The construction of a new Catholic school is a significant endeavor, one that aims to provide a nurturing and conducive environment for students to learn, grow, and thrive. While numerous aspects are essential in this process, the importance of lighting should not be underestimated. Proper lighting plays a crucial role in creating an atmosphere that supports both academic and spiritual development.

1. Safety and Security
   Ensuring the safety and security of students and staff is a paramount concern in any school setting. Adequate lighting in and around the school building is a fundamental element of this effort. Well-lit hallways, staircases, parking lots, and outdoor areas can help prevent accidents and deter unwanted intruders, fostering a sense of security for everyone within the school community.
2. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
   New school constructions should prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability. Modern lighting technologies, such as LED fixtures and sensors, offer significant energy savings and reduce long-term operational costs. By using these technologies, Catholic schools can demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship while also freeing up resources for educational purposes.
3. Aesthetics and Inspiration
   The visual aspect of lighting in a school is not to be overlooked. Well-designed lighting fixtures can complement the overall architecture of the school, creating an inviting and inspiring atmosphere. The aesthetic appeal of a well-lit space can motivate students and staff alike, fostering a sense of pride and ownership in the school’s environment.

Value Engineering

If you’ve spent any time in construction, you’ve been in this scenario: You get plans for your next project and you start the bid-gathering process. Things come back within a typical range, but the bid for lighting is way out of budget. Or maybe the bid looks good, and you get a good bid back but you find out late in the game that there’s a 12+ week lead time that’s throwing a wrench in your schedule.

Now what?
In situations like this, value engineering a lighting package tends to come up. There is value behind value engineering — when you do it the right way.

Why Lighting Causes Budget and Timeline Issues

First, let’s talk about the root problem here. Lighting can often cause budget and timeline issues. When it comes to delays, there are a few key factors that come into play:

1. High-end or custom fixtures are included in a set of plans and the manufacturer’s lead time is too long.
2. The lighting was over-specified, meaning architectural-grade fixtures were used where commercial-grade fixtures would provide proper lighting for less cost.
3. The lighting was specified through a narrow list of manufacturers. In some cases, a designer may choose from a short list, and while there can be advantages to this, it can lead to higher costs if other manufacturers have quality options for less.

In each of these scenarios, the lighting was presented as part of the overall project aesthetics. So if the project is value engineered, substituting for a cheaper product isn’t always the best solution. Instead, finding the best overall fit for the project is.

Value Engineering the Right Way

In the scenarios above, value engineering intended to solve a headache created a greater problem. So, how do you avoid creating more delays? Here are our tips for a great value-engineered lighting package that solves problems and saves money.

Tip #1: Make sure your value engineering partner knows lighting

Let’s face it — lighting is full of complicated specs and jargon. If you’re going to avoid color temperature surprises or other hiccups along the way, make sure that your value-engineering partner knows the specifications you need and how they compare.

Tip #2: Know if light levels are critical

Egress minimums and minimum foot-candle readings in parking lots are just two examples where light levels can be critical. If the beam spread (light distribution) of your fixtures isn’t right, you could end up with a fixture that looks good on paper with the right light output (lumens), but doesn’t get enough light where it’s needed.
If light levels are important, have your value engineering partner verify the photometrics.

Tip #3: Consider controls

Lighting controls are being required on more and more jobs, and with that comes the complexity of making sure the lighting you’re using is compatible with the controls. Incompatibility could result in strobing, flashing, or controls that simply don’t work.

If you have controls, make sure that is considered within the revised lighting specification.

Tip #4: Know local code

Title 24, BUG requirements, and wind ratings are three specific areas where local code compliance can put a project in jeopardy. When you value-engineer a project, make sure all local requirements are considered so you are able to fly through inspections.

Tip #5: Consider lead times

Typically value engineering comes hand-in-hand with reducing lead times, but logistics still need to be verified. If you get substitutes on a project, make sure the lead times are clear. And it doesn’t hurt to have your supplier verify the lead times with the manufacturer before you approve the new package.

Tip #6: Know where custom-fixture quality matters

Just because you have a custom light fixture specified on a plan, it doesn’t mean you can’t value engineer it. With that said, there are cases where you want a high-impact, high-end fixture to make a statement in your project. Make sure that value engineering doesn’t reduce the character and quality of your space.

Lighting is a major part of creating a space and an atmosphere for people to enjoy, and it’s important to work with the right partner who you can trust to get the job done.