Human-Centric Lighting and Smart Buildings: Lessons from the Treetops Hospice Project
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Lighting for Life: What Treetops Hospice Taught Us About Human-Centric Buildings.
In 2023, Treetops Hospice in Derbyshire became part of a BBC DIY SOS project that brought together companies from across the UK with a shared purpose: to create a space that genuinely supports the people inside it.
Published
Wednesday, 3rd September 2025
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News & Insights
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Scenariio worked alongside wtec to deliver a smart, human-centric lighting system at Saplings House, the hospice’s dedicated area for bereaved children.
What began as a contribution to a charitable project became a powerful demonstration of how intelligent environments can directly influence wellbeing. And the lessons extend far beyond healthcare.
Serving Patients Through Better Light and Air
In a hospice environment, small details have a profound impact. The atmosphere of a room can affect stress levels, mood and overall comfort for both patients and staff.
Light plays a direct role in human health, mood and performance. Its impact is relevant anywhere people spend time indoors. Melatonin, cortisol and serotonin all respond to the light we are exposed to, influencing alertness, energy and emotional state.
In the early 2000s, scientists discovered specialised light-sensitive cells in the eye that send information to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the brain’s “master clock” that regulates daily rhythms across the body. This breakthrough laid the foundation for Human-Centric Lighting, which supports natural circadian rhythms rather than working against them.
At Treetops, the lighting adapts throughout the day:
- Brighter, blue-enriched light in the morning to promote alertness.
- Warmer light later in the day to encourage rest.
- Stable, flicker-free illumination to reduce the likelihood of headaches and migraines.
Staff can adjust lighting scenes via a mobile app to suit individual needs or sensitive situations, ensuring the environment remains calm and supportive.
Air quality is monitored in parallel. Sensors embedded in each luminaire measure CO₂, particulate matter, temperature, humidity and VOC levels. Research from Harvard University has shown that elevated CO₂ can impair concentration and decision-making. At Treetops, if CO₂ levels rise, the system signals ventilation automatically. The technology operates quietly in the background, maintaining a healthy environment without disrupting care.
At the heart of the installation is the wtec smartengine, an intelligent remote driver delivering low-voltage power and control over PoE cabling. It creates a mesh sensor network across the building, feeding real-time data into the Building Management System so that HVAC and lighting respond dynamically without manual intervention.
What This Means Beyond Healthcare
While the project was rooted in hospice care, the challenges it addressed are not unique to healthcare.
Poor lighting remains one of the most common workplace complaints. Many offices, warehouses and schools operate in windowless or poorly daylit environments. The symptoms are familiar:
- Frequent headaches or eyestrain.
- Harsh glare or visible flicker.
- Afternoon energy crashes.
- Low mood during darker months.
- Gloomy spaces that never feel comfortable.
- Teams relocating to find better light.
These are often accepted as part of working life. In reality, they are signs that the environment is not aligned with human biology.
Lighting that remains the same intensity and colour throughout the day ignores how our bodies naturally respond to light. Combined with poor ventilation, it can leave people fatigued, disengaged and less productive.
From Smart Lighting to Intelligent Buildings
The technology installed at Treetops does not stop at lighting.
Through Insiight, Scenariio’s Smart Building IoT platform, lighting, air quality, energy use and asset data are unified into a single, live view of building performance. This removes the silos common in traditional systems and gives facilities teams clear, actionable insights.
Instead of reactive maintenance and guesswork, organisations gain:
- Real-time visibility of occupancy and utilisation.
- Evidence-based decisions on energy optimisation.
- Clear reporting to support sustainability targets.
- A low-voltage, digitally managed infrastructure that reduces reliance on traditional electrical reconfiguration.
The result is a building that actively supports wellbeing while also lowering operating costs and environmental impact.
A Broader Lesson
The Treetops Hospice project demonstrated something simple but powerful: when buildings are designed around people rather than systems, both wellbeing and performance improve.
Human-Centric Lighting is no longer a niche healthcare concept. It is a practical, scalable approach for any organisation that wants to create healthier, more productive and more sustainable spaces.
If your workplace struggles with glare, fatigue, energy waste or a lack of usable building data, it may not be the people who need adjusting, it may be the environment. With the right infrastructure, your building can do more than function. It can actively contribute to the wellbeing and performance of everyone inside it.
Scenariio Strengthens Partnership with Treetops Hospice
News & Insights
Scenariio Strengthens Partnership with Treetops Hospice.
