Yori and Envios LED projectors have been incorporated in a new lighting scheme for the Chapel at the prestigious Corpus Christi College, Oxford, as part of a major refurbishment project.  In coordination with GBS Architects, Oxford, dpa lighting consultants designed and implemented the new lighting throughout the Chapel to enhance the stunning architectural interior whilst ensuring that the new lighting allowed for all the appropriate scenes and flexibility required by a space which is used for a diverse range of functions.

The refurbishment of the Chapel to provide a modern, energy-efficient lighting scheme was purposely scheduled so as to coincide with the College’s quincentenary year celebrations in 2017. The exacting brief from the College was created to ensure that the refurbishment of the 500 year-old, Grade I Listed Chapel remained faithful to all the original architecture and finishes. Yori fittings with 13W LED source were supplied on track with 21 degree and 51 degree reflectors and mounted vertically into carved niches within the stone reveals of the adjacent windows each side of the Altar.  With three spotlights on each track, these were directed to illuminate the Altar and the painting behind it.  The painting itself had been restored prior to the refurbishment project but the new lighting, with its excellent colour temperature, allows the painting to be appreciated in a way in which it has not been seen for decades.  The Yori fittings also incorporate a phase dimming driver to allow for gradual dimming as and when required.

Envios 13W LED projectors were also used for the scheme and were positioned on the external roof to the rear of the large, central stained glass window.  With a 71 degree beam angle and 4000k colour temperature, this created a backlit effect which allowed the deep colour and intricate detail to be displayed from within the Chapel, forming an absolutely splendid interior centrepiece.

Ian Clarke, Associate at dpa lighting consultants, commented “The lighting scheme had all the normal restrictions and challenges of a protected heritage building.  All lighting had to be carefully co-ordinated with the architectural elements regarding cable routes, housing of control equipment etc. It was very important that the light sources performed well under dimming to ensure a well-controlled end result.  Having a common light source, the Reggiani luminaires offered excellent consistency producing just the right effect”.

Year of completion : 2017
Place: Oxford, UK
Lighting designer: dpa lighting consultants, Lead Lighting Project Manager: Ian Clarke, Associate.
Architect: Gray, Baynes + Shew LLP (GBS Architects)
Other contributions: Project Managing Partner: Robin Edwards, Dip Arch (SBU) RIBA
Photography: Matt Livey Architectural Photography