Concordia University Upgrades Their Sports Field Lighting with LEDVANCE Fixtures: Canadian Lighting Project
February 17, 2026
Concordia University Sports Field Lighting Upgrade with LEDVANCE Solutions
Concordia University in Montreal supports more than 45,000 students from 150 countries and is home to the Concordia Stingers athletics program. With varsity sports ramping up in the fall when daylight hours shrink, Concordia needed a field lighting system that could deliver consistent performance for games, practices, intramurals, and community use.
At the same time, the University is working toward a net-zero carbon campus by 2040, making energy efficiency and long-term operational sustainability a key priority.
Our project involved a lighting upgrade on the primary field used for our varsity football, soccer, rugby, and men’s and women’s field hockey teams.
Brendan O’Neill, Manager of Internal Expert Services, Concordia University
LEDVANCE supported Concordia and its partner network with a sports-lighting solution designed for performance, reliability, and easier long-term operation.
Project Benefits:
- Improved quality of play with consistent lighting across the field
- Better athlete and spectator experience with stronger uniformity and field visibility
- Measurable energy reduction and sustainability alignment
- Reduced maintenance burden by eliminating frequent lamp replacements and lift rentals
- Remote control via tablet, including the ability to dim to 50% during halftime
- Proven partner execution model for sports field upgrades
Project Info:
- Project: Concordia University – Primary Sports Field (Stingers Field)
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Application: Multi-sport field – varsity football, soccer, rugby, men’s and women’s field hockey, intramurals; plus summer community use
- Previous system: 144 x 1,500 W metal halide lamps on nine 65 ft poles
- New system: 134 LEDVANCE LED Sports Light fixtures (4000K)
- Wattage range: 400-1200 W
- Optics: 3×3, 4×4, 5×5 beam distributions
- Certification and lifetime: DLC 5.1 Premium, rated 150,000 hours
- Controls: Tablet-based remote control, dimming to 50% during halftime
- Partners: Luxtec (agent), Groupe Specs (electrical distributor), Dupras Ledoux (specifying engineers)
The Challenge
Concordia’s metal halide system had become inefficient and difficult to maintain. Burned-out lamps created uneven, patchy lighting across the playing surface, and maintenance required recurring lift rentals, labor, and hard-to-source replacement lamps. Rising costs and delivery delays only made the problem worse.
More importantly, this was directly impacting the experience on the field – reliability, consistency, and lighting quality were not meeting the standard expected for university athletics.
The Solution
LEDVANCE supported a full sports-lighting upgrade built around performance, uniformity, and simplified operation. With a lighting audit and photometric studies, the team specified 134 LEDVANCE LED Sports Light fixtures using multiple beam distributions (3×3, 4×4, 5×5) to match the field’s real-world needs.
The project also incorporated modern controls, enabling tablet-based operation and dimming strategies that reduce energy usage while maintaining a strong playing environment.
LEDVANCE has a strong line of sports lighting products that make upgrades like this very quick and easy using just 4-5 SKUs.
David Hamel, Lighting Specification and Control Manager, Luxtec
To reduce cost and complexity, Concordia reused existing wiring from the prior system.
The Benefits
Better Experience for Players
The most noticeable impact was the upgrade in field visibility and consistency. Instead of uneven areas caused by failed bulbs, the field now has dependable lighting performance that supports practices and games.
“Our players appreciate the consistent lighting across the field, which had been patchy in the past due to failed bulbs with varying intensities.” Darren Finny, Manager of Facilities Planning and Development – Recreation and Athletics, Concordia University
Sustainability & Energy Savings
Concordia reported an annual reduction in field energy consumption of 100 kW, supporting the University’s broader sustainability goals while reducing ongoing operational demand.
“Thanks to our upgrade, we reduced energy consumption on the field by 100kW annually. While payback can’t be measured on energy savings alone, the utility’s support, combined with the long lifespan of the LED lamps, delivers substantial reductions in maintenance and operational costs.” Brendan O’Neill, Concordia University.
Reduced Maintenance & Long-Term Operating Burden
Historically, Concordia replaced 10 to 15 bulbs per year and regularly rented expensive access equipment to keep the system functioning. The new LED system dramatically reduces that recurring maintenance cycle and frees budget that would have otherwise gone into repairs.
Summary
Concordia’s upgrade is a strong example of why LEDVANCE is a reliable partner for sports lighting applications. The project delivered a better on-field experience for student athletes, stronger operational control for facilities teams, and measurable energy and maintenance reductions that support the University’s sustainability roadmap. With coordinated execution across Luxtec, Groupe Specs, Dupras Ledoux, and LEDVANCE, the University achieved a modern sports lighting system built for long-term performance.
Thanks to our upgrade, we reduced energy consumption on the field by 100kW annually. While payback can’t be measured on energy savings alone, the utility’s support, combined with the long lifespan of the LED lamps, delivers substantial reductions in maintenance and operational costs.
Brendan O’Neill, Manager of Internal Expert Services, Concordia University
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