At MHSC Energy, we believe that lighting design is about more than just brightness—it’s about creating the right environment for people to work, shop, and move comfortably while keeping energy use efficient and predictable. Our recent project at Camping World Nashville illustrates this perfectly. This large-scale interior project required a detailed and carefully engineered lighting layout that could adapt to multiple spaces, from wide-open retail floors to focused office areas and demanding service bays. By applying our expertise in photometric analysis and fixture selection, we developed a solution that delivers consistent light levels across the facility while optimizing energy consumption.
Project Overview
Camping World Nashville presented a unique set of challenges. The building includes multiple floors, open ceilings, storage areas, and specialized service bays, each requiring different lighting conditions. A single, one-size-fits-all approach would not have been sufficient. Instead, our team designed a multi-layered lighting strategy that accounted for room reflectance (Ceiling: 0.80, Walls: 0.50, Floor: 0.20), fixture mounting heights (ranging from 8 to 19 feet), and the required workplane height of 2.5 feet. These factors helped us accurately model how the light would interact with surfaces, ensuring the right balance of brightness, comfort, and visibility for each space.
The project required several revisions as the design progressed, with adjustments made to fixture placement and output to align with the client’s needs. This flexible, iterative approach ensured that the final design was not only practical but also future-ready, with the capability to handle the wide variety of tasks that take place in the facility daily.
Luminaire Details
The lighting layout incorporated a wide mix of luminaires, each chosen for a specific purpose. Instead of relying solely on high bays or panels, we carefully combined multiple fixture types to achieve the desired effect.
LHB5-UW3CCT-220W – These high bay fixtures deliver up to 32,837 lumens, making them ideal for large, open spaces where strong, uniform coverage is essential. A total of 28 were used in this project.
PHB32x450w 4000K_FLA – With a lumen output of 6,400 at 98% efficiency, these fixtures are reliable performers for areas requiring bright, consistent illumination. Qty: 20
VP3-4PS65-FCCT-H – Delivering 9,041 lumens each, these fixtures provide versatile lighting for spaces that benefit from mid-range coverage. Qty: 9
SFS44040 – Producing 6,048 lumens per fixture, these were incorporated to maintain balance and even distribution in targeted spaces. Qty: 31
PLB4-36W – These panel lights, rated at 4,651 lumens, were ideal for smaller rooms and offices where clear task lighting was required. Qty: 7
CDL6 Downlight – With 843 lumens each, these fixtures provided excellent accent and task lighting, enhancing visibility in focused areas. Qty: 8
HOPT2S – High-output luminaires delivering over 21,466 lumens, chosen specifically for service bays where higher brightness levels are critical. Qty: 23
PLB3-2X2 30W – With a lumen output of 3,705, these efficient panel fixtures operated at 108% efficiency, making them a smart choice for offices and hallways. Qty: 13
This blend of high-output and precision fixtures ensured that every area of Camping World Nashville received exactly the lighting it required.
Light Levels Achieved
Achieving the right light levels is critical for both safety and comfort. Too little light can lead to accidents, poor visibility, and eye strain, while too much light can create glare and wasted energy. At Camping World Nashville, each area was designed to meet its specific lighting needs, and the results were calculated in both foot-candles (fc) and lux for accuracy and clarity.
Second Floor: 60.08 fc ≈ 646 lux – Adequate lighting for general movement and safety.
Offices & Halls: 81.63 fc ≈ 878 lux – Bright enough for reading, writing, and administrative tasks.
Retail: 95.43 fc ≈ 1,027 lux – Ensures product displays are well lit and visually appealing to customers.
Service Bay: 92.22 fc ≈ 993 lux – Provides the visibility required for mechanical and technical work.
Storage: 100.01 fc ≈ 1,076 lux – Higher brightness ensures easy identification and handling of products.
For context, 1 foot-candle equals 10.764 lux. For example, 91.5 fc converts to approximately 985 lux, which reflects the level of brightness we delivered in the service bay areas. These carefully calculated light levels ensure that every space functions at its best, whether for retail sales, employee productivity, or precision maintenance work.
A Detailed, Multi-Phase Design
This project was not completed in a single draft. It went through multiple rounds of edits and refinements to make sure every fixture type and placement worked as intended. The iterative design process allowed us to adapt to changes in client needs while still keeping the system efficient and balanced.
One of the keys to success was incorporating the right mounting heights—8, 12, 16, and 19 feet depending on the space. By adjusting mounting positions, we controlled both spread and intensity of the light. Combined with proper reflectance modeling, this approach allowed us to avoid common issues like dark corners, shadows, or excessive glare.
The end result was a lighting system that not only looks professional but also supports the day-to-day functions of Camping World Nashville’s staff and customers.
Conclusion
The Camping World Nashville lighting project showcases MHSC Energy’s ability to deliver tailored solutions for complex, multi-use facilities. By blending technical expertise with practical application, we designed a system that is both energy-efficient and highly effective. Every space, from the retail floor to the service bay, now has the proper lighting levels to support safety, productivity, and customer experience.
Lighting may seem simple on the surface, but projects like this prove it’s anything but. With the right design, the right fixtures, and the right planning, MHSC Energy ensures that lighting works seamlessly with the environment it serves.
