ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Students in three Saint Louis Public Schools are benefiting from the next generation of lighting designed to improve outcomes in classes and athletics.  The SHINE STL installation is a unique pilot program sponsored by the Electrical Connection, St. Louis Cardinals and Cardinals Care, PLANLED and the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation.   SHINE STL introduced higher quality LED human-centric lighting to a computer lab at Lyon Academy, the gymnasium at Gateway Elementary and the multi-purpose room at Gateway Michael schools.  It is the same lighting concept from PLANLED that was installed at Busch Stadium this year to illuminate night games.  The completion of the project was celebrated at a special event with students on Oct. 16, 2019 at the Gateway Elementary gymnasium featuring Ozzie Smith. 

“PLANLED and Samjin supplied the materials and engineering.  The Electrical Connection donated the labor for the installation," said Michael Hall, vice president of community relations and the executive director of Cardinals Care.  “I cannot thank them enough for what they have done.” The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

SHINE is a national community program initiated by PLANLED to fulfill a mission to improve human life while updating the quality and energy efficiency of lighting.

Ozzie Smith, National Baseball and Cardinals Hall of Famer and SHINE STL Ambassador called the program “a gift of light.” “It is also our commitment to awaken students’ love for learning by bringing the first person experience of space age lighting in classrooms and gyms where they will connect the dots between biology, math and science to realize what they learn in school can make a difference in people’s lives,” said Smith.

Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection concurred.  “Our IBEW/NECA partners saw a greater purpose to this community service,” said Curran.  “The goal is to not only improve educational outcomes, but to inspire students to be difference makers themselves and consider a career in our electrical industry which is engineering and installing new technologies that connect the world and keep pace with lifestyle and business needs.”  Curran noted that IBEW/NECA installed the new lighting this year Busch Stadium – one of many electrical and communications projects it has performed over the decades for the Cardinals.  It has also been performing electrical and communications work at Saint Louis Public Schools for more than 100 years.

“The goal of human-centric lighting is to deliver better color and visual acuity as well as healthier circadian rhythm and improved performance in schools, offices, healthcare facilities and more,” said John Hwang, CEO, PLANLED. “Integrating daylight and electric light to create lighting strategies focused on human health, along with traditional requirements for visual acuity and comfort, can lead to healthier and more productive environments.”

NECA contractor Kaemmerlen Electric teamed with IBEW to begin installing the new lighting in August.  The work entailed taking down the old lighting and safely installing the human centric lighting panels, including dimmer switches and other lighting controls.

“We are excited to see community partners come together in this pilot program to help us improve education in Saint Louis Public Schools,” said Dr. Kelvin Adams, Superintendent of Saint Louis Public Schools.  “The LED human-centric lighting program will allow us to study the results at targeted locations to guide our district-wide investment in lighting to improve educational outcomes.”

For more information on the SHINE STL Program visit cardinals.com/shine.

PLANLED

PLANLED is a minority owned, LED lighting Company based in Seattle, Washington specializing in research applied lighting solutions.  PLANLED completed the installation of LED Field Lights at Busch Stadium for the St. Louis Cardinals in March 2019.  This was the third MLB Stadium that PLANLED outfitted with LED Lighting.  PLANLED was the first company to convert a MLB stadium to LED Field lights at Safeco Field for the Seattle Mariners in 2014.  They also installed new LED field lighting at Yankee Stadium in 2015.

 St. Louis Public Schools Foundation

Since 1997, the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation has existed to mobilize the community’s generosity and to support the amazing educators and students within the Saint Louis Public Schools. The St. Louis Public Schools Foundation is the District’s strategy partner with the unique mission of dedicating 100% of its funds and efforts to District strategy. The Foundation works closely with the Saint Louis Public Schools Superintendent, District leadership, and schools to ensure that the community’s resources support District priorities. Learn more at http://slpsfoundation.org/

The Electrical Connection

The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).  It represents more than 5,000 highly skilled and safe IBEW electricians and the more than 150 NECA electrical contractors who employ them.  For more than 75 years, the IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection partnership has trained more electricians/communication technicians than any education program in Missouri. Its award winning work provides safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world. Learn more at www.electricalconnection.org.

About Cardinals Care

Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way to team up with Cardinals players and the organization to help children in our community—both on and off the baseball field.  Established in 1997, Cardinals Care has invested over $25 million to support St. Louis area children, built or renovated 24 youth ball fields in local under-resourced neighborhoods, and distributed over $12 million in grants to nonprofit organizations.  This season marks the 16th year of Cardinals Care’s innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free co-ed baseball/softball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play.  In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 2,500 kids who participate in the program each year.