Van Meter creates a comfortable, productive environment with Lutron Vive System
“A pleasant, productive workspace was one of our top priorities. The shades are a must-have. Everybody loves daylight, but at certain times glare would make it impossible to see your monitor without the shades.”
—Shaun Myers, Lighting Specialist, Van Meter Inc.
A flexible, scalable, wireless solution with app-based set up and control is essential to ensuring Van Meter can tailor lighting to a changing floor plan.
The following case study is courtesy of Lutron Electronics:
Background
Van Meter’s employee-owners are passionate about their workplace. So much so that for eight consecutive years it has ranked as one of the top workplaces in Iowa. This is what can happen when you understand that your people are the most valuable aspect of your business, and you treat them that way.
When the company decided to renovate and expand its Central Distribution Center and Cedar Rapids offices, it was essential the building systems delivered a comfortable, productive environment to the people who ultimately own the building: the employee-owners.
The Challenge
Lighting and shading solutions throughout the new space provide automated control of both electric light and daylight with simple-to-use, intuitive options for manual control, allowing employee-owners to make easy adjustments that suit their personal needs.
A flexible, scalable, wireless solution with app-based set up and control is essential to ensuring Van Meter can tailor lighting to a changing floor plan and space layout – change inevitable in a company confident in its future growth and expanding space needs.
Lutron systems are used with great success in several other Van Meter locations, and Dave Pickering, Lighting Control Specialist of Integrated Sales, was confident a Vive solution could handle the project’s immediate and future design, code, and aesthetic demands.
Vive hubs were installed on each floor to create a centralized system that can be completely controlled from the simple Vive Vue interface.
With Pico wireless controls, employee-owners have greater control over their own lighting levels.
The Solution
Working with Lutron Designer+ software, Dave Pickering and Shaun Myers from Van Meter defined the required sequence of operations in each space including open office areas, private offices, conference rooms, locker rooms, the fitness center, and break room/kitchen area.
In addition to integrated daylighting, occupancy sensors, and Pico wireless remotes for personal control, Lutron automated shading solutions are installed to embrace natural light throughout the space while eliminating uncomfortable glare from computer screens and work stations.
“ The Vive System is super-easy to set up and control. Once you have the Vive app downloaded, the step-by-step directions just walk you through the process. It’s hands-down the easiest commercial system I have ever commissioned.”
— Shaun Myers
“A pleasant, productive workspace was one of our top priorities,” said Shaun Myers. “The shades are a must-have. Everybody loves daylight, but at certain times glare would make it impossible to see your monitor without the shades.” Shades adjust quietly and unobtrusively to accommodate daylight conditions, and lighting automatically dims to low levels when natural light is almost all you need. The Vive solution creates the right environment and saves energy as well.
Vive hubs were installed on each floor to create a centralized system that can be completely controlled from the simple Vive Vue interface. All the wireless components throughout the building communicate seamlessly, and any adjustments can be made right from the app. If a change to zoning, scheduling, dimming level, or even occupancy sensor settings is required, it’s as simple as logging into the software.
With Vive scheduling, Van Meter is able to highlight its open atrium day and night.
The Result
Although Van Meter has used Lutron solutions on many projects and in their own buildings, this project put all Vive system assurances to the test. Installation and setup went just as planned, and even changes have gone smoothly. Once employee-owners got acclimated to their new space, some of the sensor locations were easily adjusted, and dimming levels or high-end tuning was quickly tweaked to suit personal preferences.
Myers is especially happy with the ability to easily schedule system events using the Vive app, “It really is awesome. Using the scheduling feature, we’re able to ensure the lighting in all areas automatically dims after the work day ends.
Not only does the space function beautifully during the work day, but at night they are able to showcase the gorgeous atrium design — the pride shines through 24/7.
Electrical Representative
Integrated Sales
Design and Installation
Van Meter Inc.
Lighting Control
Lutron Electronics
photos courtesy of Van Meter Inc.