Illumination brings a sense of safety and well-being to Washington DC trails

The Washington DC Smart Street Lighting Project is considered the nation’s largest streetlight modernization P3 project to date. Designed to enhance public safety, improve energy efficiency, and preserve the historic aesthetic of the nation’s capital, this project transformed over 75,000 streetlights into a state-of-the-art, smart-controlled network.

ENGIE North America spearheaded the large-scale urban lighting upgrade in collaboration with Acuity Brands and other key partners.

“From a technical standpoint, the provisions set out by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) were unprecedented,” said Chris Lockard, senior engineering advisor at ENGIE North America, Inc. “They wanted everything.”

‘Everything’ meant strict lumen-per-watt thresholds, 2700K-3000K color temperatures, 80 CRI, and Dark Sky compliance with less than 10% uplight. And all of this was to be packaged within very specific aesthetic guidelines for each neighborhood, as well as functionality with respect to the controls platform. These requirements pushed the lighting partners, including Cyclone Lighting, to develop customized solutions beyond standard commercial offerings.

Cyclone Orillia luminaires were selected to line the forested Klingle Valley Trail and placed on existing poles. The Victorian-inspired post-top fixture features an ultra-efficient LED optical system that meets the DDOT technical specifications. And its design is consistent with the historical aesthetic of the trail while complying with the Dark Sky requirements.

One of the challenges was finding real estate on the luminaire itself to add a 7-pin receptacle, enabling it to be networked with the City's new lighting control platform. The Cyclone sales and manufacturing teams collaborated with ENGIE to modify the luminaire so that the receptacle could be incorporated right into the base of the light.

Rock Creek Trail and the signature Metropolitan Branch Trail both received lighting upgrades with Cyclone’s stylish Domia pendant. Aesthetics were particularly important on these trails, and DDOT wanted a look that did not vary too much from the original. Domia’s classic dome features softened organic curves, so it was considered a comparable – yet enhanced – twist to the original aesthetic.

This phase of the project also came with its own set of challenges. Domia, too, was to be installed on existing posts, but its shepherd’s hook form was at odds with the old design. Again, ENGIE collaborated with Cyclone to modify the arm’s shape. There was the additional challenge of where to place the 7-pin receptacle, and it was eventually determined that it could be incorporated onto the top of the pole itself as the new arm and luminaire were being installed.

“We worked very closely with the folks at Cyclone to ensure the arms were exactly what we needed, both from an aesthetic standpoint, but also to ensure they could be installed correctly to fit the older poles while adapting to the receptacle,” said Andres Bautista, senior engineer at ENGIE.

Feedback from the Washington, DC, community has been overwhelmingly positive. Lockard spoke about one of his DDOT contacts whose family rides their bicycles along the trail. He noted how good the lighting looks and how safe they feel.

“The Cyclone luminaires – no question – are aesthetically pleasing,” Lockard said. “They meet the technical specifications of the City while providing uniform illumination. But at the end of the day, they look good and make the residents feel good."

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Project name: The DC Smart Street Lighting Project

Location: City of Washington, DC, USA

Project completion: June 2024

Specifier: ENGIE North America

Product:Orillia and Domia luminaires

Photographer: Willis Weese