Century Wharf, Cardiff

Background

Century Wharf is a large residential development located on the east bank of the River Taff in Cardiff Bay. The gated complex comprises over 900 dwellings set within landscaped grounds and includes shared leisure facilities,  secure parking and concierge services. Its proximity to both Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay makes the development an active residential environment where external lighting plays an important role in safety and security.

CW Estates Management Company Ltd, responsible for the ongoing management and maintenance of Century Wharf, identified the need to upgrade the existing exterior lighting across the site. Working closely with Exterior Lighting Solutions, they initiated a review of the current installation, with a clear objective to improve visibility and resident safety while maintaining the character of the development.

Solution

Following the site assessment, TRT supplied 27W Chalis post top luminaires with a CCT of 3000K to provide a flexible lighting solution across the development. A combination of area, roadway and symmetric optics was  specified to address the varied lighting requirements throughout the site, including pedestrian routes, internal roadways and shared amenity spaces. The Chalis range was selected for its ability to deliver efficient, adaptable  lighting within a contemporary post top form suitable for residential environments. The luminaires incorporate high-efficiency LED sources housed within a vandal-resistant polycarbonate bowl and LM6 aluminium body,  supporting durability in a secure but publicly accessible setting.

Integral PowerSet functionality allows on-site power adjustment within the luminaire, removing the need for additional programming equipment and providing flexibility for commissioning and future optimisation. The removable top section also enables tool-free maintenance and can accommodate external NEMA or Zhaga Book 18 sockets where control integration is required.

Outcome

The upgraded lighting scheme provides improved visibility across Century Wharf, supporting residents’ sense of safety while maintaining the aesthetic character of the landscaped residential environment. The use of varied  optical distributions allowed the scheme to be tailored to different areas of the development, ensuring appropriate illumination levels without unnecessary light spill.

The lighting upgrade at Century Wharf required a solution that could enhance safety across the development while remaining sympathetic to its residential setting. TRT Lighting worked collaboratively with the project team to identify suitable replacements and deliver a flexible scheme that addressed the varied lighting needs throughout the site.

Giles Day Director – Benecrofte Ltd