Projects
University of Toronto Leslie L. Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
Client
University of Toronto Leslie L. Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Architect
Foster and Partners

Completed
2005

Signature ‘floating’ pods* anchor the lighting design for this dramatic five-storey atrium. The theatre-inspired lighting design by Claude Engle was implemented in collaboration with Angus Lighting.  The lighting is computer controlled by a dimming system that changes the evening lighting every 15 minutes. Rather than attach luminaires to the pods themselves, which would have compromised the architect’s vision, the dramatic lighting comes from 128 – 375 watt and 300 watt quartz halogen lamps attached to black theatre pipes mounted on the vertical mullions. The fixtures can be moved up or down and become part of the spatial experience. At dusk, the pods mimic the setting sun, bursting with fiery reds and deep blues. Colours advance through a palette of hues, starting on one pod and flowing to the other.

 

In other parts of the building, a 12-storey central atrium brings sunlight deep into the core. For the upper perimeter, a high window system enables less expensive, concealed wall-wash lighting. Echoing the geometry of the interior architecture, LEDs were fixed into the handrails of hallways and
bridges for emergency lighting.

 

*Fun Fact: March 2009, Toronto Star, “The Faculty of Pharmacy lighted pods are Reason #113 in ‘175 Reasons to Love Toronto’ ”

 

University of Toronto Leslie L. Dan Faculty of Pharmacy