The Koepel in Haarlem, a monumental dome prison designed by architect W.C. Metzelaar, has been transformed into a vibrant multi use space. Once a place of confinement, it is now a hub for education, work, culture and leisure. The building houses lecture halls for the Haarlems Instituut voor Hoger Onderwijs, flexible workspaces, offices, a cinema complex with six theaters and a bar. It also features the Level One Game Museum, a knowledge and innovation center and exhibitions celebrating the city’s history.
A New Chapter in Light
Lighting played a central role in this transformation. The design highlights the architectural beauty of the dome while creating functional and comfortable spaces for study, work and leisure. More than 500 fixtures were installed throughout the building, all powered and controlled with LTECH drivers and dimming technology.
Daylight is maximized with additional windows and at night LED lighting ensures a warm, inviting atmosphere. One of the key requirements was flicker free dimming. With LTECH DALI drivers and T PWM dimming technology, The Koepel now benefits from smooth dimming from 100 percent down to true zero, an effect rarely achieved with LED.
Advanced Control with DALI
The project team selected DALI as the control protocol for its balance of cost efficiency, accuracy and ease of management. This system allows seamless adjustment across the various areas of the building, including classrooms, offices, public zones and cinema halls. Each space can be adapted to suit its purpose, from focused study environments to lively cultural gatherings.
Tailored Lighting Solutions
To achieve uniform light levels of 300 lux in classrooms and work areas, custom daylight luminaires were integrated into the dome structure. In total, 15 large daylight fixtures were built, measuring up to 3.6 by 2.2 meters each, carefully angled to blend with the architecture while delivering the required output. Additional LED panels and ceiling fixtures were installed across offices, cells, corridors and sanitary areas.
With LTECH drivers powering the system, the building enjoys stable performance, reliability and long lifespan. These qualities were essential for a landmark project of this scale.
A Monument Brought Back to Life
The Koepel Haarlem is a striking example of how heritage architecture can be preserved while given a completely new purpose. Through advanced lighting control and high quality LED technology, the project team created a functional, flexible and inviting environment that matches the building’s new role as a center of innovation, learning and culture.
