Brent Cross Shopping Centre, one of the UK’s premier retail destinations with an annual footfall of 12.5 million, has undergone a transformative lighting upgrade with Trojan Lighting. The project, commissioned by Hammerson, encompassed front-of-house and back-of-house areas, car parks, external entrances, and the entire network of shopping malls.
A key element of the upgrade involved remanufacturing and retrofitting the centre’s outdated fluorescent lighting troughs, a process that significantly enhanced energy efficiency and lighting quality. Trojan collaborated closely with GA Harpers, facility managers, and electrical engineers to develop a bespoke solution. This included site visits to measure and remove existing troughs, designing new gear trays for optimal light distribution, and manufacturing 282 custom 1.2m troughs. The retrofit approach preserved the architectural integrity of the site while meeting modern lighting standards.
The installation featured 600 advanced luminaires, including Trojan’s Jarrow, Grimrod, and Dorchester models. These fittings, designed for durability and performance, offer lifespans of up to 100,000 hours, IP66 and IK10 ratings for external resilience, and a high efficacy of 152lm/W. Utilising Tridonic boards and drivers, the system ensures reliability, energy efficiency, and seamless compatibility with advanced control technologies.
Central to the upgrade was the integration of MyMesh-enabled lighting, transforming Brent Cross into a smart building network. This innovative wireless system supports automated emergency lighting testing, energy monitoring, and adaptive lighting scenes tailored to enhance the shopping experience. The self-organising MyMesh network also facilitates integration with sensors and controls, providing facility managers with real-time insights into energy usage, maintenance needs, and fault detection.
Through our ROI modelling tool, we estimate that there will be an impressive 71% reduction in energy usage, equivalent to 51 tonnes of CO2 savings in the first year alone. The project’s return on investment is estimated at just 1.67 years, highlighting the financial and environmental benefits of Trojan’s sustainable approach.
This upgrade has not only improved the lighting quality but has also empowered Brent Cross’s management with the tools to optimise building performance, making the centre a benchmark for smart and sustainable retail environments.
