Adler collections lighting upgrade [the proposed project will replace all existing aging lighting in the adler planetarium gallery and collections storage spaces with a new ketra/lutron branded,…

The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded The Adler Planetarium $312,836 on January 1, 2026, under the Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access program (CFDA 45.149) to replace all existing aging lighting in the Adler Planetarium gallery and collections storage spaces with a new Ketra/Lutron branded, networked, fully programmable lighting system. The new system will allow lighting adjustments at the object, case, gallery, floor, and building levels and will incorporate energy and cost saving measures including occupancy sensors, open/closed lighting themes, automatic shutoffs, and building dimming capabilities. The project is estimated to yield a roughly 40% reduction in indoor lighting energy cost and energy consumption and is conservationally better for objects on display and in storage. The award period runs from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, with place of performance in Illinois. The Adler Planetarium, a Chicago-based nonprofit, is the recipient organization.

Adler collections lighting upgrade [the proposed project will replace all existing aging lighting in the adler planetarium gallery and collections storage spaces with a new ketra/lutron branded, networked, fully programmable lighting system that is both conservationally better for objects on display and in storage, and also significantly more energy and cost efficient. The new system will allow for lighting adjustments to be made on an object, case, gallery, floor, and building level, and allow for energy and cost saving measures such as occupancy sensors, open/closed lighting themes, automatic shutoffs, and building dimming capabilities. IT is estimated that the new system will yield a roughly 40% reduction in indoor lighting energy cost and energy consumption.]