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A multi-discipline civil engineering firm mixed outside and inside lighting to open the space of this high-speed railway office redesign in Houston, Texas. How Engineering, Creativity, and Artistic Design Lit Up This Office Space A multi-discipline civil engineering firm mixed outside and inside lighting to open the space of this high-speed railway office redesign in Houston, Texas. Edited by Terry Persun Cool Stuff May 26, 2026 The two foundational principles of lighting include the qualitative (or aesthetic) aspect and the quantitative (or engineering) aspect of light. Architectural lighting is concerned with the qualitative lighting experience. The qualitative pertains to ensuring that a space has a pleasing ambience. It is the artistic interspersing of shadows and light, darkness and illumination, highlighting certain figures and form. This is where creativity truly matters. Images courtesy of Alcon Lighting. Othon Engineering is a multi-discipline civil engineering firm focusing on private and state-sponsored projects, such as a segment of California’s high-speed railway with offices located in Houston, Texas. At the very beginning of the project, “Othon’s goal was to [afford] every desk’s seat a direct view outside—a challenge proven difficult with private offices lining the perimeter of the window walls,” designer Amy Vonderau explained. Vonderau goes on to explain that Othon Engineering’s original space was a typical closed private office with full-height panel cubicles, which basically created a maze of long corridors. There was a snag in hiring new talent because of the compartmentalized work environment. By opting to design their new space with an open concept, this gave way to community areas for project teams to easily interact. Images courtesy of Alcon Lighting. As the plan took shape—the goal of direct exterior view posed a problem with ensuring that lighting levels were balanced. “The building wasn't originally designed for an open concept ceiling, so when the lay-in ceiling was removed we had to make the most sense we could of the existing elements,” Vonderau said. Vonderau decided to create the storefront eyebrow that extended from the top of the glass in the private offices into the open ceiling area, creating a shelf. Within the shelf they used the 1-inch linear light that followed the perimeter of the private offices which in return balanced the exterior natural light into the open space. This also served as a wayfinding element that leads one from the reception to the open work area, then down the corridor to the community conference room—while ensuring this light wasn’t a glare bomb but rather an ambient continuous glow. The eyebrow flowed through the space creating the perfect path to be illuminated to help balance the natural light from the exterior into the core. Images courtesy of Alcon Lighting. Ultimately, private offices were kept along the perimeter window walls but rebuilt with glass to allow the center work area a direct view of the outside from every desk. When Vonderau specified a long linear 1-inch LED tape light that needed custom lengths and continuous corners, Jason Long, from Long Term Builders, submitted Alcon Lighting’s product, which she approved. “The linear LED light strip was the main design element within this renovation,” Vonderau said. The client for this project was Othon Engineering, while the architect was Lettie Harrell of LH2 Architecture. Amy Vonderau was the designer and Jason Long of Long Term Builders was the lighting specifier. For information: Alcon Lighting Linear Light Ring Pendant Read more lighting case studies >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

How technology and performance combine to create expressive storytelling and audience immersion. Groundbreaking Dance Performance Uses Motion Capture, Aerial Drones, and Visual Effects How technology and performance combine to create expressive storytelling and audience immersion. Jeff Gunderson Stage Events Nov 11, 2025 The Netherlands-based contemporary dance company, Another Kind of Blue (AKOB), has received widespread acclaim for its groundbreaking performances that explore the relationships between humans and technology. Founded by visionary choreographer David Middendorp, the company not only uses technology as a subject of exploration but also as a dynamic tool for expressive storytelling. "I've always been fascinated by the intersection of culture and technology," said Middendorp. "People often perceive them as separate, but I firmly believe they are closely related. Technological innovations are often born from someone's dreams. For instance, airplanes would never have been invented without the dream of flying. And I believe technology plays a significant role in shaping human nature. It contributes to our sense of identity." Photo by Kim Vos Fotografie, courtesy of Some Kind of Blue and OptiTrack. Middendorp talent caught the attention of "America's Got Talent," where his choreographed performances reached the finals. Encouraged by the experience, Middendorp decided to establish