Cooper Lighting Case Study: Spencer Middle School’s Improved Learning Environment

April 21, 2023

Cooper Lighting, Spencer Middle School Case Study

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Background

The Spencer Middle School is located in Langford, just outside British Columbia’s capital, Victoria. A public school that serves grades six through eight, Spencer Middle School offers its 640-strong student body a host of academic, applied skills, and extra-curricular opportunities to help them learn, grow, and enjoy their middle school years.

Challenge

The school district felt the school’s interior lighting and décor was dated. And it was. The common area hadn’t been updated in close to 30 years, while the rest of the school lighting and décor hadn’t changed since the 1970s when the school was built.

 All agreed this wasn’t the best way to make students feel welcomed to school every day. The district wanted a fresh look for the interior of the Spencer Middle School.

Solution

Mac’s II designer Ryan Brown brought Cooper Lighting Solutions onto the project. He’d seen Cooper Lighting Solutions products in use at another school and knew they would be right for Spencer Middle School.

The decision was made to go with Cooper Lighting Solutions Neo-Ray Define lighting fixtures and WaveLinx lighting controls.

The Neo-Ray Define series offers unmatched design flexibility, making it a favored choice for education spaces. It features a minimalist design and clean, uniform lines of illumination – a much more contemporary, much more welcoming look than the 1970s aesthetic it was replacing.

Cooper Lighting Solutions WaveLinx controls are intelligent, LED-based lighting systems that can help schools reduce energy and operating costs while ensuring a comfortable environment that supports learning.

Products Used

Define LED Suspended Luminaire
WaveLink Mobile App
CGT Panel
WaveLinx Wireless Area Controller Gen 2
WaveLinx Integrated Components
WaveLinx Wallstation

Results

The new lighting system was delivered on time and installed on budget. It was very well received by everyone: students, teachers, parents, the school district, and, of course, the budget committee.

Here are just some of the results of the new system:
  • Lower energy consumption and costs. By switching from fluorescent to LED lighting, the school can expect energy efficiency to improve by 60-70%.
  • Less wasted energy. Occupancy sensors turn off the lights automatically when no one is present in a space.
  • Less maintenance required. Because LED bulbs last anywhere from 6 to 12 years, they don’t have to be changed as often. The result is a considerable savings in labor hours.
  • Better lighting quality. Higher quality lighting is proven to promote learning, encourage student productivity, even improve academic performance.
  • Decentralized lighting control. Teachers are now able to control the lighting in their classrooms. They’re able to choose color temperatures (from cool to warm) to mimic the effects of circadian cycles to provide students with lighting that helps them better focus on their studies.
  • Improved student and teacher wellness. Better lighting provides the kind of class acoustics and non-glare lighting that make spaces more comfortable and less stressful.
  • Future-ready system. As the school’s student body increases or the school wants to add more functionality, they’ll find their system is scalable and easily reconfigured

“The project with Macs ll and Cooper Lighting Solutions went very smoothly, including the experience of choosing the perfect lighting for our unique spaces… The WaveLinx Pro dimming package is so user-friendly and easily accommodates the end user’s wants for their space.”

Electrician, Sooke School District 62, British Columbia, Canada

More information available Here

Related Articles

Changing Scene

  • Jan 14, 2026 - GVA Lighting Promotes Gareth Bruce to Vice President – Sales & Marketing

    GVA Lighting Promotes Gareth Bruce to Vice President – Sales & Marketing

    GVA Lighting is pleased to announce the promotion of Gareth Bruce to Vice President of Sales and Marketing, effective December 5th, 2025. Gareth joined GVA in May 2024 as Regional Sales Manager – Southeast, bringing more than two decades of lighting industry experience from Philips / Signify. He was promoted to Director of North American Sales in September 2024 and has since… Read More…

  • Jan 14, 2026 - Intralec Electrical Products Proudly Representing SATCO NUVO Lighting Solutions

    Intralec Electrical Products Announces SATCO NUVO Representation

    Intralec is proud to represent SATCO | NUVO lighting solutions for commercial, residential, and industrial applications. SATCO | NUVO is a major supplier of lighting products, with solutions for nearly every lighting market across the commercial, residential, and industrial landscape. With over 1.5 million square feet of inventory throughout North America and thousands of products… Read More…

Design

  • EB Horsman: Can LED Roadway Lighting Enhance Road Safety & Efficiency?

    EB Horsman: Can LED Roadway Lighting Enhance Road Safety & Efficiency?

    At EB Horsman, they recognize that effective roadway lighting is a crucial component of public safety. With Lumec’s LED roadway lighting solutions, communities can ensure reliable, high-quality illumination that supports safer travel for everyone, day or night, while also improving energy efficiency and long-term operational performance. High-quality roadway lighting is a critical component of public… Read More…

  • Prolux Lighting & Controls: Project Spotlight – Residential House in the Kootenays

    Prolux Lighting & Controls: Project Spotlight – Residential House in the Kootenays

    Have a look at this custom residential home in the Kootenays, where Prolux utilized the HALO RL6 Slope Ceiling Direct Mount fixtures by Cooper Lighting Solutions designed specifically for sloped ceilings. These luminaires provided consistent, high-quality illumination while maintaining a clean, low-profile ceiling aesthetic. Their direct-mount design allowed for seamless integration throughout the home, supporting… Read More…

New Products

  • Philips Hue Transforms Lighting Design with the Hue SpatialAware Feature That Understands Your Space

    Philips Hue Transforms Lighting Design with the Hue SpatialAware Feature That Understands Your Space

    Signify is introducing Hue SpatialAware, which will transform how Philips Hue users experience light scenes. This feature analyzes the layout of your room and the placement of your Philips Hue lights to create the optimal lighting experience tailored to your unique environment. It’s like having a lighting designer in your pocket, allowing you to experience… Read More…

  • Liteline: New LUNA Fire Driver for 3.5″ Fixture

    Liteline: New LUNA Fire Driver for 3.5″ Fixture

    Introducing a new lower-cost driver option for LUNA Fire! This 12W, 120V driver with TRIAC/ELV dimming is designed to significantly reduce cost while maintaining performance, giving you more flexibility.  The LUNA Fire meets UL 1598 / 2108/ 263, CSA C22.2 #250.0 / 250.2, and ULC-S101 safety and building construction requirements granting inherent 2-hour fire-rated protection. It… Read More…