The $2.5 billion transformation of The James A Farley Building into the Moynihan Train Station commenced in 2016, a vision championed by the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan for decades. The Farley Building, a counterpart to the infamous Penn Station, symbolized the pitfalls of architectural remodeling and the creation of unsightly public spaces. Senator Moynihan aimed to rectify this by developing a world-class transit hub within the Farley Building. This historical context influenced every aspect of the transformation, including the meticulous lighting design evident in the Farley Bar concourse. The collaborative efforts of developers Vornado Realty, Elkus Manfredi Architects, and Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design came together to create a vibrant bistro atmosphere.
Positioned beneath a glass atrium, the Farley Bar serves as a welcoming beacon for travelers. The lighting design, masterfully executed by the team, including Associate Min Young Kim, Senior Associate Nira Wattanachote, Associate Principal Michael Hennes, and Principal Francesca Betteridge of CBB Lighting Design, encompasses the bar and adjacent dining areas, setting the stage for an inviting and upscale ambiance. The project presented unique challenges, with the open atrium limiting overhead lighting options and the changing natural light filtering through the glass skylight. Achieving low-end dimming, particularly crucial in hospitality settings, was a priority to transition from daytime to evening ambiance seamlessly. The team relied on mockups to ensure integration and uniformity against diverse surface materials and architectural features. QTM-DC LED power supplies were ingeniously concealed within architectural mesh panels to power static white LED grazers, offering a seamless finish. Compact QZ LED drivers discreetly powered strip lighting within the bar coves and shelves. A mix of color temperatures was carefully combined to evoke the desired ambiance, with 2700K general lighting creating a warm hospitality environment and 4000K LED lighting strips enhancing the ice wells and service stations. Meticulous attention to color consistency and mockup testing ensured that the design achieved the desired aesthetic and functionality, culminating in a successful project.
Read the full Farley Bar Features Top Shelf LED lighting in Moynihan Hall case study.
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