Designers and building owners are exacting and thoughtful when conjuring the perfect elements to elevate a project. They carefully curate furnishings, art and decor, and finishing materials that breathe life and energy into a space and that will, by the end, unite in a collaborative, pleasing and functional aesthetic. As essential as selecting textures and tone, dedicated intention to quality lighting is the ultimate finish for every beautiful project.

Collaborative design

Just ask the team at Graphic Office Interiors, a renowned office design and furnishings company serving Vancouver Island since 1966. They embarked on a unique lighting project for their personal office in Saanichton that exemplifies the perfect marriage between lighting technology and developing an aesthetic that optimizes the client experience. The project marked the first collaboration between Kelly Inglis of Mac’s II Agencies and Graphic Office Interiors’ in-house registered interior designer, Laura Harlos. Graphic Office Interiors is known for its exclusive Steelcase furniture line, modular moveable walls and sound controlled rooms, but this was an opportunity to enhance their office space with state-of-the-art lighting solutions curated for each space.

Boardroom lighting design

The design journey began with the boardroom, a pivotal space that used Graphic Office Interiors’ signature sound-controlled methods. Reminiscent of the helm from Star Trek, with round seating facing a large monitor, the boardroom has a modern and futuristic ambiance. The challenge was to reduce ceiling perforations to maintain sound controlled integrity while avoiding the common approach of filling the room with pot lights or troffers.

Mac’s II Agencies presented the WAC Lighting Ventrix track system—previously known as the Strut—and configured it in a ‘U’ shape, suspended above the boardroom. The track system features a two-circuit design: one for soft up-light and another for the Stealth, a micro downlight element at the joints of the ‘U’ shape, providing task lighting on the outer tables when needed. The luminaire, finished in flat white, seamlessly blends with the ceiling, enhancing the room’s aesthetics without drawing attention.

“This design minimized reflections on the monitor and provides ambient lighting without puncturing the ceiling,” says Inglis, who is a lighting specification consultant at Mac’s II Agencies. “The ‘up-light’ technology combined with the natural light from 60 feet of windows creates a comfortable glow without harsh shadows.”

Sample area lighting design

“Our primary goal for the new presentation lounge was to highlight the vibrant array of finishes and materials available and create a comfortable experience for clients and designers,” Harlos says.

A 19-foot Ventrix track system was positioned above the sample drawers, away from the wall, and its high Colour Rendering Index (CRI) of 90 ensures that even subtle differences in fabric colours and textures are visible, which is crucial when pulling various samples for projects.

“The wide beam spread allows light to cascade down toward the drawers, extending as far as the depth of the four-foot cabinet,” Inglis says. “Finished in black, the luminaire completely disappears when looking toward the black accent wall, non-competing with the focal point luminaire already on display within the room—it is architecturally beautiful.”

A smaller Ventrix unit was installed above an adjacent workspace, using Multi Stealth Downlights to provide high-quality light control with minimal glare and ensuring comfortable customer interactions and clear visibility of samples.

“In the boardroom, the lighting surpassed our expectations,” Harlos says. “It performs beautifully in video conferences—there’s no glare or bright spots, and the room has a soft, warm glow that feels cozy and comfortable.

“In the presentation lounge, the high CRI lighting ensures no shadows or glare, which makes the space feel inviting and immersive for our customer teams. We were able to create an experience that is visually stunning and perfectly suited for the office.”

High-tech solutions

Lighting calculations and heat mapping were invaluable assets throughout the entire process. “By precisely measuring light levels, our team of experienced lighting designers ensured that illumination was balanced, achieving 20 to 24 foot-candles on average, ideal for walking spaces and general areas,” Inglis says.

The team was able to visualize the distribution of light and identify both well-lit and darker spots. “This enhanced the overall lighting quality and prevented issues like glare and uneven lighting, instilling confidence in the clients by meeting their specific needs with precision and efficiency,” she adds.

The project was completed in the fall of 2023, and the lighting solutions have since proven effective across all seasons. The collaborative approach enhanced the functionality and aesthetics of Graphic Office Interiors’ workspace but also demonstrated the power of combining innovative lighting solutions with state-of-the-art office design. “In fact, the success of this project has laid the foundation for continued collaborations, continuing to push the boundaries of office design and lighting excellence,” Inglis says. “Witnessing Graphic Offices’ customer teams enjoying such a modern, interactive space has been hugely rewarding.”

Exceptional design deserves expert lighting. Reach out to collaborate with Mac’s II Agencies online and explore their curated designer lighting solutions or connect on Instagram or LinkedIn.