The Light Lab Ltd

The Light Lab contributed bespoke lighting to the relocation of London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, to its state-of-the-art, purpose built site at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on the Stratford Waterfront. Allies and Morrison & Buro Happold specified our expertise to fabricate our bespoke LED handrail fitting "Glowrail' in a custom timber finish, spanning 15 stories throughout the new building.Internally, Buro Happold’s structural team devised innovative solutions for the complex spaces radiating from the central atrium and circulation space, known as the ‘Heart’.One such solution was the ‘Heart Wall,’ a concrete frame comprising columns and beams that establishes a boundary between the central core and surrounding workshop spaces. This structure provides primary stability while retaining flexibility in space utilization and service provision.Our specialist team manufactured and installed over 430m of custom timber LED handrail, incorporating helical, curved, and straight sections, seamlessly integrating with the sweeping concrete ‘heart wall’ stair and adjoining black steel staircases; wall mounted with custom black powder coated steel brackets.Mastering an unfinished surface presents a unique design challenge, as production director Marcus Cave describes;“Fixing to a concrete surface demands complete precision, as there’s no room for touch-ups.To address this, our team devised a bespoke fixing method, which involved casting a spigot into pre-drilled holes in the concrete and attaching our bracket directly — so accuracy was key! The team did incredibly well delivering this perfectly on a hugely impressive build.Sincere thanks to Buro Happold for the opportunity with our Glowrail product. We’re thrilled with the result!”The new home for UAL’s London College of Fashion is conceived as a 21st-century workshop, drawing inspiration from 19th-century mill buildings. Outwardly simple, unpretentious, and robust; it accommodates multiple complex and process-driven internal arrangements, ensuring adaptability to change.The new campus has also now achieved BREEAM Outstanding certification, with Buro Happold delivering engineering strategies that will achieve a 39% reduction in CO2 emissions against the original brief.The relocation of LCF consolidates departments spread across six London sites for the first time, making it one of the world’s largest dedicated spaces for the study and research of fashion upon completion

Located in the heart of Lusail City, Qatar, Lusail Towers is a striking new development designed by Foster + Partners and led by Al Dhow. Comprising four high-rise towers surrounding a central plaza, the project is set to become the new headquarters for key financial institutions and a centrepiece of the city’s commercial district. Blending cutting-edge design with sustainability and public space, Lusail Towers reflects Qatar’s bold vision for future-focused urban development.The Light Lab’s customisable Glowrail LED handrail was specified across the surrounding exterior of plot 1 & 2 of the development.  To support efficient and accurate on-site installation by the local contractor, our team produced detailed drawings, schematics and installation documents, with personal co-ordination happening via video conference. The Light Lab carefully fabricated brackets and handrail metalwork, which were sent ahead and installed by the local contractor.  Following a final site survey of the handrail, the plug-and-play LED inserts were shipped to complete the installation. This meticulous process ensured seamless fitting by the local installation team while maintaining the high-quality finish and consistent illumination that define the Glowrail product.

PoMo, Trondheim’s new museum for modern and contemporary art, recently opened in February 2025, to much anticipation, quickly establishing itself as one of the most exciting cultural events in recent years. Housed in a beautifully restored historic building, the museum blends rich heritage with cutting-edge design. Featuring striking interiors by India Mahdavi and Erik Langdalen, PoMo is already becoming a landmark in Trondheim. With world-class exhibitions and bold architectural vision, it is redefining Norway’s cultural scene and has quickly become a must-visit destination for art and design enthusiasts from around the world.The stunning central helical stair—part of the vibrant interiors designed by architect India Mahdavi in collaboration with Norwegian architect Erik Langdalen—features The Light Lab’s Glowrail LED handrail in a custom powder-coated finish. Commissioned directly by Trondheim Stål AS, alongside project partners Skanska Norway, the project also benefited from our full installation service. Our skilled team travelled to site to carry out the installation, ensuring precise execution and maintaining full control over quality and finish—guaranteeing the highest standard of delivery.To guarantee an impeccable fit, The Light Lab carried out a first fix onsite, by installing brackets directly into 11mm steel. This early-stage work provided precise setting-out points, enabling our team to conduct an accurate site survey ahead of fabrication—ensuring a tightly controlled and efficient build process. As part of this coordinated approach, the Glowrail was custom powder-coated in a bold orange to exactly match the stairwell’s steel walls, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the surrounding architecture while reinforcing the space’s vibrant industrial aesthetic.Unlike a typical helical staircase, the central stair’s unusual and complex compound radii presented significant technical challenges. Through meticulous planning and custom fabrication, our team developed bespoke, flexible mounting solutions that allowed the Glowrail to trace the stair’s intricate curves flawlessly—even in the tightest sections. This required carefully adjusting bracket radii and ensuring perfect alignment of the LED fixtures to maintain continuous illumination and visual cohesion throughout.The custom brackets were also powder-coated in the same bold orange for a unified appearance and designed with a minimalist profile that eliminates the need for cover plates—delivering a crisp, contemporary finish.The result is a striking lighting solution that blends cutting-edge design with functional performance. The Glowrail forms a smooth, continuous line of diffused light that follows the staircase contours precisely, maintaining full illumination and seamless transitions—even on extreme radii.This project is a clear demonstration of our ability to deliver complex architectural lighting solutions on a global scale—combining precision design, technical craftsmanship, and seamless coordination to ensure flawless on-site execution.

At St James Quarter, the Glowrail illuminated handrails designed by LIGHTALLIANCE and expertly fabricated and installed by The Light Lab create a cohesive and striking lighting experience across multiple key areas.St James Walk is a vibrant public realm area located opposite the entrance to the W Edinburgh. Here, a static white Glowrail provides refined, consistent illumination that highlights the architectural elegance of the space. Its sleek, minimal design seamlessly integrates with the surroundings, guiding pedestrians with a sense of safety and style while enhancing the atmosphere of this bustling thoroughfare.The Grand Steps, forming the prominent centrepiece at the main entrance of both the W Edinburgh and St James Quarter, feature a dynamic RGBW pixel Glowrail LED handrail. This feature brings the steps to life with simple, low-resolution animations along the handrails, offering a customizable spectrum of colors that shift to match different moods and occasions. Coordinated with the RGBW LEDs in the bespoke ceiling feature at SUSHISAMBA’s entrance, the lighting design creates a unified visual experience, flowing seamlessly throughout the space. Together with the static Glowrail across St James Walk, these elements guide visitors with sophistication, balancing safety, visual impact, and the immersive energy of the quarter.The main entrance to St James Quarter is further enhanced by a sleek Glowrail handrail that combines minimalist design with soft, uniform white light. This feature welcomes visitors into the vibrant shopping and leisure destination, providing both safety and visual appeal while blending seamlessly with the contemporary architecture.At the rooftop of the W Edinburgh, the Glowrail continues to impress. Integrated into a bronze metallic perimeter wall, the high-performance LED lighting delivers a soft, uniform glow, balancing functionality with modern aesthetics. Extending gracefully downward, the handrail flows through multiple levels, creating a continuous, cohesive lighting journey throughout the building.Across all locations, the Glowrail handrails at St James Quarter reflect a careful balance of style, safety, and innovation, enhancing the visitor experience and reinforcing the iconic, dynamic character of the development.