasing the structure’s adaptability and presence.

A key challenge was mounting the fixtures on the exterior of the parking structure and around the screens. This was addressed through careful coordination and the strategic use of mounting accessories, ensuring the luminaires remained secure and inaccessible to garage users.

Color Kinetics luminaires were selected for this project due to their quality, flexibility and energy efficiency, enabling a durable lighting solution that supports both the architectural intent an long-term performance goals. Michelle Holman of CW lighting noted, “when Kirksey showed us the renderings, we knew accent was the correct product.  We have used miles and miles of accent in and around the Houston area.  It is a quality product with infinite visual color changing possibilities —our techs love programming different shows and effects with this product— and it has a proven track record."