Derby-based smart building and IT infrastructure specialists Scenariio have donated £3,500 to Treetops Hospice, extending a relationship that began during a special DIY SOS: The Big Build for BBC Children in Need project.
Published
Monday, 4 August 2025
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News & Insights
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News
Scenariio was one of many local businesses invited to contribute to the creation of Saplings, a dedicated children’s counselling and therapy centre built as an addition to the hospice’s site in Risley, Derbyshire.
Nestled among beautiful countryside and surrounded by peaceful, volunteer-maintained gardens, Saplings was designed to provide a safe, calming space for children experiencing bereavement and emotional distress.
As part of the project, Scenariio installed circadian smart lighting throughout the building. The intelligent system changes subtly throughout the day to reflect natural daylight patterns, helping regulate children’s sleep and mood by avoiding disruptive artificial light.
While the centre is now in daily use, the public can still explore the thoughtful design and technology inside via a virtual tour (CLICK HERE TO START THE TOUR)
The donation from Scenariio will make a significant difference to the hospice’s front-line services.
Natalie Godrich, Relationship Manager at Treetops Hospice, said:
“This incredible gift could fund 32 nights of Hospice at Home nursing care, or provide 101 one-to-one bereavement counselling sessions for a child or adult. That’s life-changing support – and we’re truly grateful to the Scenariio team for continuing to stand with us.”
Rob Pritchard, Managing Director at Scenariio, commented:
“Our relationship with Treetops began during the DIY SOS build, when we installed our smart lighting in the new Saplings centre. After the project, we stayed in touch and learned more about the hospice’s vital work and the ongoing need for funding. Their passion and impact moved us to name Treetops our charity of the year. We’re proud to offer this donation and we’re looking forward to getting more involved by volunteering later this year.”
The news release was published by East Midlands Business Link on 4 August 2025 (click here to read the article). It was then shared on our LinkedIn page on 6 August 2025 (click here to read the LinkedIn article), with Love Business also featuring the story on the same day (click here to read the article). Marketing Derby subsequently published the article on 12 August 2025 (click here to read the article).
Treetops Hospice in the Spotlight
News & Insights
Treetops Hospice.
A Derbyshire hospice which uses smart building technology to create a comfortable space for children dealing with bereavement will take centre stage at a Derby conference next week.
Published
Thursday, 30 May 2024
Category
Infrastructure
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News
Treetops Hospice in the spotlight!
Treetops Hospice in Risley will be one of a wide range of topics for discussion when delegates gather for the Workplace Technology Conference, which takes place at the Chocolate Factory in Siddals Road on Thursday (June 6).
The event will look at the ways in which innovation is changing the world of commercial and public sector property with the keynote speaker, Andrew Hughes, set to address the audience about his work advising the NHS on using technology to improve patient outcomes.
Andrew is the founder and managing director of ANHH Consulting, which is based at Keele University and works with organisations across a variety of sectors on ways to make positive changes to behaviour and processes in order to achieve their aims.
There will also be a talk from conference organisers, Derby-based IT and smart technology firm Scenariio, whose technical director George Pritchard will discuss the company’s work inside Treetops’ new therapy centre for children who have experienced a bereavement.
The building was erected as part of the BBC Children In Need’s DIY: SOS last year and Scenariio fitted a host of devices, including human-centric LED lighting and movement sensors, which are all linked to a Smartengine device to provide a snapshot of how the building is operating and is being used by those inside.
Treetops will also have a stand at the event and delegates will be invited to make a donation – and enter a raffle – in order to raise money to help it carry out its work.
Rob Pritchard, managing director of Scenariio, said: “Smart technology is transforming the experience of both operating and working in commercial properties across a wide range of industries but the potential benefits for healthcare are huge because of the possible cost-savings and improvement of the user experience. Andrew has direct experience of introducing technology into the NHS, which studies show could save millions of pounds each year on energy bills and improve patient wellbeing by investing in smart technology. I’m sure his talk will be fascinating, while we’re also looking forward to talking about our work at Treetops, who we are also delighted to be supporting throughout the day.”
Other industry experts taking part in the event include Simone Vieira, who is director, systems engineering Europe for Commscope, a firm which supplies communications equipment such as broadband systems, cabling and network cabinets, and Tim Miscovich, chief commercial of smartengine wtec, whose products link so-called smart devices such as LED lights and wall switches.
There will also be three panel discussions during the day looking at the cost-savings of intelligent buildings, integrating technology into workspace design and the role of AI in the workplace.
Registration for the event is free, but attendees will be invited to make a donation to Treetops Hospice.