AKOB. Several productions soon followed. AKOB's artistic live dance performances feature imaginative uses of motion capture (mocap) technology, aerial drones, digital elements, and real-time visual effects and animations, captivating audiences with experiences that are both mesmerizing and thought provoking. Photo by Kim Vos Fotografie, courtesy of Some Kind of Blue and OptiTrack. Discovering Motion Capture Middendorp's exploration of aerial drones stemmed from his desire to examine the concept of free will. The early stages of the concept involved someone remotely controlling a single drone from the wings. Then, the idea evolved into a swarm of drones that would form into certain shapes. However, 10 to 20 people operating drones in synchronized patterns proved impossible. “We started to search for solutions," Middendorp said. "One idea was to build our own localization system. Then, as we were looking at other possibilities, we discovered OptiTrack.” Middendorp purchased his first eight OptiTrack cameras early in his explorations and has slowly been accumulating more. Today, AKOB has 22 OptiTrack mocap cameras—16 Primeˣ 13 cameras and 7 Primeˣ 22 cameras. The configuration provides real-time, low latency tracking that optimizes accuracy across capture areas. Photo courtesy of OptiTrack. As Middendorp became more proficient with the mocap system, his team began using it to track dancers on stage wearing OptiTrack mocap suits. Using positional data, the dancers' movements were translated into commands for controlling the drones in real-time. The subsequent performance, “Airman,” featured 12 drones, some flying pre-determined paths, and others programmed to respond to the dancers’ movements. According to Middendorp, “With OptiTrack, we can track drones, dancers, and other elements. Another advantage is that the infrared cameras work in low-light conditions, which is crucial since we often darken the stage to create a specific ambiance.” Imaginative Uses Another idea conceived by Middendorp was to create a duet that explored interactions between dancers and elements of physics. He envisioned a powerful way to visualize physics through sound waves, and particularly an effect known as Chladni patterns. Named after 18th-century German physicist and musician Ernst Chladni, these intricate patterns emerge when a flat surface with a sprinkling of sand (or similar substance) vibrates at specific sound wave frequencies, causing the sand to move and gather at certain locations on the surface. Rather than making the entire stage shake, he chose to replicate the sand motion through simulation, leading to the development of a dynamic virtual sand representation complete with the ability to form Chladni patterns on a stage. However, for live performances, he needed to depict a convincing engagement between dancers and the simulated sand. OptiTrack was able to help him with a solution. In the performance, “Wave”" virtual sand is projected onto the stage, and dancers, donning OptiTrack mocap suits, are tracked with precision using the OptiTrack system. Similar to the way drones can be controlled, OptiTrack allows the dancers' movements to manipulate the virtual sand in real-time. The result is an immersive presentation where the interplay between the dancers and the simulated sand appears remarkably true-to-life. Forging Into New Dimensions The most recent production from AKOB originated from what Middendorp calls, “a fantasy.” He said, “What if you could visit people that aren't here anymore? Maybe they passed away or maybe they just left. But what if there was a virtual space where you could still interact with them? I wanted to use this concept to create a choreography.” His piece, “Missing” (part of the new full-length performance “Digital Twin”), transports audiences into a near future scenario where a dancer engages in a duet with the digital version of someone who is no longer physically here but continues to exist in an alternate reality. The performance offers a profound insight into the possibility of leaving a digital version of ourselves for our loved ones. To create this experience, Middendorp uses a “virtual mirror” on stage comprised of a very large display that rotates during the performance, seamlessly reflecting both virtual and real objects. Using OptiTrack, the hands of dancers on stage are closely tracked, translating gestures into movements performed by digital counterparts in the mirror. Middendorp said, “OptiTrack serves a critical role in the performance for making the display function like a true mirror.” AKOB continues to delve into new realms of creative possibilities, pushing boundaries of contemporary dance, while OptiTrack provides multiple tracking solutions in one system. “I am always learning new things about the system and what it can do. If I have a spare moment, I sometimes just play with it, which is very useful for developing new ideas,” Middendorp said. For more information: OptiTrack OptiTrack Cameras OptiTrack Mocap Software Another Kind of Blue Read more about stage performances >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next