Lighting impacts much more than visibility. Quality lighting in schools supports student comfort, focus, behavior, and health. Studies show that lighting design choices can directly affect learning outcomes, making it an essential consideration in school design.
How can lighting influence student learning
and wellbeing?
Meet Todd
Illuminating Insights
Todd Quinlan
Senior Specification Sales Manager
Lighting for Learning.
Why is color rendering so important in classrooms?
Todd Quinlan graduated from the University of Colorado with an emphasis in Lighting & Architectural Engineering.For nearly 25 years, he has worked in the industry as a Lighting Designer, Lighting Agent, and in Manufacturer Sales. Todd’s broad understanding of the lighting industry, lighting science and interests in emerging technologies helps him promote complete illumination systems from the luminaire to the controls and IoT environment they are being installed into.
Download Todd's full guide to Lighting for Learning
There are four key lighting attributes that I believe should always be considered when creating a classroom lighting design because they directly affect the learning environment. These include:
What are the most important attributes of
classroom lighting?
Why is color rendering so important in classrooms?
Students often learn through color-dependent tasks (art, science, etc.). Good color rendering ensures accuracy. While CRI has been used for decades, the newer TM-30 metric provides a more complete picture of how colors appear under light — and can help
balance quality with cost.
Students often learn through color-dependent tasks (art, science, etc.). Good color rendering ensures accuracy. While CRI has been used for decades, the newer TM-30 metric provides a more complete picture of how colors appear under light — and can help
balance quality with cost.
How does dimming affect learning environments?
Students and teachers need different light levels for different activities — from test-taking to movie-watching. Our eyes perceive brightness differently than light meters measure it, which makes dimming strategies critical. Using logarithmic dimming and setting proper minimum levels helps ensure lighting matches human perception.
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Light Quality – High expectations for rendering colors, color consistency, dimming performance, and reduced flicker.
Glare Mitigation – Managing daylight and electric lighting to reduce distractions.
Tunable White Lighting – Adjusting color temperature to match activities and circadian needs.
Classroom Flexibility – Designing lighting and controls to adapt to evolving classroom layouts and teaching styles.
Flicker from LEDs (especially below 10% dimming) can cause headaches, fatigue, and even seizures in sensitive populations. To avoid this, schools should specify drivers that meet IEEE P1789 standards to protect student health.
What problems can flicker cause in classrooms?
Daylighting boosts focus, comfort, and test scores. However, uncontrolled glare can harm performance. Strategies like north-facing windows, light shelves, skylights with louvers, and integrated shading controls help maximize daylight while minimizing glare.
How should schools balance natural light with glare control?
Tunable white lighting adjusts color temperature to align with activities and circadian rhythms. For example, warmer tones can calm students during reading, while cooler tones support focus during tests. In sensory rooms, tunable lighting can even aid students with behavioral challenges.
What role does tunable white lighting play in education?
Modern classrooms constantly shift layouts and teaching methods. Lighting must adapt with multiple zones, intuitive controls, and options like tunable white. This flexibility fosters collaboration, movement, and student engagement.
How can lighting support flexible classrooms?
Unlike traditional wired systems, Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLC) simplify installation, improve energy efficiency, and provide adaptability. They support code compliance, enable rebates, and allow easy reconfiguration if classroom functions change. Plus, digital systems can be centrally managed and even integrated with HVAC or security.
What advantages do embedded lighting controls offer schools?
Quality lighting and controls directly support student success. By focusing on light quality, glare mitigation, tunable options, and flexibility, schools can create healthy, inspiring spaces for both students and educators.
What’s the bottom line for school lighting?
Find education lighting solutions from Acuity Brands Lighting
Get Todd's thoughts on lighting strategies for education spaces below!
Illuminating Insights
Lighting for Learning.
Todd Quinlan
Senior Specification Sales Manager
Students often learn through color-dependent tasks (art, science, etc.). Good color rendering ensures accuracy. While CRI has been used for decades, the newer TM-30 metric provides a more complete picture of how colors appear under light — and can help
balance quality with cost.
Want more? Download Todd's full guide to Lighting for Learning