GE Edison Award recognizes Vintry Fine Wines project by L’Observatoire International.

Cathode Lighting Systems is pleased to announce that Hervé Descottes, Jeff Taylor and Jessica Tchah of L’Observatoire International were recently awarded the prestigious GE Edison Award for lighting Vintry Fine Wines in New York, a Cathode Lighting Systems project.  This annual awards program recognizes outstanding projects in the field of architectural lighting design. The Vintry Fine Wines Project was awarded this honor for its superiority in the following categories: functional excellence, architectural compatibility, effective use of state-of-the-art lighting products and techniques, appropriate color, form and texture revelation, energy effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.
L’Observatoire International is a Manhattan-based lighting firm. This collaborative effort with Rogers Marvel Architects utilized a unique combination of light and architecture, setting their vision apart from the surrounding cityscape. The Vintry Fine Wines’ striking storefront draws in New York's Battery Park residents and visitors with its non-externally illuminated lighting concept, achieving a desired prominence among neighboring establishments.

The graceful curves of the architectural coves in the ceiling evoke the geography of a vineyard, illuminated with Cathode Lighting Systems FCLS (Flexible Cathode Light Strip) luminaires. The FCLS luminaire can conform to almost any curvature, shape or length that the factory can manufacture. The designers selected the FCLS cold cathode fluorescent luminaire to illuminate both the key focal point of a large organically curved faux skylight, and the curvilinear ceiling coves above the uppermost wine racks.  Selected for its longevity, low maintenance, superior color rendering, color stability and high lumen output, the FCLS delivers a phenomenally energy efficient cove lighting solution with an astounding lamp life of up to 100,000 field-proven hours.

Awarded a 2011 Progress Report by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), the FCLS luminaire provides the highest-quality illumination available with minimal electrical consumption and wattages as low as 5.5 watts per linear foot.  This innovative luminaire provides seamless illumination from end to end with no dark spots or socket shadows.  Integral electronic ballasts offer inaudible operation and a power factor of >.95 along with standard integral 1% dimming ballasts that are compatible with 2-wire low-voltage dimmers. These luminaires are available in a wide color selection, including 11 different white hues as well as neon and pastel colors, utilizing reliable, ultra long-life, high-output and high color-rendering T6 cold cathode lamps.

L’Observatoire International was presented the GE Edison Award for the Vintry Fine Wines project during Lightfair International on April 22, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.