Massive LED Retrofit Project Pays off for Gatineau Shopping Centre

EIN Gatinau case study 400

October 6, 2021

Serving the residents of Gatineau, the Carrefour du Plateau is a 242,000-sq.-ft. shopping centre featuring several major retail outlets including Canadian Tire, IGA, Sports Experts and Jean-Coutu.

Deciding the shopping centre’s parking lot required a major lighting upgrade, the property owner invested in a massive LED retrofit project in late 2020 and tasked Concept Illumination with the challenge of getting the job done.

“It took guts to do it. This is a big property, it was a big spend,” says Gary Hurley, senior property manager for First Capital REIT.

Concept Illumination was no stranger to working with First Capital REIT, having completed several previous LED retrofits for the company. 

“I’ve built up a good relationship with Concept Illumination,” Hurley says. “Daniel [Herz] is always very flexible and understands what you’re trying to do. He does the best he can to accommodate your needs. He’s gone above and beyond on many instances, and it never goes unnoticed.”

The Carrefour du Plateau retrofit was the largest project that First Capital REIT had ever tasked the lighting experts with completing.

The scope of work included the removal of 132 existing fixtures from 87 poles (127 250W metal halide fixtures and five 70W metal halide fixtures); and the installation of 131 new LED fixtures on 87 poles (86 140W LED fixtures, 35 110W LED fixtures, one 100W LED fixture, four 70W LED fixtures and five 25W LED fixtures).

“A variety of different light distributions were utilized to maximize coverage and uniformity,” says Daniel Herz, director of sales for Concept Illumination. “A rigorous site survey and photometric analysis were conducted to optimize the results and to validate existing wattages, voltages, dimensions and product finishes.”

Given the variety of fixtures being installed, a detailed installation guide was prepared, and all boxes were colour coded upon delivery to ensure a quick and accurate installation, Herz explains.

The main challenge for this project was meeting the tight timeline for its completion.

“This is the largest single outdoor lighting project we’ve completed for First Capital. This property was part of a seven-property project in Ottawa-Gatineau, completed in the fourth quarter of 2020,” Herz explains. “All properties needed to be completed by the end of December with this one having more poles than all of the other properties combined. Being installed in December, a secondary challenge was the cold weather.”

 

{youtube}sduvP4urIFU{/youtube}

 

The project ended up being completed over a two-week period in December 2020, successfully meeting the client’s timeline.

“There’s uniformity in the lighting, much cleaner lighting. It makes a difference,” Hurley says. 

The LED retrofit was fuelled by a desire to improve the overall lighting quality at the shopping centre, reduce maintenance costs and save energy.

Hurley says his company has been experiencing savings between $8,000 to $10,000 annually on their electricity bills at smaller centres where they hired Concept Illumination to perform similar LED retrofit projects. 

At Carrefour du Plateau, Hurley hopes to see savings in the range of $12,000 to $15,000 annually. 

“To me, it’s a nice little bonus that with better lighting you’re going to have less consumption,” he says.

The projected annual kWh savings is 77,504 with a noticeable increase in light levels and a massive reduction in annual maintenance costs, Herz says.

In addition to the annual electrical and maintenance savings, First Capital REIT received a significant $22,896.45 rebate from Hydro Québec for the project.

Hurley says he enjoys working Concept Illumination due to the combination of them being easy to work with and having reasonable pricing.

“That’s important, it’s a tough marketplace out there. Tenants don’t want to overpay but they want the best,” Hurley says. “We got the best lighting, less consumption and the rebate, that’s a win-win-win.”

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Contact Delage & Solvic Announce New Representation Partnership

    New Collaboration – A New Solar Lighting Manufacturer Joins Contact Delage’s Offerings

    Contact Delage is excited to announce the addition of a new trusted partner to their lineup: Solvic, an innovative manufacturer specializing in solar lighting. This new partnership reflects Contact Delage’s ongoing commitment to offering sustainable, high-performance solutions tailored to real-world applications. With Solvic, they are expanding their range of autonomous solar products—perfect for lighting streets, parks,… Read More…

  • July 10, 2025 - Mac’s II Agencies Announce Addition to Project & Specification Sales Team

    Mac’s II Agencies Announces Addition to Project & Specification Sales Team

    Mac’s II Agencies is pleased to announce that Drazen Jerkovic will be joining their Project & Specification Sales team in the Lighting Division later this fall. With over 25 years of experience in the lighting and electrical industry, Drazen is a highly respected consultant known for his technical knowledge and deep understanding of project delivery. His recent role… Read More…


Design


New Products

  • Liteline: SHADE Mini Concrete Surface Mount

    Liteline: SHADE Mini Concrete Surface Mount

    SHADE Mini Concrete is a 4″ downlight for retrofit application onto 4″ octagon box, surface mounted onto concrete or other exposed conduit ceilings, four knockouts make it easy to accommodate any direction of conduit or daisy chaining. It is a high-performance, easy to install residential grade downlight solution that offers good light output, energy-efficiency and… Read More…

  • Dals: Radiance Pro 12″ Smart Flush Mount

    Dals: Radiance Pro 12″ Smart Flush Mount

    Modern design meets intelligent lighting with the Radiance Pro, a 12″ smart flush mount that combines ultra-slim elegance with advanced smart control. Crafted with a sleek metal trim and available in white or black finishes, this fixture effortlessly complements any ceiling while offering scene grouping, customization, and timer options. With the Dals Connect app or… Read More…