Project Overview
Melbourne Tower is a historic downtown Seattle office building located at 1511 3rd Avenue. Public records and current property listings identify it as a 10-story, 130,893 sq. ft. office building, originally constructed in the late 1920s.
In 2015, Radiance Energy was selected to upgrade the building’s commercial indoor lighting and exterior areas, modernizing outdated fixtures while improving efficiency and lighting performance.
The Challenge
The building relied on aging 4-lamp T8 troffers that consumed approximately 120W per fixture. Across a 10-story office environment, those fixtures contributed to high energy costs, frequent maintenance requirements, uneven lighting, and tenant dissatisfaction.
Common areas and exterior lighting also required modernization to improve visibility, operational efficiency, and overall lighting quality.
The Solution
Radiance Energy implemented a comprehensive LED retrofit across Melbourne Tower, replacing 4-lamp T8 troffers with lower-wattage TLED solutions.
The existing 120W fixtures were replaced with 26W LED solutions, while common areas, lobbies, and exterior spaces received modern LED lighting designed to improve visibility and reduce operating costs. The new system provided flicker-free lighting and included a 10-year warranty.
Project Results
- 70% energy cost savings
- 57% of project cost covered by rebate
- 2.5-year ROI including maintenance
- Fixture power reduced from 120W to 26W
- Reduced maintenance requirements and improved lighting quality
Modernizing a Historic Downtown Office Building
Melbourne Tower combines historic architecture with the operational demands of a modern multi-tenant office property. Updating the lighting system required improving energy performance without compromising the building’s day-to-day function or tenant environment.
By replacing high-wattage fluorescent fixtures with efficient TLED technology, Radiance helped modernize the building’s lighting infrastructure while lowering operating costs and improving the quality of occupied and shared spaces.
