Gymnasium Lighting Calculator | Gymnasium Lighting Design

What Goes into a Successful Gymnasium Lighting Design?

A successful gymnasium lighting design starts with understanding the physical space, the existing light locations (if preexisting), and the lighting standards required. It also encompasses understanding the use of the gym and how any activity in the gym might affect light performance and lifespan (impact, for example).

Once this info is gathered, the lighting plan can be created and sent to the customer to ensure that what was modeled truly meets their needs and requirements.

What are the Recommended Lighting Levels for a Gymnasium?

Lighting requirements for a gymnasium can vary greatly depending on the use of the facility.

Rec league and church gymnasiums may be adequately lit at 30 foot candles.

Middle school and high school gymnasiums might want to achieve a range between 30 and 50 foot candles.

University and college-level gyms may want to try and achieve a higher level, 50 to 80.

How Many Foot Candles is Ideal for a Fitness Center?

Fitness centers need to be both bright and comfortable, so too bright is just as bad as not bright enough. A level of 30 to 40 foot candles should create a well-lit and comfortable environment. However, it’s important to make sure the light is balanced across the entire space. In areas like the front entrance area and offices, recessed lighting can be used to create a pleasant, warm, and inviting area for customers and staff.

How Many Lumens is Recommended for a Gymmasium?

On the low end, we suggest no less than 30 lumens per square foot. In the high end, 100 lumens per square foot would be a very bright space.

How Do You Ensure Low Glare when Designing Gymnasium Court Lighting?

We recommend using frosted lenses or glare-reducing lenses on fixtures instead of clear lens fixtures that show LEDs. A frosted lens is the right lighting choice for reducing glare when looking upwards at the ceiling helps prevent direct glare.

Why is a Lighting Design Important when Selecting Lighting Fixtures for a Gymnasium?

It allows you to see how the lighting fixtures, along with the amount of natural light emitted, will become the lighting system you need to properly light the gym. Everyone knows LED lights excel in energy efficiency, but the key to good lighting is choosing the right fixture that provides the right amount of light and is balanced and well distributed from high ceilings. Most customers find that upgrading HID light sources like Metal Halide and traditional fluorescent lighting fixtures to LED lighting fixtures, like LED Recessed Lights, creates a better gym experience and has many cost-saving benefits.