NIH Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda MD
Project Overview
The Porter Neuroscience Research Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland is a cutting-edge facility designed to advance the study of brain science and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration. With a focus on transparency, openness, and modern design, the Center's high-ceiling architecture, expansive lobby, and connecting atrium spaces serve as both a welcoming hub and a symbolic core of innovation for medical facilities and educational spaces alike.
To meet the challenges of high-ceiling architecture and the need for visually comfortable, energy-efficient lighting, Belfer Lighting's Reflex RX1320LED indirect system was specified and installed throughout these key areas.
Lighting Solution
The RX1320LED indirect fixture by Belfer Lighting is engineered for architectural integration in spaces where light quality and visual comfort are paramount. At the NIH Porter Center, these fixtures were mounted in custom-designed columns to illuminate the expansive lobby and connecting atrium spaces that link medical facilities and educational spaces throughout the building.
The indirect distribution of the RX1320LED provides a soft, diffuse glow ideal for large, open environments — reducing harsh contrasts and complementing the facility's natural daylighting strategies across its high-ceiling architecture.
Lighting Objectives
- Deliver uniform ambient lighting across large open volumes
- Minimize glare and shadows in high-ceiling architecture
- Enhance architectural features with clean, modern lighting
- Support visual comfort for researchers, staff, and visitors across medical facilities and educational spaces
- Provide energy-efficient performance for a federally managed facility
Design Considerations
- High-ceiling performance: RX1320LED is engineered specifically for ceilings over 9 feet, matching the scale of the Center's architecture
- Glare reduction: Recessed design with deep shielding minimizes harsh contrasts in expansive lobby and atrium spaces
- Daylighting integration: Indirect distribution complements the facility's natural daylighting strategy
- Institutional durability: Commercial-grade, made-in-the-USA construction suited to a federally managed research facility
- Cross-space consistency: Uniform lighting connects medical facilities and educational spaces throughout the building
Architecture Firm: Perkins + Will
Lighting: Gilmore Lighting Design
Photography: Alain Jaramillo
Lighting: Gilmore Lighting Design
Photography: Alain Jaramillo
Product Highlight: RX1320LED Reflex Indirect Recessed Fixture
The RX1320LED Reflex™ Indirect Recessed Fixture is engineered for high-performance, indirect illumination in large architectural spaces like healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and expansive lobby and atrium environments.
- High-output indirect LED lighting for large, high-ceiling architectural volumes
- Recessed design with deep shielding to minimize glare across open lobby and atrium spaces
- Ideal for ceilings over 9 feet - suited to medical facilities and educational spaces
- Energy-efficient LED technology with long life and low maintenance
- Zero-to-10V dimming capability for flexible lighting control
- 90+ CRI with 2700K, 3000K, and 3500K color temperature options
- ADA compliant for ceiling, wall, or aisle installation
- Made in the USA with commercial-grade materials
- UL and CUL Listed Damp Location