Commercial Lighting Design & Installation

Every commercial environment uses lighting differently.

An office may need comfortable, even lighting with dimming and daylight control. A retail space may rely on display and accent lighting. A restaurant may need separate lighting zones for dining, service, kitchen, and bar areas. A warehouse may require high-bay fixtures positioned around racking, aisles, and work areas.

OTC looks at factors such as:

• Ceiling height and ceiling type

• Room layout

• Work areas

• Aisles and racking

• Natural daylight

• Fixture mounting locations

• Desired light levels

• Lighting controls

• Emergency lighting

• Existing electrical distribution

The goal is to create a lighting system that works for the actual environment rather than forcing the same fixture layout into every building.

Lighting design changes depending on where the project begins.

New Construction

Ground-up projects allow lighting, controls, circuits, and equipment locations to be coordinated early with the architectural and electrical plans.

Tenant Improvements

TI projects often require balancing the new layout with existing panels, circuits, ceiling systems, and landlord requirements.

Existing Buildings

Existing properties may not have complete drawings or accurate documentation. OTC can review the space in the field and determine how the existing system can be reused, modified, or replaced.

A complete lighting plan also needs to account for the electrical system behind the fixtures.

Depending on the project, OTC coordinates:

• Lighting circuits

• Switching

• Occupancy sensors

• Dimming

• 0–10V controls

• Daylight controls

• Time clocks

• Photocells

• Contactors

• Emergency lighting

• Exit lighting

• Panel capacity

This helps avoid designing a lighting system that looks good on paper but does not coordinate with the building's actual electrical infrastructure.

Fixture selection affects more than appearance.

OTC considers:

• Light output

• Distribution

• Mounting height

• Dimming capability

• Control compatibility

• Maintenance access

• Environment

• Expected fixture life

For warehouses and high ceilings, that may mean high-bay LED fixtures. Offices and retail spaces may need linear, recessed, decorative, or architectural fixtures. Exterior areas require equipment designed for outdoor conditions.

The right fixture should fit both the design and the way the property will actually be maintained.

Lighting should not become unnecessarily difficult or expensive to service later.

OTC considers future access during design, especially in:

• High ceilings

• Warehouses

• Stairwells

• Exterior locations

• Parking areas

A fixture that requires specialized equipment every time it needs service can create significant long-term maintenance costs.

OTC can carry the lighting scope from planning through installation.

A typical process may include:

1. Review plans or walk the existing space

2. Identify how each area will be used

3. Review fixture requirements and layouts

4. Coordinate lighting controls

5. Verify the electrical system

6. Install circuits, fixtures, and controls

7. Test operation

8. Complete the final walkthrough

This keeps the design and field installation connected instead of treating them as separate parts of the project.