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Pharos expands operations with new Denver office

As Pharos Architectural Controls continues with its ambitious growth and expansion plans, the company has announced the opening of a new office in Denver, Colorado, USA.

This new location will operate as the primary base for the Pharos US team and the company’s US support services and training operations.
The recently opened Denver office is situated in the Hampden area, a location selected for its proximity to Denver International Airport (DIA). Consistently ranked among the top five US domestic hubs, DIA provides convenient and direct travel options for visitors.

This ease of access will be invaluable as the new office will frequently host in-person training courses for end users and serve as a central location for managing demo products and product servicing. The expansion of the US operations will also allow Pharos to more effectively provide technical support to customers in in the Midwest and along the West Coast.

As with all strategic decisions taken by Pharos, this expansion has been driven by the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.

Pharos CEO, Simon Hicks, said: “The opening of the Denver office is an important part of our ongoing strategy to better support our clients in the Americas and it’s exciting to see our plans come to fruition. We are dedicated to continually improving our customer service and offering more opportunities for our clients to engage with us. The Denver office enables this and is in a great location, both with its time zone for technical support and flight connections for visitors.”

Harry Carver, Technical Sales Manager for the Americas at Pharos Architectural Controls, added: “The Pharos team and I have made great progress in delivering our US expansion plans, which includes an important new location in Denver. We have been working hard to build training and product showcases for the office, which we are looking forward to rolling out for our customers in the near future.”

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industry updates insight extra

Thorn Lighting’s Urba Lanterns chosen for Aykley Heads Footpath

Thorn Lighting's Dark Sky-approved Urba lanterns have been selected to enhance
the safety and usability of the Aykley Heads footpath, a popular nature trail near the
Durham Police Headquarters.

Active Travel is a growing trend in the UK. It is about connecting people with their
communities. Not only does it bring environmental benefits by reducing carbon
emissions, but it also supports people's health and well-being by promoting
movement and exercise.

Lighting Leads the Way in Active Travel

One of the biggest inhibitors to Active Travel at night is the feeling of safety. The
Aykley Heads footpath, a nature trail through a wooded area, required a safe level of
lighting during hours of darkness to encourage use. The area, rich in nocturnal
wildlife, needed lighting to ensure safety without disrupting the local ecosystem.
NightTune from Thorn is the latest technology in lighting that meets the needs of the
delicate night ecosystem and the safety of people.

A Sensitive Lighting Solution

Durham County Council installed 31 of Thorn Lighting's Urba NightTune lanterns
along the Aykley Heads footpath. These lanterns, approved by the International
Dark-Sky Association, offer unique features like colour temperature adjustment,
dimming regimes, and precise light control. These features not only minimise
environmental impact but also benefit nocturnal ecology with their 2200K warm
white light during most of the night.

Cllr John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for highways,
community safety, and rural communities, said: "As a council, one of our priorities is
providing safe and accessible Active Travel Routes to encourage people to choose
healthier and more environmentally friendly modes of transport. We’re also
committed to tackling climate change and protecting the county’s ecology and
biodiversity. NightTune has supported both of these ambitions by allowing us to
create well-lit areas for walking and cycling in a way that saves energy and respects
the nocturnal ecosystem.”

Overcoming Challenges

The Aykley Heads footpath project faced several challenges due to its status as a
prized area of natural beauty. The lighting needed to be both attractive during the
day and efficient at night while being sensitive to the local wildlife. Thorn's Urba
lanterns were chosen as they were able to meet all the specific and stringent lighting
requirements for this project. The luminaires were supplied in RAL 6005 Light Moss
Green to match the existing painted columns and blend seamlessly with the
surrounding trees and shrubs. The NR (Narrow Road) optics with internal louvres
ensured the lighting was focused on the footpaths with minimal overspill.

Main Benefits of the New Lighting Solution

This lighting solution provides super-efficient illumination with features sympathetic
to nocturnal wildlife. The control of light provided by the NR lens and internal louvre,
combined with zero-degree tilt, ensures that the scheme meets the criteria of the
International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) and follows the guidance provided by the
Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP).

Positive Feedback and Future Impact

Feedback from the public has been overwhelmingly positive. Residents appreciate
the improved safety and usability of the footpath, particularly the sensitive approach
to lighting that respects the natural environment. In recognition of its success, the
project was recently honoured as the Highways Electrical Association’s Project of
the Year.

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insight extra

Fagerhult launches Control Track Versa – and adds new, sustainable light to office venues

With the launch of the modular and suspended lighting system Control Track Versa, Fagerhult opens up new lighting possibilities in offices and workspaces — for both property owners and their tenants.

The new dual track combines indirect and direct, and the VIL luminaire enables 300 lux at the ceiling with just uplight. As each luminaire has its own driver, unlike a 48V system, there is no need for new calculations regarding capacity and planning when rearranging or moving luminaires.

“Property owners can easily create their own lighting infrastructure and offer tenants a whole new level of freedom of choice and flexibility. The rail system has been developed with a full focus on the offices and flexible workplaces of the future in mind. We have strived for versatility and forward thinking – and new, circular opportunities for the flexible offices and workplaces of the future,” says Peter Robertsson, Product Manager, Fagerhult.

Each luminaire can be easily combined and arranged along the track, and the lighting design can be updated when tenants move in – or want to change the interior or overall aesthetics of the office.

“The ease of moving the luminaires along the track means that all products can be used throughout their life cycle. This flexibility also brings a new creative height to architects and lighting designers,” says Peter Robertsson.

No matter the ceiling’s height or characteristics, Control Track Versa enables coherent architectural aesthetics and highest lighting quality. With fewer points of installation, the system is easy to install.

“Control Track is a long-term investment for any sustainable and forward-looking project. Based on a 230V system, you can add control systems such as Organic Response to lower energy consumption and add extra lighting comfort,” says Peter Robertsson.

VIL is a luminaire developed specifically for the dual Control Track. It enables 300 lux and an even and seamless uplight, good lighting comfort and a variety of lumen output options and light temperatures.

To add another level of flexibility and simplicity to Control Track Versa, Fagerhult have extended the range with products as Pleiad G4 128 Track, Zkye 55 G2 Zoom Spotlight, Notor 65 Track, and Notor 36 Track with integrated Organic Response sensor.