Commercial Landscape & Outdoor Lighting in Culver City
From the sunlit courtyards of Hayden Tract to the walkable blocks around The Culver Steps and the Culver Hotel, the right exterior lighting elevates safety, brand image, and nighttime appeal. Shaffer Construction designs and installs commercial-grade landscape and outdoor lighting systems tailored to Culver City's mix of historic storefronts, creative offices, and modern mixed-use developments. We combine thoughtful design with robust, energy-efficient equipment to create welcoming entries, highlight architecture, and guide visitors safely from curb to door. Our team understands the balance between ambiance and compliance—delivering lighting that looks great, saves energy, and meets Title 24 requirements, all with minimal disruption to your business.
Our Work
Benefits
Lighting Designed for the Future
We future‑proof your system with smart controls and scalable infrastructure. From astronomic timeclocks and photocells to Bluetooth mesh and networked lighting controls (NLC), we design platforms that can expand with your property. Need facade color for events at Ivy Station? We support DMX/RGBW for dynamic scenes, plus 0–10V dimming for tunable output. Remote dashboards allow schedule tweaks without site visits, and multi-tap transformers ensure voltage remains consistent if you add fixtures later.
Permits and Local Compliance Experts
Shaffer Construction handles permitting, plan check responses, and inspections with the City of Culver City Building and Safety Division. Our designs follow the California Electrical Code (based on NEC), Title 24 Part 6 for exterior lighting power and controls, and CALGreen provisions. We reference IES footcandle recommendations for paths and egress, and consider Dark‑Sky best practices where appropriate. For nonresidential projects, we coordinate with Title 24 acceptance test technicians to finalize required control verifications.
Expert Installation and Materials
We specify marine‑grade brass, 316 stainless, and powder‑coated aluminum fixtures with IP65–IP67 ratings, silicone gaskets, and tempered lenses. Connections use gel‑filled, heat‑shrink, or compression‑seal methods in direct‑burial junctions. Multi‑tap, toroidal‑core low‑voltage transformers provide clean power and integrated surge protection. We calculate voltage drop to stay within recommended limits and use hub wiring methods with 10–14 AWG direct‑burial cable to ensure even illumination and long-term reliability.
Customized Lighting Solutions
Every project begins with a site walk at dusk or dawn to study sightlines, hazards, and architectural features. We develop a concept map, then model beam spreads and output to meet IES targets for walkways, entries, and signage. Mock‑ups and sample fixtures help fine‑tune CCT (2700K–4000K), glare control, and shielding to avoid spill into neighboring residences. The final plan coordinates transformer locations, circuits, and control zones for both beauty and code compliance.
What We Offer
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for low‑voltage landscape lighting in Culver City?+
If you’re adding new circuits, transformers, or trenching on commercial property, an electrical permit from the City of Culver City Building and Safety Division is typically required, even for low‑voltage systems. We’ll review your scope, prepare drawings if needed, and submit on your behalf. For work in the public right‑of‑way (sidewalks/parkways), a Public Works encroachment permit may also be necessary.
How long will my project take from start to finish?+
Design and planning usually take 3–7 days. Permit review in Culver City generally ranges from 1–3 weeks depending on plan check load. Once permits are in hand, installation and programming typically take 2–5 days for most storefronts, courtyards, and small campuses. We’ll provide a detailed schedule and can work after hours to minimize business disruption.
How do you prevent light spill onto nearby residences or traffic?+
We select tight beam spreads, use shielded optics and louvers, and position fixtures to graze surfaces rather than shine outward. Photometric checks help keep illumination on your site, and we typically specify 2700K–3000K warm CCT for hospitality areas. For properties adjacent to residential streets or Ballona Creek, we fine‑tune aiming at night and add shielding to reduce glare and trespass.
Can you work with historic storefronts and adaptive reuse buildings?+
Yes. We prioritize reversible mounting, discreet conduit routing, and non‑invasive attachments to protect historic materials. We coordinate with property owners and, when required, Planning staff to align with aesthetic guidelines. Warm, low‑glare lighting preserves architectural character while meeting egress and security lighting needs common in downtown Culver City and the Helms Bakery area.
What Title 24 exterior lighting controls are required for my business?+
Most nonresidential projects need automatic shutoff with astronomic scheduling or photocell controls, plus zoning to reduce power during unoccupied periods. We design controls to satisfy Title 24 Part 6, set up astronomic timeclocks/photocells, and coordinate with a Title 24 acceptance test technician when testing is required to close out permits.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us today for a free consultation and quote on your electrical project!
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