Location: Durham, NC
Venue
Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium at Duke University is home to the NCAA Divsion I Blue Devils field hockey team. The facility is also used for soccer and club football.
Challenge
The field was experiencing low light levels and poor uniformity for the level of play taking place, and as recommended by the International Hockey Federation (IHA). Williams Field was slated to host the 2014 ACC Field Hockey Championships, and as such, games were to be broadcast and play extended into the evening hours. This made the lighting a greater concern.
Scope
The project included replacement of the metal halide system with Ephesus LED fixtures as well as installation of a wireless control system for dimming and effects.
Solution
56 Ephesus fixtures were installed. The Ephesus wireless control system was also installed to offer an enhanced fan experience as well as increased operational flexibility. This provides instant, one-touch control to switch between different light settings and create custom lighting effects.
Results
Williams Field became the first NCAA Division I outdoor college sports venue to be illuminated with LED lighting. Energy costs were reduced by an estimated 42% while the number of fixtures was reduced from 96 to 56. An average of 881 lux was generated on the playing surface while uniformity improved to an impressive 0.66. Fans at Williams Field or viewing its events on HDTV will now be able to enjoy more nighttime games and a brighter, sharper view of the game.
The decision to transition to Ephesus LED stadium lighting was a no-brainer for Duke. One of the main reasons we chose the light was the specificity of the aiming and the ability to control light pollution at our property lines. We were also able to reduce fixture count by close to 40%, cut down on energy costs, decrease maintenance costs and increase our light output to more than three times what our previous HID solution could output.Bob Weiseman, Assistant AD/Athletic Facilities, Game Operations and Championships, Duke University
