Overview
The COAST Ocean Innovation Hub, located in downtown Victoria, supports British Columbia’s blue economy by offering flexible workspaces tailored to ocean-related industries. Conceived to foster innovation and collaboration, the space contributes to the advancement of environmentally responsible maritime practices. BL Lighting provided a lighting strategy that complements the hub’s modern aesthetic and environmental objectives, enhancing both its usability and visual character.
BL Lighting
LIGHTING SOLUTIONS
In the multipurpose podcasting room, BL Lighting’s Neonview Flat RGBW was integrated, offering dynamic color-changing capabilities that enhance the linear acoustic panels. The luminaires deliver uniform, dot-free illumination with a 120° beam angle and offer both RGBW and white light (2700K–4000K), enabling customizable scenes to suit different functions, from audio-visual recordings to business meetings.
Lighting is controlled via the Nero system, an advanced wall-mounted controller that combines DMX and Bluetooth 5.0 Mesh. Nero offers intuitive, user-friendly adjustments through a touchscreen interface with haptic feedback and supports up to 4 zones and 16 scenes per zone. Its wireless Bluetooth connectivity enables reliable DMX signal transmission over distances up to 165 ft (50 m), making it ideal for flexible, multi-scene environments like the COAST hub. In other areas, basic dimmers and switches were employed to preserve simplicity while maintaining a consistent and accessible lighting approach.
BL Lighting
IMPACT & ATMOSPHERE
To support productivity and well-being, the illumination scheme was carefully developed to reduce glare and create a bright, uplifting atmosphere. BL Lighting’s Neonview Flat RGBW features a fully encapsulated silicone diffuser, ensuring a smooth, dot-free luminous surface with no visible glare, even when the light source is in direct view. With an output of up to 97 lumens per foot and a wide 120° beam angle, it provides consistent, comfortable illumination. By combining modern lighting technology with natural materials, the overall aesthetic of the hub was elevated while remaining aligned with its mission to foster innovation.
Paired with Nero, the system adapts seamlessly to a range of activities, from collaborative workshops to quiet research. Lighting plays a central and strategic role in stimulating creativity and supporting a wide range of uses, from informal creative sessions to technical presentations, without compromising visual comfort or energy efficiency.
BL Lighting
PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS
Engineer: AES Engineering – Victoria
Interior Designer: Western Design+Build
Lighting Agency: MAC’s II
Distributor: EECOL (Victoria)
Contractor: Sawyer Construction
Photographer: Brett Ryan Studios
