The McMaster Museum of Art is upgrading the lighting systems in all of its exhibition galleries – significantly reducing energy consumption and relamping costs, while enhancing the quality of light, control and ease of the use.

The new system, designed by Litelab, installed by T. Lloyd Electric of Hamilton, is now in use. Our main floor galleries were upgraded in late December 2016 and the fourth floor galleries are schedule to be changed over later this year.

“The new lights are amazing,” says Jennifer Petteplace, the Museum’s Installation and Preservation Officer. “They are lighter weight, easier to handle because they do not get hot, and safer because they lock into the track. I’m able to light large works in a way I never could before—with fewer bulbs. It feels a bit like going from an abacus to an iMac.”

“And the quality of the light is incredible…very clear, smooth and seamless.”

The previous system, once considered ‘state of the art’, had been in place since the Museum opened its doors in the current facility, 23 years ago. Facility Services at McMaster University contracted a Senior Lighting Consultant from Arup Engineering Consultants (New York and Toronto), to review and provide design and hardware recommendations. Arup’s most recent museum lighting contracts have been with the Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York; and Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Moreover, Arup won the Illuminating Engineering Society Award of Merit in 2015.