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Control Track Versa: empowering offices of the future with lasting flexibility
In 2024, the UK workplace landscape saw a gradual return to in-person work, with office attendance increasing to an average of three days per week, according to the Centre for Cities data. While major corporations such as Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group enforced stricter in-office policies, hybrid working remained a key factor in attracting and retaining talent, with nearly half of UK graduates unwilling to apply for roles without flexible options. This evolving work pattern is influencing office leasing trends, with new data from Re-Leased showing a shift toward longer lease agreements in both the office and retail sectors. In Q1 2024, the average UK office lease length increased by 27% to 3.7 years. Lease duration of three to five years surged by 69%. However, short-term flexible leases remain in demand. As businesses seek to optimise their space efficiency while balancing employee flexibility, rental offices must prioritise adaptable fit-outs that accommodate evolving tenant needs. These shifting lease dynamics also impact the lifecycle of office assets, including lighting. Traditionally, light fittings have had the capacity to operate for 20–25 years, which once aligned more closely with longer office lease terms. In the 1990s, leases in the UK office market typically ranged from 10–15 years, often with mid-term break clauses. Today, lease durations have shortened considerably, with many now averaging just 3–5 years — reflecting the rise of more agile and flexible workspace models. As a result, lighting systems are likely to change hands multiple times before reaching the end of their intended life. This raises an important question: how do we design and specify products built to last two decades for spaces that may be reconfigured, relet, or vacated in under five? Adapting to flexibility, health, and productivity To adapt to this new norm, office fit outs must be more flexible and sustainable. This is where the Control Track Versa comes in—a cutting-edge track lighting system that offers unparalleled versatility. It serves as its own infrastructure, allowing for a range of lighting combinations that can easily be adapted to different tenant needs and office layouts, making it an ideal solution for modern, flexible workspaces. A creative edge This suspended track system offers exceptional flexibility in lighting design. It features a dual track known as Control Track Dual which supports direct, indirect, and intermediate configurations and is compatible with luminaires using a Eurostandard+ adapter, ensuring broad usability. Notable compatible products include the VIL Luminaire, designed for dual Control Track use, providing seamless uplight with 300 lux at the ceiling and various lumen output options. The Pleiad G4 128 Track offers advanced solutions for modern offices, while the Zkye 55 G2 Zoom Spotlight adds precision and flexibility for adjustable focus. The Notor 65 Track integrates effortlessly with the system, delivering efficient lighting, and with Integrated Organic Response Sensor enhances energy savings with smart technology. These luminaires demonstrate the system’s adaptability, catering to diverse needs across a range of different spaces. Control Track Versa allows seamless integration of track and luminaires, creating visually appealing setups suited to both minimalist and extravagant styles. By employing lighting principles like focal glow (highlighting specific areas), ambient luminescence (soft overall brightness), and the play of brilliance (creating contrast and depth), designers can craft dynamic and engaging spaces. Ideal for commercial and office workspaces, providing the tools for stunning and effective lighting solutions. Organic response for a long-term infrastructure Control Track Versa offers an adaptable lighting system, ideal for sustainable, forward-thinking projects. Built on a 230V setup, it integrates with advanced lighting control systems, like Organic Response. This wireless Plug & Play solution, designed for workplaces and learning environments, features luminaires with presence sensors that activate upon connection to mains, removing the need for complex programming. Organic Response automatically adjusts lighting based on occupancy, optimising energy use. As each luminaire has its own driver it simplifies rearrangements without the need to recalculate capacity, a common challenge in traditional 48V systems. The design also minimises installation issues, creating a cleaner aesthetic. Control Track Versa, with Organic Response, provides dynamic lighting that adapts as workspace needs change. Flexible lighting designs, planned from the outset, support evolving tenant requirements without compromising energy efficiency or sustainability. As workplaces become more dynamic, lighting quality can be significantly enhanced to meet the needs of modern, tenant-focused spaces. Simplicity that offers versatility The adaptability of both the tracks and fixtures ensures that Control Track Versa can meet the demands of tenants and clients alike. Recognising the collaborative nature of today’s workplaces, this range has been expanded with various track-mounted products designed to accommodate the evolving needs of modern offices. As office spaces become more dynamic, the challenges of short-term leases and temporary spaces are significantly mitigated, making Control Track Versa the perfect solution for fast-paced, ever-changing environments. If you’re curious to see more of what the Control Track versa is capable of, see the full product page or for all products visit our website.
