The Dallas American Institute of Architects recently contracted with A/D firm Omniplan to renovate a 26,000 square foot, two-story space in order to form AD EX, the Dallas Architecture and Design Exchange. Facing challenges with both ambient noise reduction and lighting, the firm turned to Focal Point.

After removing old tiles to increase ceiling height, the architects needed a lighting solution that provided pleasing and consistent ambient light—with a uniform aesthetic—while also reducing noise, a particular concern because of the presence of so much steel and glass.

Focal Point’s Seem 1 Acoustic line provided the solution. This flexible luminaire and baffle system offers acoustic linear lamps in 8”, 12”, and 16” baffle heights. This variability provided the impetus for the ultimate decision to stagger the luminaires and create different ceiling heights in the second-floor conference room instead of utilizing a traditional linear layout: “The baffles on the left- and right-hand sides of the room were lowered compared to those in the center of the room to create a coffered ceiling effect. The dynamic design elevated the aesthetic, producing a statement piece while reducing noise levels.”

Focal Point’s Seem 1 Acoustic line thus responded to the challenges of the demanding space, while also helping to create a memorable aesthetic that showcases innovation in architecture and design.

Connor Peirce, Senior Associate at Omniplan, elaborates: “I don’t think we would have been able to find another system that could do that in such a clean way. The Seem 1 Acoustic luminaire and baffle system had the linearity that we were looking for in terms of the orientation of the space, and it also addressed our acoustic concerns as a way to inform the movement throughout the space.” Explore Seem 1 Acoustic and see the entire line at Focal Point.