The Best Lighting You’ll Never Notice: Inside SDA’s Hidden Brilliance
When lighting is done right, you often don’t notice it — it just feels right. That was the case in the SDA (Seventh Day Adventist Church) office, designed by Site Lines Architecture. The goal was simple: create a space where natural wood and DLT [Dowel Laminated Timber] ceilings take centre stage, and the lighting quietly enhances the architecture without calling attention to itself.
We sat down with Jordan Maddox, Partner and Interior Design Lead at Site Lines Architecture, to dive deeper into the thought process behind SDA’s lighting design, uncover the challenges, and explore the solutions that made this office both functional and visually striking.
Q: What was your overarching vision for the lighting in this build?
Jordan: “We wanted the DLT ceiling and natural wood to truly shine. That meant being intentional with placement and keeping the space bright but subtle. Using a single Axis Lighting fixture throughout allowed for visual uniformity and quiet consistency, letting the architecture speak for itself. Wherever possible, our ambition was for the lighting to disappear.”
The Sculpt from Axis Lighting is used throughout the facility to deliver consistent, uniform illumination. Its clean white finish integrates seamlessly with the architectural vision, ensuring the lighting recedes while the natural materials take centre stage.
Q: How did you approach hallways and transitional areas?
Jordan: “Regressed and wall-wash lens options were critical. Hallways could be evenly illuminated, and the wood slat feature around the elevator core could be highlighted without adding extra fixtures. I’m always drawn to regressed fixtures for their reduced glare and minimal spill, and the ½” regressed Axis Lighting lens delivers exactly that. Keeping the lighting clean and visually calm creates a continuous, invisible plane at 9 feet, subtly guiding the eye through the space and allowing the floating DLT ceiling to appear effortless.”
In addition to the Sculpt from Axis Lighting, Liteline APF Cylinder pendants are also used throughout the space in a white finish, pairing seamlessly with the Sculpt. Both manufacturers are proudly Canadian.
Q: How did you bring light into that four-storey stairwell?
Jordan: “The stairwell was its own challenge. It’s a dramatic four-storey void, and we wanted a fixture that could travel through the space and become a moment of interest as people move up and down. The narrow, tall configuration created seismic concerns. We couldn’t use anything heavy that could swing like a pendulum during an earthquake, and glass was out of the question for safety reasons. The curtain-wall enclosure added another limitation: nothing could be so heavy that it might strike the glazing.
Those constraints narrowed our options, but the Pavo fixture checked every box. Its 360-degree illumination meant you never see a ‘backside,’ and the ability to mix lengths allowed us to create a composition that spans multiple levels — a light feature that moves with you through the space.
Also, a big thank you to Emily Baik (Associate and Building Technologist at Site Lines) for coordinating with an external engineer to ensure this fixture met all requirements and brought our vision to life.”
The Pavo 2″ Cylinders from SPI Lighting. 13 pendants are suspended at various heights to create the cascading vertical chandelier. Being acrylic tubes, they passed both seismic and engineering approval.
Q: What was your strategy for lighting the meeting rooms to balance function and elegance?
Jordan: “In the meeting rooms, we shifted to something with a bit more presence. We worked closely with the mechanical engineer to declutter the ceiling, creating space for something with presence. The Pipeline fixture was perfect — a floating beam of light with a 176-degree spread that feels effortless above the tables. It’s elegant yet functional, letting the ceiling itself shine while keeping the lighting subtle.”
The Pipeline from PureEdge Lighting is used above the boardroom table in three linear segments.
Q: Were there any clever workarounds needed for the outdoor lighting?
Jordan: “For the exterior, the DLT soffit shaped our approach. Traditional recessed pots weren’t an option, the housing simply wouldn’t work with mass timber. Instead, we drilled small openings from the top side to feed wiring down and mounted halo lights directly onto pancake junction boxes. The ultra-slim 14 mm profile downlights let us achieve the clean, pot-light look we wanted without the complications of installing a true recessed fixture. This approach minimized drilling on the underside of the soffit while preserving a crisp, minimal aesthetic perfectly aligned with the rest of the project.
This solution came together through close collaboration between Site Lines and StructureCraft. Emily Baik and I worked with their team to explore options, navigate the constraints, and find the most practical, buildable approach.”
In addition to the ultra-slim Cooper Lighting Solutions: HALO SMD6 downlights, exterior illumination includes bollards, recessed step lights, and high-mast lighting from various brands represented by Mac’s II Agencies.
Q: What was the reaction when experiencing the space for the first time?
Jordan: “During the photoshoot, the photographer and I were talking about how people notice poor lighting. When a space is overlit, it’s harsh. When it’s underlit, it feels dim and unwelcoming. But when lighting is done right, it goes unnoticed — it just feels right. That’s exactly how this office turned out. The stairwell fixture has become a client favourite, but what I’m most proud of is how the entire space feels bright, functional, and cohesive. Each lighting choice supports the architecture without ever competing for attention. The lighting doesn’t steal the show; it lets the design shine.”
Lighting Lessons and Designer Insights
Subtle, intentional lighting allows architecture and materials to take centre stage. For SDA, thoughtful fixture selection, creative installation strategies, and technical expertise ensured lighting disappeared where it needed to, guiding the eye and enhancing the overall experience.
Behind the scenes, Mac’s II Agencies role was assisting in bringing this vision to light. We worked closely with the Site Lines team, and other key project stakeholders, to conduct delivery checks, lead coordination meetings and support any technical lighting challenges as they arose. When you’re working with mass timber, exterior soffits, and seismic considerations, the details matter and we’re there to make sure nothing fell through the cracks.
For a closer look at the SDA project, check out our full case study!
Meet the Designer
Jordan Maddox, Partner and Interior Design Lead at Site Lines Architecture, brings over ten years of expertise to commercial, residential, and construction management projects. His design philosophy centres on honesty, creativity, and attention to detail — ensuring each space authentically reflects the client’s vision. At Site Lines Architecture, an award-winning Fort Langley firm established in 1999, Jordan contributes to a design ethos rooted in the landscapes of Southeastern BC. The studio’s collaborative process blends form, function, and innovation, creating urban and commercial environments where nature and architecture converge.
Partnering with the Creative Community
We’re proud to work alongside creative teams like Site Lines Architecture, collaborating closely to bring their lighting vision to life.
We invite other British Columbia designers and architects to partner with our expert lighting consultants — together, we can illuminate your next project while celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship of design.
