{"id":5769,"date":"2020-02-24T19:42:12","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T02:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alconlighting.com\/blog\/?p=5769"},"modified":"2021-10-19T14:29:23","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T21:29:23","slug":"history-function-track-lighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alconlighting.com\/blog\/home\/history-function-track-lighting\/","title":{"rendered":"The History and Function of Track Lighting"},"content":{"rendered":"

With a reputation for being dated and generic, track lighting gets less respect than other lighting forms. But, given the history, purpose and record of track lighting, the reputation is undeserved.\u00a0Track lighting, invented in 1961, offers an important\u00a0architectural lighting<\/a><\/span> design and function.<\/span><\/p>\n

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With track lighting, fixtures attach along a continuous track containing electrical conductors, as against routing the electrical wiring to single place of light. A track may be mounted to a wall or to a down beam. Tracks can be installed across rafters or on the ceiling. A track may also be hung from ceilings that are vaulted.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Track lighting comes from the mind of a senior product designer for Lightolier named Anthony Donato, who was awarded the first track lighting patent in 1961. According to his obituary in the Boston Globe, Donato graduated from the Pratt Institute with a fine arts degree in industrial design. He designed track lighting fixtures throughout his career, earning 32 U.S. patents. Donato was honored as a fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society. Today, his products are found in the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Halo Lighting introduced newer, less expensive track lighting with a wider variety of fixtures, finishes and wiring choices in the Seventies. Track lighting was dominant in the market, serving as the default design choice and something of a cultural staple by the following decade.<\/span><\/p>\n

The primary advantage of track lighting is its capacity to\u00a0aim spotlights where needed, such as making a retail display, work of art or clothing rack a focal point.<\/span><\/p>\n

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LED Track Lighting<\/a> by Alcon Lighting, 2019\u00a0\u00a9 Shaw Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another feature is easier installation. Light can be added without additional junction boxes because the track channel serves as one, long junction box. Track lighting offers an opportunity to avoid recessing light into walls and ceilings. Consider track lighting when adjustable lighting is required, too, especially when desired focal points may need to be changed. For example, a restaurant may want to rotate highlighting different tables or various wall art works or simply want to draw attention to the bar.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the decades since\u00a0Donato’s invention, track lighting has evolved.\u00a0 Exhibiting more flexible, slimmer designs along with advancements in\u00a0LED lighting technology.\u00a0 High-CRI LED light coupled with adjustability, makes track lighting a prominent choice\u00a0for displaying art in galleries and museums or products in retail stores.<\/span><\/p>\n

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LED Track Lighting, Alcon Lighting 2018 \u00a9 Hash Skincare<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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LED Track Lighting<\/a>, Alcon Lighting 2019 \u00a9 Chen + Suchart Studio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In summary, track lighting achieves:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Easier installation; you can add light without adding junction boxes because the track serves as one, long junction box<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Portability; at any point, track heads can be relocated anywhere along the track<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Adjustability; light can be directed and re-directed 360 degrees to any focal point<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Delivery of light to a particular focal point<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Ideal lighting conditions and functions for illuminating art and specific tasks\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Track lighting\u2019s simple, modern design and effective functionality achieve multiple lighting goals that overcome its generic reputation.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With a reputation for being dated and generic, track lighting gets less respect than other lighting forms. But, given the history, purpose and record of track lighting, the reputation is undeserved. Track lighting, invented in 1961, offers an important commercial lighting design and function.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":5788,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[352,748],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"ppma_author":[775],"yoast_head":"\nThe History and Function of Track Lighting — Insights<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.alconlighting.com\/blog\/home\/history-function-track-lighting\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The History and Function of Track Lighting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With a reputation for being dated and generic, track lighting gets less respect than other lighting forms. 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