The pedestrian lighting that accentuates the Marquette University campus has always featured a classic look.  While the decorative fixtures enhanced the character of the university, they weren’t particularly energy efficient. However, the university has now combined traditional aesthetics with today’s cutting edge energy-saving technology.
 
Marquette University recently installed 59 RiponLED fixtures made by Sternberg Lighting around both the new Law School and College of Engineering. These outdoor LED lighting fixtures have the same classic look as the other Ripon fixtures across the campus, but consume nearly 50 percent less energy than the fixtures that utilize old-school metal halide lamps.
 
“We kept the aesthetic because we had invested in (this look) for 15 years, and they are one of the features that helps give the campus identity,” said University Architect Tom Ganey.
 
The RiponLED fixture features an elegant style made of a decorative cast aluminum fitter, a clear acrylic textured acorn and a cast aluminum roof.  Its LED array features Cree XLamp XR-E LEDs.
 
The 95W RiponLED fixtures should require no maintenance for at least 15 years, according to Sternberg Lighting.  That’s a long time considering the lights are on seven days a week, and can be illuminating sidewalks for up to 16 hours a day in the winter, according to Ganey.
 
The long life means university officials can save significant money on maintenance, Ganey said.  And since the LED light fixtures won’t need regular changing, the university’s maintenance crew has more time to tackle other important projects.  
 
“It’s a good, high quality light, and the length of time between lamp changes really helps pay for itself over and over again,” Ganey said. “To change a lamp on a 12-foot-tall outdoor pole is already a difficult task.  It takes two people on a ladder a lot of time, and if we can extend the lamp life to go to 10 years instead of two years, it adds up in a hurry.”