A Site-Wide Lighting Upgrade Built Around Performance and Existing Architecture
The Eastside YMCA project began with an evaluation of the property’s exterior lighting performance. Photometric analysis was used to identify areas where illumination was falling short and to determine how different fixture distributions and outputs could improve coverage across the parking areas, drive lanes, building perimeter and pedestrian zones.
Rather than treating the property as a simple one-for-one fixture replacement, LEDTOMORROW developed a mixed strategy: modernize the site and wall lighting where new performance was needed, while preserving existing architectural fixtures where their appearance remained important to the building.
Correct Uneven Exterior Lighting Without Stripping Away the Building’s Character
The property included large parking areas, perimeter circulation and existing decorative gooseneck fixtures that were part of the exterior architecture. A complete tear-out would have solved one problem while creating another. The new lighting strategy needed to improve site performance without making the building feel visually generic.
Parking Coverage
Improve light levels and distribution across large parking and vehicle-circulation areas.
Perimeter Visibility
Strengthen illumination along building edges and drive lanes where existing light levels were inadequate.
Architectural Preservation
Retain the original gooseneck fixture housings instead of replacing a defining exterior design element.
Energy Management
Integrate the upgraded exterior lighting with a centralized automation platform for scheduling and zone control.
Design the Distribution Before Replacing the Fixtures
The July 2022 photometric design modeled the exterior around a one-for-one pole-head replacement strategy using Type III optics at 25-foot mounting heights, supported by forward-throw wall-mounted lighting around the building perimeter.
Using the model, fixture outputs and distributions could be evaluated across separate calculation zones rather than relying on wattage alone. The values shown here are calculated design results from the photometric study, not field measurements.
8.7 fc
4.1 fc
Modern LED Pole Lighting for the Main Exterior Areas
The parking and circulation strategy centered on high-efficiency LED pole heads using Type III distribution. That optical pattern helped direct usable light along drive lanes and parking rows instead of simply creating bright circles immediately below each pole.
The photometric design assumed 25-foot mounting heights and used the site model to evaluate how the individual pole locations worked together across the property.
Type III Distribution
25 ft. Mounting
Preserve the Gooseneck Fixtures — Upgrade What Is Inside Them
One of the more distinctive parts of the project was the treatment of the existing architectural gooseneck fixtures. Instead of removing them, LEDTOMORROW retained the original housings and modernized the internal components.
The retrofit incorporated a direct-wire mogul base with 40W, 5000K frosted-glass LED globes. This allowed the fixtures to deliver substantially more useful output while maintaining the exterior design language already associated with the building.
Connect the Exterior Lighting to Day Automation
The upgraded lighting system was designed to work with Day Automation’s light-management platform, giving the facility a more coordinated way to manage schedules and lighting zones.
Controls add another layer of efficiency beyond fixture wattage alone by allowing lighting operation to respond to actual facility schedules and after-hours requirements.
A More Complete Exterior Lighting System
The final approach addressed the parking field, drive lanes, building perimeter, architectural lighting and control strategy as parts of the same system. The project improved the exterior lighting infrastructure without requiring every existing visual element to be discarded.
Improved Coverage
Photometric design guided the placement and distribution of light across high-priority and general exterior zones.
LED Modernization
Site, wall and architectural lighting were upgraded to more efficient LED technology.
Architectural Continuity
Original gooseneck housings were retained and internally converted rather than discarded.
Smarter Operation
Integration with Day Automation created a foundation for scheduled, zone-based lighting management.
Eastside YMCA Exterior Lighting Project
The completed site shows the mix of pole lighting, building-mounted fixtures and architectural context that informed the retrofit strategy.
Need to Modernize an Existing Exterior Lighting System?
LEDTOMORROW can evaluate existing light levels, fixture locations, mounting conditions, architectural requirements and controls to develop a retrofit strategy around the actual property.