A new £18.8 million Skills and Innovation Centre in Suffolk has incorporated a DALI-2 lighting control system designed to improve energy management, simplify maintenance, and support the building’s sustainability targets.
The three-storey development forms part of Gateway 14, a business, innovation, and logistics park adjacent to Junction 50 of the A14 and part of Freeport East. The centre has been created to support businesses, training providers, and education partners, with facilities including office space for high-growth start-ups, collaboration areas, meeting rooms, training facilities, and a café.
The project is focused on supporting sectors including the green economy, digital technology, and artificial intelligence, while also helping address regional skills requirements through partnerships with organisations including the Universities of Suffolk and Essex, West Suffolk College, Suffolk New College, and Colchester Institute.
The £18.8 million development received £16.66 million in funding from Freeport East, with the remaining contribution provided by Mid Suffolk District Council. Designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, the 35,000ft² (3251.6m²) building incorporates a range of measures intended to improve energy efficiency and reduce operational demand.
Lighting controls throughout the building were delivered using a DALI-2 solution from B.E.G. – a German manufacturer of occupancy sensors, motion detectors, and lighting control products – incorporating occupancy detection, daylight harvesting, emergency lighting testing, and energy monitoring.
For the main contractor, Fusion360 Group, the project represented its first B.E.G. installation using a DALI-2 lighting control system. B.E.G. provided technical support throughout the specification, installation, and commissioning stages, helping the project team deliver the system successfully.
Mohamed Abosharaf, Head of Engineering for the UK & Ireland at B.E.G., says, “The lighting strategy at Gateway 14 needed to support the wider objectives of the building, particularly around energy efficiency and operational management. A DALI-2 system provided the ability to control lighting according to occupancy, available daylight, and building requirements, rather than relying on fixed lighting operation.
“By integrating occupancy detection, daylight harvesting, and monitoring functions, the system helps reduce unnecessary energy use while providing the facilities team with better visibility of lighting performance. This is particularly important in a building designed to support businesses and training activities where different areas will have different patterns of use.”
Centralised control and monitoring
The installed DALI-2 network was set up to ensure there was centralised lighting control across the building, with integration into the building management system (BMS). This allows facilities teams to monitor system status, receive fault information, and manage lighting operation from a central interface.
Occupancy detection then adjusts lighting operation based on whether spaces are in use, whilst daylight harvesting is designed to automatically respond to changes in natural light levels to help maintain appropriate lighting conditions and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.
The system includes automated emergency lighting testing and reporting, removing the requirement for manual testing routines and providing recorded compliance information. Energy monitoring also provides visibility of lighting consumption, allowing building performance to be reviewed over time.
Mohamed continues, “For electrical contractors, open protocols such as DALI-2 provide flexibility because they allow lighting systems to be integrated with wider building services. It also gives building operators access to information that can help them manage energy use and maintenance more effectively throughout the life of the installation.
“At Gateway 14, the objective was to deliver a lighting system that was appropriate for a modern commercial building – one that could respond to how spaces are used, support energy management, and provide reliable information for those responsible for operating the facility.”
Dan Glynn, Sales Director for the UK & Ireland at B.E.G, adds, “The Skills and Innovation Centre at Gateway 14 represents a significant investment in the region, providing a base for businesses, educators, and training providers while supporting the area’s economic development plans.
“The project demonstrates how DALI-2 lighting controls are being used in commercial buildings to improve control, monitoring, and energy management while meeting the requirements of increasingly connected building environments.”
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