Heritage

Sheppard Street Underpass, Swindon

The project description
COMPLETED

May 2024

APPLICATION

Heritage

PRODUCTS

eDIN+

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Sutton Vane Associates

Project Overview

The Sheppard Street Underpass lighting control project in Swindon forms part of a wider public realm improvement that respects the site’s historic character while improving safety, legibility and experience for pedestrians and cyclists. Located beneath a key transport route, the underpass sits within an area shaped by Swindon’s railway and canal heritage, requiring a lighting approach that was sensitive, robust and consistent over time. The scheme was designed by Sutton Vane Associates, with Mode Lighting supporting the delivery of their considered control strategy.

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Design challenge

The primary challenge was to support a layered lighting design that combined functional white illumination with expressive colour, without introducing visual clutter or operational complexity. The underpass needed to feel welcoming and safe at all times, while allowing the lighting to reference movement, history and place. As a publicly accessible environment, the system also had to operate reliably with minimal intervention, maintaining the original design intent long after commissioning.

Lighting control strategy

Mode Lighting worked collaboratively to develop a control strategy that balanced consistency with subtle variation. An eDIN+ system was used to manage both white and colour lighting, allowing different control protocols to operate together within a single, considered framework. Time-based control was central to the approach, enabling the lighting to transition automatically throughout the day and night and reinforcing the atmosphere of the space without the need for manual input.

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User interaction & experience

From the user’s perspective, the lighting behaves intuitively and predictably. White light levels adjust to suit ambient conditions, while colour elements introduce a sense of movement and identity that enhances the journey through the underpass. These changes occur gently and at appropriate times, ensuring the lighting feels calm and considered rather than distracting, supporting both comfort and wayfinding.

System integration & outcome

The eDIN+ system integrates DALI control for the white luminaires with DMX control for the RGB fixtures under a single timeclock-driven strategy. This allows each lighting element to perform its role without compromise, while ensuring long-term reliability and ease of maintenance. The completed scheme transforms the underpass into a space that feels safer, more engaging and more connected to its heritage context, demonstrating how discreet, well-considered lighting control can enhance public infrastructure while remaining largely unseen.

 
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