on view
Where Learning Meets Light: Piper High School
Piper High School in Kansas City, Kansas, recently underwent a transformative renovation as part of a district-wide initiative aimed at supporting future-focused learning. The project reimagined an existing elementary building and added new facilities to create Kansas’s first wall-to-wall academy high school. Designed around experiential, hands-on learning, the campus features specialized lab pods for theater, media, graphics, and science, as well as an auxiliary gym, locker rooms, and musical spaces.
In the open space near the cafeteria, Piper High School features the customizable KAO Kit A LED Suspension fixture by Artemide, adding a unique touch to the school. Nearby, a lounge area showcases the Recessed Beam fixture by Startek, integrated into both the ceiling and a slanted wooden wall, making the area inviting for students and staff. The school features lighting and controls products from a wide range of manufacturers, including: Artemide, Bartco Lighting, Cooper Lighting Solutions, ETC, Fluxwerx, HE Williams, Isolite, Kenall, KW Industries, Lumenwerx, Myers Emergency Power, Startek, United Lighting Standard, and Wattstopper. Mercer Zimmerman is proud to support educational environments like Piper High School, where innovation and student success go hand in hand.
The Players:
Architect: Incite Design Studio
Engineer: RTM Engineering Consultants
Electrical Contractor: S&S Electric
General Contractor: JE Dunn
insight to light
Hidden Lights, Bold Impact: Cove Lighting
An Interview With Scott McMurray, Specification Sales, Mercer Zimmerman
Why should architects prioritize cove lighting in their designs, and how is it defined within architectural and lighting design?
Cove lighting is a great way to add a lighting feature that both complements interior spaces and provides functional lighting. To borrow from the concept, it is both form and function.
In generic terms, cove lighting is a concealed indirect light integrated into architectural features such as ceilings, walls, or even furniture. The light source is typically continuous and hidden from direct view, casting light upward or downward to create a soft, ambient glow that enhances the room’s atmosphere.
Architects care about cove lighting because it’s one of those rare design elements that quietly transforms a space without demanding attention. It contributes to layered lighting strategies, highlights architectural geometry, and supports a more immersive spatial experience.
What are the main types of cove lighting?
- Indirect: General term for lighting that reflects off the ceiling. The light source is usually mounted on top of a wall ledge or part of a lower ceiling. The light source can provide a soft halo or evenly distribute light across the entire ceiling.
- Ceiling: Sometimes known as a wall slot, the light source is mounted in a ceiling recess, gap, or ledge at the edge of the ceiling. The light source can be specified to illuminate the wall with an even wash, or a dramatic graze to highlight wall textures, or just a soft outlining glow.
- Specialty:
- Vertical: Used to emphasize height or outline vertical architectural elements.
- Furniture: Integrated behind banquet seating, or headboards, on top of cabinets, or shelving for accent lighting.
- Floor: Installed within toe kicks, bench seating, or below handrails to provide a subtle pathway or perimeter lighting.
Why can cove lighting be challenging for architects?
The challenge to designers is that nearly every cove is unique, and cove lighting is not defined by a single design. Each one is expressed in the deliberate combination of architectural details, special design, desired lighting effect, and fixture specification.
- Integrating lighting fixtures seamlessly into architectural elements requires precise detailing and early coordination between architectural, electrical, and lighting teams.
- Space constraints, such as low ceiling or limited wall depth, can restrict where and how coves are implemented.
- Selecting the right fixture is equally critical, as beam angle, output, and placement all affect the quality of light and the overall visual effect. Maintenance-friendly fixtures should also be considered, since fixtures are often concealed and possibly difficult to access once installed.
These factors make it essential for architects to carefully plan and collaborate across disciplines to ensure the lighting performs as intended without compromising the design vision.
How can those challenges be addressed effectively?
To design cove lighting, the design team should work through a series of questions such as:
- Is this cove providing an accent to the architecture or a significant working portion of the light needed for the space?
- Is it intended to be a narrow band of light (tight and close to the wall or ceiling), or is the cove trying to light the surface as evenly as possible, and therefore requiring a greater setback distance from the surface it is lighting?
- What are the details of the surface being lit by the cove: Is it a dark or light finish color, is it textured, is it smooth, or is the surface too specular and may cause the source to be visible in the reflection?
- Are there special constraints such as ceiling height, wall depth, or structural conflicts that limit fixture placement and possibly light distribution?
The answers to these questions will influence the choice of output, light distribution, color temperature, and performance of the fixtures to be considered. And the choice of the fixture will, in turn, determine the location, shape, and size that the cove may need to be.
Through early-stage design integration and effective coordination, cove lighting can be thoughtfully incorporated to elevate both the functional performance and aesthetic quality of a space while minimizing design and construction complexity.
Contact Mercer Zimmerman for advice and support on your cove lighting projects!
fact-ology
The A: 3-Step MacAdam Ellipse
The Q: What is the most commonly used benchmark in LED fixture manufacturing for balancing color and cost efficiency?
MacAdam ellipse tolerance is a standard used to quantify acceptable color variation in packaged LEDs. It is measured in “steps”, also known as Standard Deviation of Color Matching (SDCM), with each step representing a range of perceptible color differences around a target chromaticity point on the CIE color space. The 3-step MacAdam ellipse is the most widely accepted specification in commercial LED lighting, offering a reliable balance between color consistency and cost. For applications where precise color matching is critical, such as museums, hospitality environments, or high-end architectural projects, 1- to 2-step tolerances are preferred to ensure visual uniformity and maintain design integrity.
lighten up
Employee Spotlight – Trevor Kramer, President
What’s one thing about Mercer Zimmerman that people don’t know?
One thing many people don’t realize about our company is how much we invest in developing our people—and how proud we are of the long, fulfilling careers that grow here. A great example of that commitment is our Professional Development Program (PDP). It’s designed to give new, talented employees a 360-degree view of the business by rotating them through every department. Along the way, they gain hands-on experience and a deep understanding of how our company fits into the broader AEC ecosystem.
This program builds a strong, company-wide team mentality that not only strengthens our culture but also helps us support our customers more effectively. I know firsthand how powerful this program is—I was one of the first to go through it, and it had a tremendous impact on how I see my role, our company, and the industry as a whole.
How did it feel to be promoted to president in 2024?
Being promoted to president was both an incredible honor and a deeply humbling experience. I have grown with this company, so stepping into this role felt like a culmination of years of hard work, collaboration, and shared vision. It was also a time to reflect on the people who supported me along the way, including my mentors, our employees, customers, and manufacturing partners. I am excited and committed to helping lead MZ in the years ahead with integrity and a focus on continued growth and success.
What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
Relax and enjoy the ride. Life isn’t a straight path, and that’s what makes it exciting. At 16, I never could have predicted where I’d end up–and that’s the beauty of it. Sometimes, the most unexpected turns lead to the most rewarding opportunities.
What’s your superpower?
Adaptability, without a doubt. It’s a skill I have had to develop over time—and one I’m still refining. Life doesn’t stay still—between work, family, and everything in between, being able to pivot is essential. Whether I’m tackling challenges at the office or navigating life at home with my wife and two young kids, staying flexible helps me keep moving forward. In an industry that’s constantly evolving, adaptability isn’t just helpful—it’s a must.
