The renovation and expansion of the food court at La Plaza Mall was a much needed reimagining of the property’s most frequented amenity.

The architect’s vision was to visually uplift the main food hall, introduce functional daylight through clerestory windows, use architectural and graphic elements to draw shoppers into the space, and establish the court itself – renamed The Cafes at La Plaza – as an appealing anchor both day and night.

Lighting was used actively to engage these new elements through integration with their form and dramatic revelation of their artistic character after dark. The principal aero-graphic sculptural element was illuminated from grade below at the entry’s cantilevered overhang, and from above once entering the building. Both techniques served to animate the horizontal surfaces in an abstract and playful manner.

Within the court, uplighting of the ceilings from clerestory ledges gives lift to the space while lines of ceiling recessed adjustable accent lights provide crisp revelation to tables and materials below. Lighting of other vertical feature elements helps foster visual transparency for those approaching or driving nearby.