Journaling the latest developments in lighting and design.
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We started Alva 13 years ago. Initially our goal was to produce the very best optically sound LED wall sconces. However, we quickly realized there was an apparent void in the lighting industry. Very few were making high quality large scale architectural sconces for outdoor use. Hence the architectural world was forced to either settle for what was out there or consider custom. Custom is expensive and with outdoor you really want to specify a proven sound product.
Our Top 3 Businesses at Alva Lighting are (1) Healthcare, (2) Large scale exterior, and (3) Multifamily.
We’ve been at this for 13 years. We’ve listened to our customers and take their input seriously. This blog will be the first of three, focusing on what the Healthcare Specifier is looking for.
Apartment buildings, condominiums and senior living facilities typically have corridors. The means to light these corridors has been to use surface mounted cans. Why? Surface mount cans are a cost-effective way to produce light, easy to install and basically gets the job done. This past decade there has been a new trend for multifamily. The new trend has been to install a light alongside the door.
12 years ago, Alva Lighting was born.
Our first fixtures were interior wall sconces. LED technology was new for the decorative lighting industry, we knew there was a strong need for high performance fixtures maximizing the benefit of LEDs.
As you know the three markets where Alva does best are large scale exterior, healthcare and multi-family. We’ve been focusing on these three markets for a decade, have learned what customers want. Let’s look at what specifiers doing healthcare projects request:
Tex was the first outdoor light fixture for Alva. When we first introduced Tex, our intent was to:
Build large scale exterior. There clearly was a void when it came to large (60”) outdoor wall sconces. Architects and designers were looking for large scale modernist luminaires.
Over the past decade we’ve realized that Modernist fixtures do not work in every interior space. There remains a strong demand for traditional candelabra style sconces.
We continue to see candelabra style sconces in: Hotel corridors, Senior living, Healthcare, Lobbies & Restaurants
12 years ago Alva set up shop as a manufacturer of premium interior wall sconces. Over time we saw a new business rapidly developing called "multifamily”.
We came up with the idea for Slim several years ago. We were discussing the importance of ADA when designing wall sconces - Why are we designing to ADA standards? Can’t we make something better, exceed their requirements?
Nate and Natalie evolved from a work trip to New York, walking along the Westside looking up at tall buildings built between 1920 and 1960, we immediately realized many of them have these tall cylindrical fixtures on the façade.
In the past wall packs were used solely on the hidden dark sides and rear of the building. More recently they are being used on the facades of buildings to increase lighting on the ground surrounding the building for safety and security.