Completed in July 2021 in Bellevue, Nebraska, the Sustainability Learning Lab at Bellevue University was designed by HDR, with lighting design led by Eric Rushenberg and Allie Huffman.
Conceived as a workshop dedicated to horticulture and agricultural research, the project connects students to the university’s sustainability mission through a hands-on environment where architecture and high-tech systems are fully visible and operational.
At the core of the design is a system of custom horticultural luminaires, developed to support academic study and experimentation. These fixtures provide full-spectrum photosynthetic active radiation and high photon flux density, and are mounted on movable structures that allow precise adjustments. Plug-and-cord connections and toolless hardware enable flexibility and ease of maintenance, while custom glazing with ribbed optics diffuses direct solar glare and maintains high light transmission for plant growth.
The lighting system is supported by a custom control algorithm that verifies performance and quantifies illumination in real time. Photosensors, time clocks, and digital dimming allow users to modulate light levels through an intuitive interface, while also measuring daylight contribution for research purposes.
