San Diego Central Courthouse

San Diego, California
United States

Respective to the design team’s concept goals of connectivity, cohesiveness, and establishment of San Diego’s downtown civic environment, HLB’s lighting design provides transparency and a nighttime civic presence for the 25-story courthouse.

The 48-foot daylit atrium is the heart of the building, which welcomes guests and contains a security screening check-point. Electric lighting provides functional illumination for the check-point, accents architectural details, and emphasizes the concept of connectivity with the downtown district. Public corridors adjacent to the atrium and curtain wall façade were designed with the exterior appearance in mind; functional lighting softly washes the walls and provides an aesthetic glowing lantern appearance at night. Electric lighting responds to daylight availability via a daylight dimming control system. In the jury and courtrooms, recessed downlighting, perimeter linear wallwashers, and indirect cove lighting provide a uniform sense of brightness on the ceilings and walls. Preset dimming controls were used to allow the lighting to be adjusted for various court functions.

• Architectural Lighting
• Lighting Controls
• Civic