Lighting Science Group and Office for Visual Interaction - New York City Lights Prototyping Contract

The DDC created this two-stage, international competition to select a new streetlight design for New York City for the 21st century and OVI was selected for its LED-based streetlight design. OVI has partnered with LSG to engineer, produce and test prototypes of its winning design of the LED-based streetlights.  

OVI and LSG intend to commence the engineering work this month, followed by testing of the prototypes in Spring 2009 for the City Lights Streetlight project.  The goal is to provide a model for widespread lighting of streets, sidewalks and parks within the City’s five boroughs.  

“Lighting Science is honored to be part of New York City’s project to test long-lasting, eco-friendly lights to illuminate our world-renowned streets and boroughs,” said Govi Rao, chairman and chief executive officer of LSG. “We are proud to play an integral role in realizing this important carbon-reduction goal. We expect this project will herald a new era of LED adoption and the continued greening of New York City.”

“The new streetlight is the first of its kind, and will set the new standard of lighting for city streets worldwide”, said Enrique Peiniger, principal, OVI. “The long lasting properties of LED technology enhances security, minimizes maintenance and the energy savings can be considerable as the technology develops. Rather than outdating itself in 20 years, the lighting solution can evolve with technology and improve with age, becoming less costly and consuming less energy over time,”
said Jean Sundin, principal, OVI.

In this phase of the project, OVI and LSG will be responsible for:
• Fabrication of working prototypes, including all necessary parts; and
• Performance of all testing necessary to ensure that the prototypes meet all design and performance criteria.

When full development of the winning design is completed and that design is determined to have met the project’s standards, New York City intends to add it to the Department of Transportation's Street Lighting Catalogue, continuing its tradition of innovative street lighting that began more than two centuries ago.

There are more than 300,000 streetlights in New York City, the majority of which are based on high-pressure sodium technology.  Replacing a commonly used 150 watt high pressure sodium lamp with the proposed LED lighting solution will reduce the energy consumption by 25-30 percent to an estimated 105 watts per LED module.  

Winning Design:
The winning design developed by OVI combines hi-flux LED technology with state-of-art lensing optics in a small oval-shaped profile, which provides the structural framework and heat sink for the LED modules.

Linear arrays of LEDs are grouped into segments. Each segment has a primary and secondary optics system to achieve the required light distribution pattern. This modular design strategy of components allows usage and interchangeability among the various streetlight configurations. The segmented, modular lighting design innovation for the new streetlight also streamlines fabrication, product handling and can accommodate future generations of LED technology as it becomes available.

About Lighting Science:
Lighting Science Group Corporation (www.lsgc.com) designs, manufactures and markets LED lighting solutions for consumer and professional applications that are environmentally friendlier and less costly to operate than traditional lighting products. LSG's patented and patent-pending designs in power management, thermal management, controls and micro-electronics are engineered to enhance lighting performance, reduce energy consumption, lower maintenance costs and eliminate the use of hazardous materials. LSG designs and manufactures ready- to- use LED lamps and luminaires, as well as provides customized lighting solutions for architectural and artistic projects. LSG has offices in New York, New York; New Jersey; Sacramento, California; Satellite Beach, Florida; Dallas, Texas; Tokyo, Japan; Goes, The Netherlands; and Buckinghamshire, England.

About LED Holdings:
LED Holdings, LLC, a portfolio company of Pegasus Capital Advisors
(www.pcalp.com) holds a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of Lighting Science Group Corporation. Pegasus Capital Advisors is a private equity fund manager with offices in New York, New York and Cos Cob, Connecticut. Founded in 1995, Pegasus provides capital to middle market companies across a wide range of industries, with particular focus on businesses that make a meaningful contribution to society by positively affecting the environment, contributing to sustainability and enabling healthy living.

About Office for Visual Interaction, Inc. (OVI):
Office for Visual Interaction, Inc. (OVI) is a New York City-based firm specialized in lighting design for signature architecture and custom luminaire design.  OVI is a recognized leader in the lighting industry providing sustainable and energy efficient lighting solutions for award-winning projects spanning the globe.

Research and development are an integral part of OVI’s engineering approach and precise use of technology and has successfully illuminated buildings and projects of all styles and scales: from Renzo Piano’s New York Times skyscraper to Zaha Hadid’s Swiss ski jump, from custom LED technology of the New York City Streetlight fixtures to a lighting design and masterplan for the entire Scottish Parliament complex.

As a member of the US Green Building Council, OVI takes an inventive and multi-disciplinary approach to sustainability. The principals recognize and promote architectural opportunities to incorporate daylight and LEED effective solutions, as well as, use of low-energy light sources that do not compromise aesthetics.  OVI is a frequent collaborator with the industry to develop custom fixtures, incorporating specialized finishes, innovative manufacturing techniques, and emerging light sources.  Designs by OVI also prioritize ease of maintenance, ensuring they will endure over time.

Active in the broader professional sphere, OVI principals Jean Sundin and Enrique Peiniger take leading roles in European and North American lighting organizations, lecturing and teaching worldwide.