Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities Capital topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Facilities staff recommend LED retrofit and modular dimmer repairs for school auditoriums; estimated bulb cost ~$52,000
Summary
District facilities staff recommended replacing theater house bulbs with LED retrofit bulbs designed for dimming systems and sourcing replacement modules to extend the life of existing dimming racks; the presenter said the bulb cost is about $52,000 and replacing dimmer racks could cost an estimated $800,000 if done wholesale.
John Paulness, a district facilities staff member, presented a recommendation to retrofit auditorium house lighting in two school auditoriums with specialized LED bulbs and to purchase replacement electronic modules to keep existing dimming racks functioning.
Paulness said the district had been quoted roughly $800,000 to replace the dimming racks outright and that current non-LED bulbs cost about $8,000 to change because of lift access and fixture complexity. He told trustees the LED retrofit bulbs are specifically designed to work with theatrical dimming systems and that the vendor offers replacement dimmer electronics and refurbishment to extend the life of existing racks.
"The bulbs are designed specifically to work with dimming systems like ours," Paulness said. He listed an estimated material cost for the LED bulbs of roughly $52,000 (about $800 per bulb by his figures), and said that over the bulbs' rated lifespan the energy savings and reduced maintenance would justify the expense within a few years.
Trustees and staff discussed verifying field performance because LED bulbs and dimmers do not always interact perfectly. One trustee asked if the product had been seen in-person; Paulness said he had not yet inspected an installed system but planned to procure test bulbs, validate performance and seek references. Trustees recommended including performing-arts staff in demonstrations because auditorium lighting affects concerts and performances.
No formal contract award was recorded at the meeting; staff said they would vet vendor references, test the retrofit bulbs on-site and return with procurement options and pricing comparisons.
