Lighting for Your Recreation Center
When designing and planning your recreation center, lighting is a major factor to consider. Natural lighting is not always available, especially in the colder seasons when days are shorter and darker.

Good Lighting Matters
Why is good lighting important? Just like your home, or any office, proper lighting goes a long way in how it dictates the mood of those inside. For example, most people tend to avoid harsh fluorescent lights at home in order to make it feel relaxed and comfortable, as opposed to the harsh overhead lights of a large office or supermarket.

Creating the Right Atmosphere
What makes the right lighting work so well is that it creates an atmosphere, depending on how it is used. Ambient lighting is the lower lighting mentioned above, typically used at home to create a warmer atmosphere and a softer focus to help you relax. Other, more creative ways of lighting are typically referred to as “accent” lighting, which is angled lighting from multiple sources to emphasize certain elements — often used to light performers on a stage for dramatic effect.

For most sports complexes, task lighting is typically used in more active areas. This is because the brighter light, spreading evenly across the activity area, helps players and others stay focused and alert. When it comes to artificial task lighting, it is important to light evenly from above, making sure your light sources are properly angled to avoid obscuring or poorly illuminating parts of the arena or fitness area. Correct angling of task lighting in a larger space should create a uniformity of light, with all exposed areas lit clearly.