FORT LANGLEY
Playing with History
An all LED design
scheme gives a
dramatic makeover
to a celebrated
19th century fort
Photos: Galina Zbrizher
BY DIANA VENTIMIGLIA
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7-W LED downlights, one per column,
illuminate the architecture of the wood
buildings. Above, buildings surrounding
an open courtyard present a unified
appearance. The soft floodlighting of the
white buildings creates a sharp contrast to
the rhythmic pattern of the wood buildings.
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FORT LANGLEY
N
estled alongside the Fraser Riv-
palisade—an approximately 300-meter
aimed to create a traditional scene and a
er and mountain vistas, the na-
long wall made of heavy timber that wraps
pleasant feel appropriate to a historic facili-
tional historic site of Fort Lang-
around the Fort as a defensive structure.
ty. As you approach the entrance to the Fort,
15-W LED floodlights stanchion ground-
ley, British Columbia, remains
The fifth pole was positioned at the exit gate.
an icon of a fur trade organization that
Inside the Fort, each of the building’s door-
mounted or strap-mounted to trees create
was thriving a century-and-a-half ago.
ways had a double lamp holder above it with
a subtle glow and light the walkway leading
Built in 1827 as part of the Hudson’s Bay
halogen PAR 38 lamps. The connected load
to the bastions and palisade.
Company’s network of fur trading posts
of the existing system was about 7kW. “The
Bastions at the corners of the site were
across what is now western Canada, the
lighting acted more as a severe spotlight,”
used as lookout stations and temporary
Fort wasn’t designated as a national his-
says Zbrizher. “It wasn’t emphasizing the
housing. To enhance their stature, 7-W
toric site by the Canadian government
structures in an attractive way.”
downlights, angle-mounted at the columns
until 1923, and you can still see stacks of
Using a delicate hand, Zbrizher devised
and tucked behind a shielding beam, were
furs and other common articles of trade
a lighting concept that touches each indi-
used to light the wall of the gallery, the path
and commerce at the Fort today.
vidual structure, as opposed to merely shin-
adjacent to the palisade. Bastions, entered
Fort Langley includes original and re-
ing light from the distant corners of Langley.
from the gallery, use the same 7-W down-
constructed buildings for guests to visit,
The design allows visitors to experience the
lights for visual continuity. The gallery is
including servant’s quarters, a storehouse
and a blacksmith shop. Although the Fort
offered patrons an abundance of history,
it lacked the excitement to invite them in.
Part of the problem was uninspired site
lighting. Langley was merely floodlit with
'LEDs allowed the lighting to create a scene with
a natural, harmonious feel appropriate to the
historic site. They allowed precise placement of the
light where it’s needed'
poles, doing little to enhance the historical
structures within. Realizing the condition
Fort and its history as it was intended. An
lighted with angle-mounted downlights
of the site, and that public expectations
all LED solution proved to be the best ap-
tucked behind a shielding beam. The pali-
change over time, Parks Canada commis-
proach. “The LEDs allowed the lighting to
sade is lighted with 24-W shielded 10 by 77
sioned Total Lighting Solutions, Vancouver,
create a scene with a natural, harmonious
deg LED floodlights placed 70 ft on center
British Columbia, to relight Langley.
feel appropriate to the historic site,” says
outside the Fort. The lighted palisade an-
The goals of the project were to create a
Zbrizher. “They are a great source that al-
chors create a soft, yet prominent glow
pleasant and dramatic evening environment
lows precise placement of the light where
around Langley, establishing its rightful
suitable for public events, private functions
it’s needed, thus allowing more control over
place as an important historic landmark.
and celebrations. “Parks Canada wanted to
composition while minimizing waste of en-
light the Fort appropriately, respecting its
ergy.” The entire project is lighted with only
round an open courtyard. A key challenge
historical importance,” says Galina Zbrizher,
three fixture types, is photocell-controlled
was determining how to mount the fixtures
principal at Total Lighting Solutions. “Along
and consumes 2kW, 3626 kWh per year less
to the buildings without damaging them. “All
with these aesthetic goals, they wanted
than what was consumed by the original
surface luminaires are unistrut-mounted,
easy maintainability, energy effectiveness
five poles lighting the Fort.
minimizing attachments to the historic structures,“ says Zbrizher. “We used super shal-
and low operating costs.”
Previously, Langley was illuminated by 10
Inside the Fort, the seven buildings sur-
A NEW LOOK
low luminaires to achieve better shielding.”
400-W metal halide floods mounted on five
The Fort consists of seven buildings, two
The two timber buildings painted white
30 ft-high poles, four of which were located
bastions, a colonnade inside and the pali-
are accented by a minimum number of
near the outside corners of a surrounding
sade surrounding the structures. Zbrizher
shielded, stanchion-mounted 15-W LED
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FORT LANGLEY
WELCOME TO FORT LANGLEY
7
1
6
4
5
2
3
The gallery is lighted with angle-mounted
downlights tucked behind a shielding beam.
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floodlights, focused for uniformity and
are occupancy-sensor controlled, and the
minimum spill light. The other five timber
walls receive the reflected light for visual
buildings are lighted with 7-W downlights
comfort. All of the lighting is time clock and
mounted under the overhangs of each col-
photocell-controlled. “We faced some dif-
umn. The lighting illuminates walkways,
ficult challenges with this project,” says
defines boundaries and emphasizes the
Zbrizher. “Aside from the mounting restric-
architecture. The soft floodlighting of the
tions, there was a short construction pe-
white buildings creates planar elements
riod and a low budget. Both were met with
in contrast to the sharp rhythmic pattern
judicious use of luminaires, reducing the
on the timber buildings. “The scene really
inventory to only three types of luminaires
has a natural look,” says Zbrizher.
and by careful planning.” ■
Two 7-W LED downlights over the stairs
leading to the second floor of the bastions
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FORT LANGLEY
The white timber buildings are accented with shielded, stanchion-mounted 15-W LED floodlights.
1. Bastions
2. Palisade
3. Gallery
4. Servant’s Quarters
5. Storehouse
6. Blacksmith Shop
7. White Timber Building
METRICS THAT MATTER
Fort Langley
Energy Use: 13.5kw to 15kw
(complies with ASHRAE/IESNA
90.1-2007)
Lamp Types: 1
Fixtures Types: 3
THE DESIGNER
Galina Zbrizher, IALD, LC, Member
IES (1986), is the firm principal of
Total Lighting Solutions, Vancouver, British Columbia.
The stairs leading to the top of the bastions use two 7-W LED downlights to create a soft glow.
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