School Gym Renovation | LED Lighting

During the renovation of a school gym, we combined new LED lighting with a complete electrical upgrade and related building work. The result is a brighter, safer and more functional space ready for everyday school use.

A renovation where replacing the luminaires alone was not enough

The modernisation of this school gym shows that in older buildings, new lighting may be only one part of a much broader technical solution. The original condition required renewal of the electrical installation, damaged surfaces and other parts of the building, so the renovation had to be approached as one functional whole.

When lighting a gym, the number of luminaires and their power rating are not the only deciding factors. The height of the space, dimensions of the sports area, light distribution, suitable optics, glare control and the technical possibilities of the existing electrical installation all matter. Only the combination of these factors creates a lighting system suitable for everyday operation.

New LED lighting for a high sports hall

We illuminated the main sports area with 16 SLX UFO LN 17 800 luminaires. These high-output LED luminaires are suitable for spaces with greater mounting heights, where sufficient light must reach a large area while being distributed as evenly as possible.

The specific version used in this project has a power rating of 120 W, a luminous flux of 19,500 lm and an efficacy of 162 lm/W. The luminaires use neutral white light at 4000 K, 90° optics, an IP65 protection rating and a colour rendering index of CRI 80+.

Number of luminaires: 16
Power per luminaire: 120 W
Luminous flux: 19,500 lm
Luminous efficacy: 162 lm/W
Colour temperature: 4000 K
Optics: 90°
Protection rating: IP65
Colour rendering: CRI 80+

With sixteen luminaires, the installed power of the main lighting system is approximately 1.92 kW. Power consumption alone, however, says nothing about lighting quality. What matters is the relationship between energy use, luminous flux, optics and how the light reaches the working area – in this case, the sports surface.

The wide 90° optics help distribute light from a higher mounting level over a larger area, while the neutral white 4000 K light preserves a clean and natural visual perception of the space.

Technical information about the series is also available directly on the manufacturer’s website: SLX UFO LN 17 800.

A new electrical installation as the basis for safe operation

The most important part of the renovation is almost invisible once the work is complete. The original electrical installation no longer met the requirements for safe operation, so the project included its complete renewal.

The technical solution included new electrical wiring, protection by automatic disconnection of the power supply and the use of residual-current devices. After completion, insulation-resistance measurements, polarity testing, functional tests and a final inspection of the electrical installation were required.

This approach is essential when renovating older schools. Replacing an outdated luminaire with a new LED solution does not in itself resolve the technical condition of supply circuits, protective devices or electrical wiring. A new lighting system must therefore always be assessed in the context of the entire building.

Before and after: lighting also highlighted the gym’s building refurbishment

Photos of the original condition and the completed project clearly show how important the combination of light and surfaces is during a renovation. The original space appeared darker and technically outdated. After the refurbishment, its overall visual character changed significantly.

The new light-coloured surfaces reflect more incident light and help create a more open and airy interior. The wooden wall cladding remained a natural part of the gym, while the refurbished sports surface and clean white areas form a unified visual whole with the new LED lighting.

Projects like this demonstrate that the final impression is not created by the luminaire alone. Light always works together with the room geometry, wall colours, materials and the surfaces from which it is reflected.

Lighting as part of the complete technical solution

During the renovation, the individual works had to be coordinated so that they followed one another correctly. Dismantling, construction work, new electrical wiring, preparation of mounting points and the installation of the lighting itself cannot be treated as isolated tasks in a project like this.

The result is therefore more than simply replacing one generation of luminaires with another. It is a renewed technical foundation for the space on which the new lighting system can operate safely and reliably.

The renovation also included other areas of the school

The project was not limited to the gym. The renovation also covered selected sanitary facilities and related technical work, including plumbing, electrical installations, surfaces and lighting.

The lighting supply also included recessed MESON LED luminaires rated at 12.5 W with a colour temperature of 3000 K. The main focus of this reference project, however, remains the lighting and electrical solution for the gym itself.

Why a comprehensive approach to school lighting pays off

This project is a good example of why modernising lighting in an older school should not begin simply by choosing a new luminaire. First, the technical condition of the building, electrical installation and switchboards must be understood. Only then should the lighting solution be selected according to the dimensions, mounting height and way each space is used.

In a gym, the assessment includes not only luminaire output, but also light distribution, optics, uniformity, glare, mechanical resistance and mounting method. A solution that works in one school may therefore not automatically be suitable for another gym.

You can read more about our approach to modernising school buildings in the article Modernising Lighting and Energy Systems for Schools.

From technical design to implementation

At LEDCO, we approach professional lighting as part of a building’s architecture and technical operation. For schools, sports facilities and other public buildings, we can provide suitable luminaire selection, lighting design, supply, installation and related technical works.

More information about our approach can be found in the section on custom professional lighting projects.

School Gym Renovation: New LED Lighting and Electrical Installation