Claremont McKenna College Integrated Sciences Building
Full Spectrum: Modular lighting built for every discipline under one roof
Location: Claremont, CA
Products: M Series, X Series, M Series Cylinder
Lighting Designer: KGM Architectural Lighting
Architect: BIG Bjarke Ingels Group
Electrical Contractor: Rosendin Electric
Photography Credit: Laurian Ghinitoiu
When Claremont McKenna College completed its Integrated Sciences Building, the facility needed to perform at the level of the science happening inside it — and the lighting had to match. College science buildings don’t keep office hours. Labs run late and research doesn’t stop at 5:00 PM, adding significant runtime and accelerated wear to standard fixtures.
DMF’s modular platform was engineered for exactly this environment, offering high run rates without compromising light quality, energy efficiency, or long-term reliability.
Built for the Facilities Bottom Line
For campus facilities teams, serviceability is a major budget driver. DMF’s modular design allows components to be swapped in minutes without specialized tools, completely eliminating the need to replace an entire fixture. Across a massive campus footprint, that efficiency translates to lower maintenance costs and less disruption to active coursework.
Ultimately, the CMC Integrated Sciences Building is a strong example of a broader truth: when a space is cutting-edge, the lighting should be too.
M Series
The M Series, visible throughout the corridors in the images below, is DMF’s most versatile 4-inch product offering. Centered around a compact, plug-and-play LED module with an embedded driver, the M Series delivers the optimal balance of form and function. When paired with one of our award-winning M Series Housings, you can achieve fire, sound, wet location ratings required for the most demanding institutional projects. True to all DMF offerings, the M Series provides outstanding illumination and color consistency while remaining incredibly simple to specify, install, and maintain.
4" Cylinder (Formerly M Series Cylinder)
The M Series Cylinder (not pictured) brings sophisticated design versatility to the interior spaces of the Robert Day Sciences Center. Featuring a compact 4-inch diameter extrusion body and 4-inch length, the cylinder’s advanced engineering seamlessly contains all driver and electrical components within the fixture itself—eliminating external hardware, deep canopies, or ceiling clutter. High-performing LED modules offer ultimate adaptability through a range of trim options, uplight capability, and robust housings rated for indoor, outdoor, and wet locations. Finally, a comprehensive array of mounting styles—including wall, surface, stem, and cord—makes the M Series Cylinder a flexible solution suited to virtually any project requirement.
X Series
The X Series (not pictured) was utilized throughout the interior spaces, bringing precision and architectural character to the labs and collaborative areas.
DMF’s 3-inch, high-performance product line delivers between 750 and 1500 lumens, and its smaller aperture makes it ideally suited for areas where a minimal visual footprint is critical—ensuring the architecture of the space remains the primary focus.
Drivers are embedded directly within the light engine rather than the housing, allowing for seamless below-ceiling accessibility. Additionally, a unique trap door on the housing provides critical post-install access to the splice box from below the ceiling plane.
Available in both downlight and adjustable modules, the X Series delivers uncompromised performance, flawless finishes, and unmatched ease of serviceability.
About KGM Architectural Lighting
Established in 1985, KGM Architectural Lighting is a lighting design firm that approaches each project as a collaborative effort involving the other members of the design team and encouraging creative lighting solutions. This is accomplished by fully understanding the architectural concepts and design criteria, evaluating various possible design solutions, and ultimately developing the lighting scheme that makes the most sense. KGM pursues the goal of creating memorable moments, unique experiences, and places that look and feel wonderful.
About BIG
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) is a globally recognized architecture and design firm founded by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels in 2006. With offices across Copenhagen, New York, London, and beyond, BIG has grown to over 700 designers working across architecture, urbanism, landscape, and product design. Known for its bold, diagram-driven approach and a philosophy of ‘hedonistic sustainability’ — the idea that environmental design should enhance rather than compromise human experience.
About Rosendin Electric
Rosendin Electric, headquartered in San Jose, CA, is one of the largest electrical contractors in the United States. With a history spanning over a century, Rosendin is dedicated to positively impacting communities through innovative technology, safety excellence, and employee ownership. Their core values emphasize integrity, collaboration, and innovation, ensuring high-quality outcomes for complex construction projects. Committed to customer success, Rosendin fosters a culture of performance and accountability, reflected in their numerous awards and extensive charitable support.
Learn more about Claremont McKenna College’s Robert Day Sciences Center