Howard Community College - Science, Engineering & Technology Building

Location:

Columbia, MD

Architect:

Ayers Saint Gross Architects, Inc.

Engineer:

Leah Wallace Accociates, Inc.

Lighting Designer:

Ayers Saint Gross Architects, Inc.

Agent:

Federated Lighting

Photographer:

Tom Holdsworth

Howard Community College (HCC) sought a lighting design that would inspire and engage students in the Learning Commons, display areas, and corridors. The Dean of the Science, Engineering & Technology Division, Patti Turner, envisioned a design that went beyond standard classroom lighting. The solution? Incorporating the hexagonal benzene molecular structure as a thematic inspiration.

ASG Architects collaborated with Federated Lighting to create thirteen custom lighting configurations using Finelite’s HP-4 Direct pendant LED linear luminaires. The result was a visually striking design that reflected the molecular structure, providing both functionality and a dynamic aesthetic. Finelite’s engineers exceeded expectations by delivering interconnected, hexagonal designs with uniform illumination and mitered lenses.

Finelite’s tailored lighting solution delivered flexibility, affordability, and precision, surpassing the design team’s expectations. Corey Chang, Senior Associate at ASG Architects, was especially impressed by the unified design, noting, "We assumed we'd get linear segments, but the result was completely unexpected and beautiful."

Each luminaire was pre-assembled and tested to ensure quality. Finelite’s unique ID numbering system made installation easier by guiding contractors to assemble the fixtures in numerical order.

Finelite’s tailored lighting not only met the project’s aesthetic vision but also contributed to creating an inspiring STEM space for HCC. The final design reflected the college’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and learning.