Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University

Salem, OR

Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) at Willamette University is Oregon’s flagship college of art and design, dedicated to delivering a transformative education that prepares students for a life of creative practice. PNCA fosters innovation, critical thinking, and civic engagement through a rigorous studio-based curriculum that encourages experimentation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and social responsibility.

In alignment with this mission, PNCA is undertaking a lighting retrofit project that supports sustainability while enhancing the learning environment. The college will replace outdated fluorescent lighting with energy-efficient LED fixtures throughout its historic LEED Platinum Certified building. Beyond financial efficiency, the retrofit will improve the overall visual environment—LED lighting provides better color rendering and is easier on the eyes, supporting the needs of PNCA’s diverse and creatively focused community. LEDs also address health concerns for individuals sensitive to fluorescent flicker and complement the building’s abundant natural light. The project reduces maintenance demands, as LEDs last significantly longer than fluorescents and do not produce hazardous waste. This means fewer disruptions to daily operations and a safer environment for facilities staff.

Milestones

• Reduce electricity use for lighting by 58 percent annually

• An energy cost savings of $14,500 annually

• Reduce GHG Emissions from Energy Use annually by 12 percent (35 Metric Tons CO2e)

• Reduce overall site electricity use annually by 12 percent kwH