on view
Hub for Advanced Manufacturing & Research – Wichita State University
Located on Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus, the Hub for Advanced Manufacturing and Research (HAMR) is a 170,000‑square‑foot facility designed to advance innovation in manufacturing, materials, automation, and digital technologies. As part of the National Institute for Aviation Research, HAMR brings research, development, training, and industry collaboration together in a purpose-built environment supporting next-generation manufacturing.
Lighting solutions throughout the facility were thoughtfully selected to support the technical demands of advanced laboratories and collaborative spaces. Nulite fixtures were utilized across multiple areas of the project, featuring the Regolo Series, including Regolo 1, Regolo 4, and Regolo 6, to provide consistent performance and architectural continuity. Wall applications incorporated Kelvix tape light, adding functional illumination while introducing a distinctive and engaging design element within the spaces. Fixture manufacturers included Brownlee, Cooper Lighting Solutions, Insight Lighting, Karice, Kelvix, KW, Lumenwerx, Nulite, OCL, Sternberg, and USAI. Wattstopper provided lighting controls for the entire building, supporting efficiency, adaptability, and long-term performance.
The Players:
Architect: Tessere
Engineer: EEA Consulting Engineers
Electrical Contractor: Atlas Electric
General Contractor: Crossland Construction
insight to light
Environmentally Friendly Lighting
An Overview of Dark Sky
What is Dark Sky lighting, and why is it important?
Dark Sky lighting is outdoor lighting designed to reduce light pollution by directing light only where it’s needed. Guided by standards from organizations like DarkSky International (IDA), it minimizes glare, prevents excess light from spilling into the sky, conserves energy, protects ecosystems, and improves nighttime visibility—while preserving the natural beauty of the night sky.
What are the key principles of Dark Sky lighting?
Dark Sky lighting follows these fundamental principles:
- Purpose: All lights should have a purpose and should be no brighter than necessary.
- Shielded Fixtures: Fully shielded fixtures direct light downward, preventing upward or sideways spill.
- Appropriate Brightness: Illumination levels are kept low enough to avoid over-lighting.
- Warm Light Colors: Employing warmer tones of 3000K or warmer and 590nm amber, which are less likely to cause glare and less harmful to nocturnal animals.
- Timers and Sensors: Incorporating tools to reduce lighting duration and intensity when artificial light is not needed.
What are the benefits of adopting Dark Sky lighting?
Dark Sky lighting has numerous advantages, including:
- Environmental Protection: Reduces harm to wildlife, especially nocturnal species that rely on natural darkness and moonlight for navigation.
- Energy Efficiency: Properly designed lighting consumes less electricity and saves money over time.
- Better Human Health: Limits excessive artificial light that can disrupt circadian rhythms, particularly from cooler color temperatures.
- Enhanced Nighttime Visibility: Without glare and light pollution, pedestrians and drivers benefit from cleaner, safer nighttime environments.
- Stargazing Opportunities: Preserves the natural night sky, allowing clearer views of stars and celestial events.
Mercer Zimmerman represents a wide range of Dark Sky–certified lighting products. Connect with your representative about available options.
fact-ology
How to Get a Clean Wall-to-Wall Look with Trimless Linear Fixtures
The situation:
A project team planned to use trimless Focal Point Seem 2 linear fixtures, installed wall‑to‑wall inside drywall niches. The owner wanted a perfectly continuous, edge‑to‑edge look. But the drywall contractor warned that without at least 4 inches of space at each end, the finished wall surface would show a visible “hump.” Is that a real concern?
What’s happening behind the scenes:
Trimless fixtures rely on a mud‑in flange that gets taped and feathered into the surrounding drywall. That feathering process needs space—otherwise the joint compound can’t taper out gradually. When the fixture runs directly into the wall, the finisher has nowhere to blend the mud, which can create a slight ridge or “hump” on the adjacent wall surface where the fixture meets the drywall.
Drywall installers often ask for 3–4 inches of clearance so they can float the mud cleanly and keep the wall plane smooth.
How installers actually handle this:
Michael Doyle, on Mercer Zimmerman’s Contractor Sales team, notes that this situation comes up often, and there are two accepted installation approaches:
- Remove the mud flange and run the fixture wall‑to‑wall.
The Seem 2 has two small external screws that allow the end flange to be removed. This lets the fixture sit tight to the wall without the mud buildup issue—but it requires precise wall‑to‑wall measurements.
2. Hold the fixture back from each wall.
This gives the drywall crew room to feather the mud from the fixture to the wall. It’s the easiest installation method, but it’s usually not the look the designer wants—especially when the goal is a clean, continuous line of light.
What this means for design decisions:
If the design intent is truly wall‑to‑wall trimless, removing the flange is the most reliable way to achieve it. If the team prefers a simpler install, shortening the fixture slightly and centering it within the niche avoids the hump but changes the visual effect.
lighten up
Fun Facts Straight Outta Our Omaha Office
Steve Clark – Branch Manager
“I am a third-generation Purdue alumnus, and my daughter makes us fourth-generation. I was born in West Lafayette (Purdue’s home), and my paternal Grandfather owned the land on campus that is now used for the primary tailgating for football games and several fraternity/sorority houses (now called the Tower Acres). This is why I bleed black & gold!”
Nancy Benak – Customer Service Manager
“My husband and I once went to Tahiti with Shon Yust (MZ’s CEO) and his wife. We weren’t even 30 years old, worked for different rep agencies, and didn’t have gray hair! Oh, and a few years after that trip, the boat we were on caught fire, and they let it sink to the bottom of the ocean.”
Will Mayers – Specification Sales Manager
“I have a leather briefcase that belonged to John F. Kennedy. It has his initials (JFK) inscribed on it.”
Verle Wiemer – Distributor/Contractor Sales
“Recently received certification as a Professional Golf Instructor. After retirement, I plan to provide golf lessons and hold some youth camps.”
Brittany Handzlik – Project Manager
“I have only missed three home Nebraska Men’s Basketball games in the last four seasons – GBR!”
Layne Sinn – Quotations
“I have had a lot of office nicknames over the years, including Layne’s Lights, Yoda, and Sensei, among others. My true nickname from my hometown friends and family is Shorty because of my much taller brothers, Snake and Big “T”.”