CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY SPORTS FIELD LIGHTING UPGRADE WITH LEDVANCE SPORTS LIGHTS

Concordia’s metal halide system had become inefficient and difficult to maintain. Burned-out lamps created uneven, patchy lighting across the playing surface, and maintenance required recurring lift rentals, labor, and hard-to-source replacement lamps. Rising costs and delivery delays only made the problem worse.

More importantly, this was directly impacting the experience on the field - reliability, consistency, and lighting quality were not meeting the standard expected for university athletics.

LEDVANCE supported a full sports-lighting upgrade built around performance, uniformity, and simplified operation. With a lighting audit and photometric studies, the team specified 134 LEDVANCE LED Sports Light fixtures using multiple beam distributions (3x3, 4x4, 5x5) to match the field’s real-world needs.

The project also incorporated modern controls, enabling tablet-based operation and dimming strategies that reduce energy usage while maintaining a strong playing environment.

“LEDVANCE has a strong line of sports lighting products that make upgrades like this very quick and easy using just 4-5 SKUs.” David Hamel, Lighting Specification and Control Manager, Luxtec

To reduce cost and complexity, Concordia reused existing wiring from the prior system.
 

Better experience for players

The most noticeable impact was the upgrade in field visibility and consistency. Instead of uneven areas caused by failed bulbs, the field now has dependable lighting performance that supports practices and games.

“Our players appreciate the consistent lighting across the field, which had been patchy in the past due to failed bulbs with varying intensities.” Darren Finny, Manager of Facilities Planning and Development - Recreation and Athletics, Concordia University

Sustainability and energy savings

Concordia reported an annual reduction in field energy consumption of 100 kW, supporting the University’s broader sustainability goals while reducing ongoing operational demand.

“Thanks to our upgrade, we reduced energy consumption on the field by 100kW annually. While payback can’t be measured on energy savings alone, the utility’s support, combined with the long lifespan of the LED lamps, delivers substantial reductions in maintenance and operational costs.” Brendan O’Neill, Concordia University.

Reduced maintenance and long-term operating burden

Historically, Concordia replaced 10 to 15 bulbs per year and regularly rented expensive access equipment to keep the system functioning. The new LED system dramatically reduces that recurring maintenance cycle and frees budget that would have otherwise gone into repairs.


 

Concordia’s upgrade is a strong example of why LEDVANCE is a reliable partner for sports lighting applications. The project delivered a better on-field experience for student athletes, stronger operational control for facilities teams, and measurable energy and maintenance reductions that support the University’s sustainability roadmap. With coordinated execution across Luxtec, Groupe Specs, Dupras Ledoux, and LEDVANCE, the University achieved a modern sports lighting system built for long-term performance.