Historic Preservation Meets Modern Performance
Case Study: Holy Spirit Church — Fremont, CA
Originally one of California’s 14 historic missions, the Holy Spirit Church presented a uniquely complex challenge—blending modern lighting performance within a protected, historically significant structure.
The congregation approached us to develop a solution that would respect the integrity of the building while delivering fully functional, contemporary lighting.
The Challenge
This project required navigating multiple layers of approvals, including the Catholic Church as the property owner, the City of Fremont, the State of California, and the National Historic Registry. Midway through installation, updated seismic regulations introduced by the state required on-site re-engineering and rewelding of all fixtures. Compounding the challenge, no additional wiring or new fixtures could be introduced into the structure, meaning the solution had to work entirely within existing constraints. Each fixture also needed to serve a dual purpose—providing both primary illumination and integrated security lighting.
Our Solution
We designed a fully integrated lighting system that operated within the strict limitations of the space without compromising performance or design intent. Each custom fixture was engineered to provide primary illumination for the entire environment while discreetly integrating over 25 concealed LED spotlights. The solution utilized a layered lighting approach—combining ambient uplighting, downlighting, and focused accent and security lighting—all of which could be independently switched and controlled for maximum flexibility and functionality.
The Outcome
A seamless fusion of heritage and innovation—where custom lighting not only preserved the architectural integrity of the space, but elevated its functionality for modern use.
