The Challenge
GSK required more than traditional lighting control. The brief called for a future-proof solution that could:
- Enhance staff comfort and wellbeing
- Support circadian lighting strategies
- Reduce energy consumption across a large HQ
- Integrate with wider building management systems
- Deliver accurate, long-term data on space utilisation
The system needed to be scalable, standards-based, and capable of providing real intelligence to support operational decision-making.
The Solution
zencontrol delivered a fully addressable, networked DALI-2 lighting control system throughout the building.
Hardwired DALI-2 Application Controllers were installed in pre-wired enclosures within the electrical risers. Luminaires, sensors, touchscreens, switch interfaces, and relays were all connected directly to the DALI bus, creating a robust and highly organised infrastructure.
The application controllers are networked vertically via Cat6, resulting in a building-wide, fully addressable lighting system where every device can be individually configured, monitored, and maintained. All sensors used are DALI-2 certified, ensuring consistency, interoperability, and long-term standards compliance.
The system is cloud-configurable through zencontrol’s graphical user interface, enabling efficient commissioning, remote diagnostics, and ongoing optimisation.
Key Features
- DALI-2 lighting control architecture
- Emergency lighting monitoring and automated testing
- Human-Centric Lighting (tuneable white via DT8)
- Colour control and circadian lighting profiles
- Luminaire, occupancy, and energy data analytics
- Open-protocol integration via BACnet/IP and MQTT
- BACnet occupancy data sharing for HVAC optimisation
Human-Centric Lighting & Wellbeing
At the heart of the Earnshaw Project is a commitment to staff wellbeing. The lighting system supports dynamic tuneable-white lighting that mirrors natural daylight cycles, helping to regulate circadian rhythms and improve visual comfort.
zencontrol’s platform allows multiple concurrent HCL curves to run alongside occupancy detection and other control strategies. Profile-based overrides provide flexibility for different tasks, events, or operational needs.
To ensure optimal performance, onsite engineers use specialist measurement tools to map the lighting environment and fine-tune colour temperature and intensity curves in line with industry guidance and project-specific requirements.
Smart Building Integration
The lighting control system is designed as part of a wider smart-building ecosystem. Occupancy data is shared with the building management system via BACnet/IP, enabling HVAC systems to respond dynamically to real usage patterns.
Open-protocol integration through MQTT and BACnet ensures the system can evolve alongside GSK’s digital building strategy, supporting future technologies and data-driven services without major infrastructure changes.
Data-Driven Insight & Efficiency
By using a fully addressable DALI-2 system, zencontrol captures high-resolution occupancy and usage data over time. This gives GSK clear visibility into how different areas of the building are performing.
These insights allow meaningful action, such as identifying underused spaces, optimising layouts, or shutting down entire floors on quieter days to reduce energy consumption — all without compromising staff experience.
Sustainability & Future-Proofing
DALI plays a central role in the building’s sustainability strategy. Granular dimming, daylight harvesting, and occupancy control ensure lighting is only used when and where it’s needed, significantly reducing energy demand.
Bidirectional communication and real-time diagnostics support predictive maintenance, extending system life and avoiding unnecessary replacements. As an open, global standard, DALI also protects against vendor lock-in, allowing the system to scale and adapt over time.
More Than a Lighting Control System
The Earnshaw Project demonstrates how zencontrol’s DALI-2 platform can deliver more than lighting control. The result is a scalable, intelligent, and people-centred solution that enhances wellbeing, reduces energy use, and provides deep insight into building performance, supporting GSK’s vision for a modern, data-driven headquarters.
