Landscape Lighting Installation - Part 1

It was a beautiful day in Dallas to begin the installation of our master plan landscape lighting design for a private residence. Wonderful trees on this property and the fellas had no problem getting to the areas I wanted to place a luminaire...definitely not always the case. 

The design is a combination of Mercury Vapor up and down lighting, LED up lighting, and LED architectural lighting throughout the property. There are aspects of the master plan on hold, as the landscape plan changed, however we installed all the underground electrical planning for the future "wants" of the client.

Look for Part 2 to see the final results.

Disclaimer: My apologies for the videography...I'm not looking for a new career but promise they will get better. As for the music choice, my daughter made the selection and I think it works. It was a slow groove type of day!

E2 Illumination Designs is a design-build landscape lighting company in Dallas, TX and works wherever fine lighting design and construction is demanded.

The devil's in the details...Comparing different LED lamps for landscape lighting

Nothing too crazy here, but we have to do this from time to time with all the changing technology and claims within the LED industry. 

Today, I decided to compare three different manufacturers, I use relatively consistently, to evaluate their performance claims. Each one has the exact same specifications for wattage, kelvin, lumens, and beam spread...and each one is different from the other! Subtle differences, but still different.

I pay special attention to color consistency, beam spread, light intensity at center, and light intensity around the perimeter when analyzing lamp specifications. I then use this information to correlate the proper lamp with the appropriate plant material or architectural detail being illuminated. Momma always said "the devil's in the details" and I think paying special attention to those details differentiates E2 Illumination Designs from the competition.

E2 Illumination Designs, based in Dallas, Texas, is a landscape lighting design-build firm traveling wherever high quality design and construction is demanded.

Another North Dakota Victory...a 2016 CID Award

Photo from Architizer / St. Wenceslaus Church, Dickinson, ND

No oil..."we don't need no stinking oil." I'd say it's been a pretty good year for my peeps back home in North Dakota. The NDSU Bison won the FCS Football Championship...again, the UND Fighting Sioux won the NCAA Hockey Championship, Carson Wentz could/should go #1 in the NFL draft tomorrow evening, and now the St. Wenceslaus Church in Dickinson, ND wins the best Commercial Stone Design at the CID Awards. There's just no stopping us!

A bit on the CID awards from their website "The CID Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in the design and installation of tile and stone in both residential and commercial projects. Submissions for the 2016 Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards are open to architects, designers, builders, contractors, distributors, retailers, installers and other professionals who demonstrate design and/or installation excellence in residential and commercial projects, giving special recognition to stunning stone and tile. Regardless of who submits the entry, awards will only be given to the project architect/designer or installer within the designated award category."

"To be eligible: Projects must have been completed within the past two (2) years (January 2014 – December 2015), Projects can be located within or outside North America, and
firms must be from North America - firms outside North America are eligible for awards in the international category."

"Projects will be judged and awarded based on technical installation and design, as well as international design and sustainable design. Projects will be judged on their levels of creativity, craftsmanship, and outstanding use of materials and achievement in the use of tile or stone within the residential and commercial project categories. Of particular interest are projects that demonstrate an original or unusual use of materials, incorporate an innovative technology, reflect installation excellence or successfully combine aesthetics with function in a unique and interesting way."

There's something about being from a small town and even something more if you're from a small town in North Dakota. We take great pride in North Dakota success...maybe because we know what it takes for anyone to think about us or maybe it's because feel like we know everyone in the state. I know the boys and I have celebrated with many of our North Dakota brothers and sisters!

Also, statewide, I think we hold each other accountable for our actions as well. Could you imagine if Carson Wentz ends up on TMZ like Johnny Manziel? His parents, brother, coaches, teammates, friends, neighbors, or anyone else who claims North Dakota as home would put a stop to it pretty quickly...we won't allow anyone to drag our good name through the mud! 

Anyways, congratulations to the design team at Creative Edge Master Shop in Fairfield, IA, but this moment is ours, the few, the proud, the North Dakotans. 

Bad Boys III is coming this summer!...and landscape lighting?

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

"We ride together, we die together, bad boys for life." The Bad Boys series with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence is releasing Bad Boys 3 in June and I thought I'd take a look back at a project I designed in Miami, Fl called Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Why you may ask? The Miami mansion in Bad Boys II was Johnny Tapia's, played by Jordi Molla, and was featured in the rat scene...I apologize if you don't know the rat scene but you'll have to google it, I have to keep it clean in here. They were doing an extensive remodel and I did the lighting design for the pool and front entrance for Richard Heisenbottle of RJHA Architects, who just so happens to be a rock-star in historic preservation!

E2 Illumination Designs plan / illustration created by ALA

Vizcaya is a National Historic Landmark and a top attraction if you're visiting Miami. Guests have included Pope John Paul II, President Reagan, Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II, and King Juan Carlos while some furnishings relate back to Napoleon and Marie Antoinette. It's been named as the finest house ever built in the United States and the gardens are absolutely breathtaking. 

Visit the website for Vizcaya here and be sure to take time to enjoy the gardens the next time you are in Miami.

E2 Illumination Designs is a design-build landscape lighting and architectural lighting firm for fine estates throughout the country. Contact us if you demand the very best in outdoor lighting for your home and gardens.