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Creating Human-Centric Workspaces with Double Dynamic Lighting
Lighting transcends its traditional role of mere illumination in modern, evolving work environments. Of course, providing the right light in the right places is still the core function, but it has also become a pivotal element in enhancing employee well-being, satisfaction, and productivity. Yet, a significant portion of the workforce remains dissatisfied with their current lighting conditions. A 2024 study by Ipsosrevealed that 32% of UK office workers are unhappy with their lighting, highlighting the need for increasingly innovative solutions. While another 2022 study by IEOM Society International found that 85% of employees strongly prefer natural light to be the dominant source of illumination in offices, and over 82% believe that access to natural light directly enhances their alertness, concentration, and productivity. This area was addressed by the groundbreaking Double Dynamic Lighting (DDL) study carried out, in collaboration with Fagerhult, at Aalborg University in Copenhagen. The results - by harmonising artificial lighting with natural daylight, and creating daylight-like effects, DDL creates dynamic, responsive environments that cater to human psychological needs, positively influencing visual comfort, naturalness, stimulation and leading to positive outcomes related to work engagement, motivation and concentration. Understanding Double Dynamic lighting (DDL) Double Dynamic Lighting is a design approach that integrates both direct and diffuse lighting, with colour temperature adapting in real-time to natural daylight variations. This method aims to replicate some of the characteristics and dynamic qualities of natural light within indoor spaces, enhancing the overall ambiance and functionality of the workplace. It’s not only about illumination levels but about creating lighting conditions that feel right to people. This includes changes in colour temperature over time and the balance between diffuse and focused light, both of which can have a significant psychological impact on how a space is perceived and experienced. Key features of DDL include: Dynamic adaptation: Lighting adjusts in response to external daylight conditions, ensuring optimal lighting conditions throughout the day. Enhanced visual comfort: The combination of direct and diffuse lighting helps deliver daylight-like effects, creating a comfortable visual environment. Work engagement, motivation and concentration: natural feeling, daylight-like effects delivered by DDL lead to positive psychological outcomes in the workplace. The research conducted at Aalborg University demonstrated that DDL positively influences employees' mood, concentration, and overall work engagement. Participants reported a more pleasant atmosphere and increased motivation when working under DDL conditions compared to static lighting setups. Going forward, Double Dynamic Lighting setups may also help us deliver better biological alignment in workplaces in line with the growing knowledge that human circadian rhythms can be positively supported by workplace lighting, potentially helping alertness during the day, relaxation in the evening, and deliver important health benefits. The science behind DDL The effectiveness of DDL lies in its ability to mimic the natural characteristics and progression of daylight. By adjusting colour temperatures, light intensities and the balance of direct and diffuse sources, DDL creates a dynamic environment that helps deliver natural-feeling workplaces. DDL's real-time responsiveness ensures that indoor lighting complements outdoor conditions. Whether the day is overcast, sunny, or anything in between, DDL can adjust the fundamental characteristics of indoor lighting to help provide lighting conditions that are, to all intents and purposes, naturally expected. Steve Shackleton, Lighting Application Manager at Fagerhult UK comments: “Human beings actually prefer daylight. We migrate to it if we get the chance. Double Dynamic Lighting lets you recreate just a bit of that, but it’s enough to completely change how a space feels. Try it. The effect is quite magical.” Implementing DDL in modern workspaces Fagerhult's DDL is not just a theoretical concept, it's a practical solution already enhancing workplaces worldwide. By integrating advanced sensors and control systems, DDL seamlessly adjusts lighting conditions to suit various tasks and activities. Key components of a DDL-enabled workspace include: Sensor Integration: Occupancy and daylight sensors monitor environmental conditions, informing lighting adjustments. Personalised Control: Employees can customise lighting settings to their preferences, enhancing comfort and productivity. Energy Efficiency: By closely aligning artificial lighting with natural daylight and the needs and whereabouts of building occupants, DDL can reduce energy consumption and support sustainability goals. Fagerhult's Control Track Versa system exemplifies this integration, offering modular lighting solutions that adapt to changing workspace needs. With features like adjustable luminaires and integrated sensors, it provides both flexibility and efficiency. Benefits beyond illumination Daylight-like lighting benefits extend beyond improved lighting conditions: Increased productivity: Comfortable and adaptable lighting environments can boost focus and efficiency. Sustainability: Optimised lighting and control reduce energy consumption, contributing to environmental conservation efforts. Employee satisfaction: Providing personal control over personal lighting preferences can lead to higher job satisfaction and retention rates. Enhanced well-being: Taken to its optimum, by aligning lighting with natural circadian rhythms, DDL can help support mental and physical health. One barrier to wider adoption is cost, though Steve is quick to challenge assumptions: “In the grand scheme of things, the benefits widely outweigh the costs. It’s not like the old days where tunable white lighting was double the cost. Today, we’re talking perhaps 20-30% extra. Not a great deal in a world where, as the BCO puts it, ‘it is becoming increasingly clear that there is a difference between office environments that are simply not harmful - that is the absence of bad - and environments that positively encourage health and wellbeing and stimulate productivity’”. He also points out the deeper value of the investment: “If you’re building a space for people and you know what helps them feel and perform better, can you justify not including it? Is it even sustainable NOT to include it?” Putting people first As workplaces shift to becoming more people-centric to meet the expectations of modern employees, lighting solutions must do the same. Fagerhult’s approach to Double Dynamic Lighting prioritises occupants and human well-being, as well as environmental sustainability and operational performance. By embracing DDL, organisations can transform their environments into dynamic, human-centric spaces that inspire, engage, and support. And it’s not just office workers who can benefit. In retail environments, where access to natural light is often limited by infrastructure, employees may spend 8–9 hours a day without any daylight exposure. DDL could help replicate the dynamic qualities of daylight, promoting a natural feeling environment, for better mood and comfort throughout the day. Similarly, in education settings, where focus, concentration, and cognitive performance are critical, DDL could create optimised, more stimulating classrooms that support both students and teachers. From corporate HQs to classrooms, and retail back-of-house to deep-plan floorplates, DDL isn’t just a lighting upgrade, it’s a shift toward environments that put people first.
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