• • • LIGHTING • • •


CUSTOM CLASSROOM LIGHTING UPGRADE FOR HADLEY LEARNING COMMUNITY


BY MARTIN RAPER,


KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER, ZUMTOBEL GROUP


Z


umtobe Lighting delivered a bespoke classroom lighting upgrade at Hadley Learning Community Secondary School


in Telford. The refurbishment replaces ageing fluorescent


raft luminaires with a custom LED solution featuring tunableWhite control, improving student‘s wellbeing, reducing connected load and extending the life of the school’s existing ceiling infrastructure. Purpose-built as part of a £70 million campus


investment, Hadley Learning Community provides education for students aged three to sixteen in central Telford. With facilities management delivered by Mitie, the school maintains a strong focus on creating high-quality learning environments that support wellbeing, engagement and academic success. As fluorescent technology approached


obsolescence, the school and its facilities team sought a lighting upgrade that would modernise classrooms without disrupting the architectural raft ceilings that define the learning spaces.


A brief shaped by wellbeing


and continuity Mitie Engineering engaged Zumtobel lighting to develop a classroom solution that would reduce connected load, meet strict UGR requirements and integrate seamlessly within the existing suspended raft luminaires. Alongside energy and compliance


26 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • JUNE 2026


targets, the client also requested tunableWhite capability and variable output to support wellbeing and flexible teaching environments. These requirements reflect a growing


recognition that classroom lighting must do more than meet standards. It should actively support concentration, comfort and varied learning activities throughout the school day.


From existing luminaire to


bespoke solution To ensure a precise replacement, the existing fluorescent cassette was removed and delivered to Zumtobel’s Custom Product team in Spennymoor. Working closely with Mitie and the project stakeholders, the team engineered a bespoke LED cassette designed to replicate the original form factor while significantly improving performance. A working sample was produced and installed


onsite for evaluation, allowing the client and contractor to assess glare control, light distribution and installation practicality before full deployment. Following approval, the scheme progressed with confidence across the classroom areas.


Light that adapts to the


learning day The final solution centred on a custom LED cassette with opal diffuser delivering 4024 lumens at 35 W and an efficacy of 115 lm/W. TunableWhite and variable output functionality allow teachers to adjust colour temperature and light levels to suit different learning scenarios, from focused tasks to collaborative sessions. Emergency variants of the luminaire were also


incorporated, ensuring continuity of design and performance throughout the classroom environment.


By retaining the existing raft ceiling


infrastructure, the upgrade achieved a clean visual outcome while simplifying installation and minimising disruption to teaching spaces.


Measured benefits for pupils,


staff and operations The refurbishment delivers improved classroom comfort, lower connected load and reduced


CO2 impact across the site. TunableWhite capability enhances visual wellbeing and supports circadian-friendly lighting conditions, helping create calmer and more adaptable learning environments. Kevin Evans, Mitie Engineering, comments:


“This project required a solution that balanced performance, wellbeing and practicality. Zumtobel lighting’s custom approach allowed us to retain the existing ceiling design while delivering a modern, efficient lighting upgrade that meets both operational and educational needs. The collaborative development process made installation straightforward and ensured the client’s expectations were fully met.


A tailored approach to


future-ready education spaces Delivered within a demanding programme, the custom luminaire demonstrates the value of collaborative design and local manufacturing capability. By combining bespoke engineering with tunableWhite functionality and efficient LED performance, the scheme provides Hadley Learning Community with a future-ready classroom lighting platform that supports both sustainability goals and student experience.


www.zumtobel.co.uk electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


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