Ascension St. Vincent

Ascension St. Vincent (ASV) commissioned F.A. Wilhelm to replace an old parking garage with a new structure that would increase available parking on the hospital campus. F.A. Wilhelm reached out to Lightswitch to create an appealing lighting design for the structure that would introduce interest into the nighttime ambiance. Our goal was to transcend the typical parking garage atmosphere through the use of colorful after-dark looks.

The north and west elevations of F.A. Wilhelm’s design featured three-story architectural fins arcing across the façade to form the Ascension logo, while the south and east sides were constructed using perforated metal panels, allowing natural light to enter the garage during the day.

To create a visually appealing nighttime look, Lightswitch utilized color-changing wash fixtures to uplight the architectural fins on the north and west sides of the structure. We programmed these with presets, so the client would have a variety of "base looks," but would also have the option to change the appearance for holidays or special events. Additionally, our team used a warm temperature linear graze fixture to light the perforated panels on the building’s south and east façades, creating visual appeal and highlighting these large elements.

Our innovative approach to this project departed from the typical parking garage aesthetic, introducing color and visual interest to the structure. This successful lighting design was the result of a combination of factors: our team’s out-of-the-box approach, thoughtful integration with the architectural elements, adaptability for special occasions, and the harmonious combination of artificial and natural lighting. Our final design, in collaboration with F.A. Wilhelm, transforms the parking structure into a visually striking and welcoming space for both daytime and nighttime visitors.