Lighting System in Inteli Educational Complex | Lutron

Lutron creates architectural lighting controls and automated shading solutions. Wireless Pico remotes and Athena Lighting Control System from Lutron were used in the renovation of the Institute of Technology and Leadership (Inteli), in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Inteli is the first project-based tech college in Brazil. Its mission is to offer cutting-edge technology education. To accomplish this, the design team at PITA Architecture upended the standard approach to learning environments by embracing the latest technology. Every corner of this complex is crafted to promote curiosity, collaboration, and communication.

In crafting Inteli, the design team applied elements of the Agile Manifesto often adopted in leading technology company cultures. This approach begins by defining objectives to ensure the right products and systems are selected.

Lighting System Design Goals

• Eliminate the front and back of the classroom
• Accommodate whiteboards on every wall and the use of several screens without glare or hot spots
• Provide even, uniform lighting for every student
• Provide flexibility in classrooms and common areas to match needs of different visual tasks
• Control RGB lighting to develop decorative themes throughout interior
• Systems must be easy to use and understand

The Inteli classrooms are pentagon-shaped and organized without a clear front or back. They host a whiteboard on every wall and retractable screens at every table. Wireless Pico remotes from Lutron were used to make it easy for teachers to turn overhead lights off and raise/lower perimeter lighting so that every instructional surface is easy to see. The wireless nature of the Pico remotes gave a huge advantage during the renovation and the design team avoided pulling wires through the old factory walls, which saved time and frustration.

Athena from Lutron is an architectural-grade retail lighting control system that serves as a powerful tool for creating these learning environments. The cornerstones of this system are its simplicity and its flexibility. Architects and lighting designers around the globe use Athena to create different lighting scenes that can be adjusted with a single button.

Athena was used in different areas of the college such as the Intel general assembly area at the heart of the school, which features a large bleacher installation where students gather day and night. The luminaires are organized into several on/off zones orchestrated by Athena, so that lighting levels always support the way the area is being used, any time of day.

Inteli also wanted to create dramatic moments with RGB lighting control, but they needed an RGB control system that was easy to understand. The Athena touchscreen checked both boxes and now the interior walls flanking the auditorium have an integrated RGB lighting element. The staff uses the Athena touchscreen to change the color and intensity of the lights.