RaDD Waterfront Development

RaDD Waterfront Development, San Diego, CA.

RaDD is creating a new waterfront destination in San Diego, combining five-plus acres of open space with vibrant retail and dining, curated public art, and elevated event venues, all strategically located near the airport and regional transit. The IQHQ Research and Development District, more commonly referred to as RaDD, is a four–city-block waterfront campus that establishes a new benchmark for life-science and innovation environments in downtown San Diego. The campus development, designed by Gensler, integrates high-performance commercial buildings with an activated public realm, creating a cohesive district that supports research, collaboration, and community engagement.

The new waterfront destination in San Diego, combines five-plus acres of open space with vibrant retail and dining, curated public art, and elevated event venues, all strategically located near the airport and regional transit. The lighting design crafted by Francis Krahe & Associates, unifies multiple buildings and open spaces through a consistent visual language. Targetti USA luminaires were selected as a primary exterior lighting solution, providing precision optics, robust construction, and a cohesive aesthetic across the campus.

Lighting Design: FRANCIS KRAHE & ASSOCIATES

Architect: GENSLER

Representatives: PERFORMANCE LIGHTING SYSTEMS | SAN DIEGO LIGHTING ASSOCIATES

Owner/ Developer: IQHQ, Inc.

Photos: ©Henri Khodaverdi

AWARDS:

LEED Gold

Lighting is a defining element of RaDD’s nighttime identity. A carefully calibrated exterior lighting strategy reinforces architectural form, supports intuitive pedestrian movement, and creates a welcoming atmosphere that extends the district’s presence beyond daylight hours.

RaDD’s five buildings feature incredible bay and downtown views, boast over 90,000 SF of expansive outdoor decks, and are connected by a central pedestrian paseo. Targetti products were used extensively throughout the space – specifically in the CORE | EDGE | PROGRESS PARK | PROGRESS PARK | VIDA districts.

The CORE

The CORE zone forms the visual and experiential heart of the district, highlighting primary façades and major pedestrian corridors. The architectural façade uplighting is achieved by using a variety of DART flood light projectors in both DART Maxi and DART Medium to deliver different effects in the exterior facade application.

The Core is centrally located on the west side of RaDD with expansive views of the San Diego Bay. The CORE zone forms the visual and experiential heart of the district, highlighting primary façades and major pedestrian corridors. The architectural façade uplighting is achieved by using a variety of DART flood light projectors in both DART Maxi and DART Medium to deliver different effects in the exterior facade application.

The compact design of the DART Range fits easily into any environment and offers a versatile array of luminous flux and output in both the small and medium versions. A full range of powerful optics and aesthetically coordinated accessories make DART the solution of choice to illuminate both large areas or provide accent lighting. Each luminaire can be installed directly to the mounting surface and are adjustable up to +/-45° horizontal rotation and +150°/-45° vertical rotation with an aim locking set screw. DART provides an ideal solution for precise, efficient, yet extremely versatile lighting design with a broad selection of optics and wattages.

The DART MAXI is the largest version within the DART range and is designed for architectural lighting of large surfaces and maximum light throw, where it is distance essential to the design. Approximately 60 DART Maxi luminaires provide controlled vertical illumination that enhances the building exterior elements, while preserving the material texture.

Carefully selected beam distributions ensure uniformity across façades and minimize light trespass into adjacent public areas. The design team utilized a Narrow Spot optic in 2700K and incorporated a modified longer bracket and a custom RAL finish to match the building facade. The NSP optic is designed to have a clean, precise 6º beam using a parabolic reflector which collimates the beam and emits a defined, precise cone of light. The DART MAXI is the largest version within the DART range and is designed for architectural lighting of large surfaces and maximum light throw, where it is distance essential to the design. Approximately 60 DART MAXI luminaires provide controlled vertical illumination that enhances the building exterior elements, while preserving the material texture.

DART MAXI

DART MEDIUM luminaires are incorporated into the architectural trellis to deliver downlighting and pedestrian wayfinding, while seamlessly complementing the building’s design.

DART MEDIUM

JUPITER ingrade fixtures are discreetly integrated within the window columns to uplight the surrounding building façade.

The EDGE

Over 117 units of the popular JUPITER unground luminare were utilized to uplight the columns on each level of the building facade. The design team selected the Spot optic in 2700K with an integral louver to create their desired effect.

JUPITER features a lenticular type optic that makes it possible to obtain defined, precise beams as illustrated in this application. The beveled trim features no visible screws or hardware, while still retaining a drive over rating. Each unit has a minimal installation depth making it easy to install and each unit is equipped with an optional hex louver or an asymmetrical louver. The JUPITER series is also available in both a downlight and projector version.

Shhh Pavilion: The Hopekeeper | Artist: gt2People

PROGRESS PARK

Progress Park is a beautiful green space along the downtown San Diego waterfront that is an essential part of the RaDD – a district by IQHQ. The outdoor space is designed to be a gathering place for the community and offers plenty of room to relax, picnic, or take in the bay views.

At the center of the Park is a unique sculptural landmark that was created to symbolically and functionally integrate with RaDD life, merging art and science. Shhh Pavilion: The Hopekeeper is located on the north side of Progress Park, along Broadway as a part of the RaDD Artwork. The unique landmark is dramatically illuminated with Targetti’s powerful and resilient KEPLERO ZOOM in RGBW.

With KEPLERO RGBW Zoom, the beam optic can changed at any time thanks to its revolutionary optical system with four set optics – Spot, Flood, Medium Wide Flood, and Wide Flood.

Shhh Pavilion: The Hopekeeper is a sculptural landmark was inspired by childhood memories, the natural world, and its relationship with mathematics, the artists have created a funicular structure built through a three-dimensional polygonal tessellation, resembling a shell covered with barnacles. It evokes memories of childhood games at the beach, where hope felt infinite. As a source of inspiration for both scientists and artists, nature seamlessly weaves into the piece, resulting in a visually striking installation that invites viewers to explore the intersection of art, science, and memory.

gt2P (great things to People) A pioneering studio collective founded in Santiago de Chile in 2009 by Guillermo Parada, Tamara Pérez, Sebastian Rozas, and Victor Imperiale.

Small dimensions, great performance.

Throughout the development, you can find shade-filled paseos connecting multiple blocks and feature large trees, native plantings, and a variety of unique spaces for gathering and strolling. To accent and highlight the variety of trees found throughout the development, the design team used over 566 BULLETTO floodlight projectors, stake mounted, to deliver a discreet and powerful landscape lighting solution.

The small scale of the fixtures and high center beam candle power allows the high-performing BULLETTO series to light large applications while the actual fixture remains visually inconspicuous. The BULLETTO range features three compact adjustable floodlight projectors, each designed to fit seamlessly into any environment and with the flexibility to be mounted in a variety of ways.

VIDA

Vida is located at the southeast side of RaDD, bordered by Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway. The building is infused with natural light and expansive outdoor terraces with stunning San Diego Bay views. To deliver a pleasing highlight to the exterior building columns during the evening, the design team added DART Medium floodlight projectors discreetly tucked in the window columns that surround the building.