We delivered a full LED lighting upgrade to the staff restaurant and associated areas within the British Library’s back-of-house facilities in West Yorkshire. The project focused on reducing energy consumption, improving lighting quality and ensuring long-term reliability across a high-use environment. Working alongside CBRE, the scheme covered dining areas, kitchens, corridors, offices and ancillary spaces, with a turnkey approach from survey through to installation and commissioning.
The existing lighting across the staff restaurant relied on a mix of fluorescent panels, T8 linear fittings and legacy downlights which were inefficient, energy intensive and nearing the end of their operational life.
The goal was to deliver a modern, energy-efficient solution that would improve performance while maintaining appropriate lighting levels for a working kitchen and dining space.
We designed and installed a complete LED lighting solution tailored to each area of the building, which included:
LED panels for dining areas, meeting rooms and offices
IP65-rated panels for kitchen environments
High-efficiency LED downlights for circulation and vending areas
IP66 linear fittings for kitchen and service areas
The selected products were designed to deliver high efficiency, long lifespan and consistent light output, while also supporting emergency lighting requirements where needed.
All systems were supplied and installed as part of a fully managed project, including survey, design, installation, testing and commissioning. The upgrade delivered significant improvements in both energy performance and operational efficiency.
Energy consumption reduced by 64%
Annual energy usage reduced from 17,737 kWh to 6,367 kWh
11,370 kWh annual energy saving achieved
This translated into:
2.4 tonnes of CO₂ saved per year
Return on investment in approximately 4.4 years
Over the lifetime of the system, the project is forecast to deliver over £135,000 in total savings, providing long-term financial and environmental benefits.
The new LED system delivers improved light quality across all areas, supporting both user comfort and operational requirements. Backlit LED panels provide uniform, low-glare illumination in dining and office spaces, while robust IP-rated fittings ensure safe and reliable performance in kitchen and service areas. The solution also reduces maintenance requirements significantly, with product lifespans ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 hours depending on application .
The installation is backed by a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty, covering all key components including LED chips, drivers and emergency systems, with an initial on-site support period included. This provides long-term assurance and reduces ongoing maintenance risk for the client.
