Freeman Hospital Multistorey Car Park

Newcastle, United Kingdom

The 800-bed Freeman Hospital in Newcastle is a specialist referral centre treating patients from across the northeast of England and beyond. It specialises in a range of high-quality medical services, including organ transplantation, cancer care, and joint replacement.

The hospital’s eleven-floor multistorey car park is located on the northeast side of the hospital estate and offers around 350 parking spaces for visitors. Thorlux supplied approximately 600 luminaires to upgrade the car park to an energy-efficient, controlled lighting system.

The lighting plan is centred around the corrosion- and impact-resistant Thorlux Thoroproof linear luminaire. This durable, IP66 and IK08-rated product has been proven in numerous similar applications and is used throughout every level of the Freeman Hospital car park. Exterior and interior escape signage is provided with the Lexi-65 surface-mounted luminaire. Furthermore, highly efficient and long-lasting Starbeam Eco LED floodlights have been installed on the building’s exterior and as pole-top lighting for the Level 12 rooftop parking area.

The wireless SmartScan lighting management system controls this comprehensive new lighting system. SmartScan offers many advantages in car park applications through presence detection and daylight detection functionality, helping minimise energy consumption. Luminaire grouping means that wider areas are illuminated when motion is detected after dark, promoting safety and peace of mind for car park users.

Applications Covered:

Car Park

The installation of the Thorlux SmartScan LED lighting system in the multistorey car park at Freeman Hospital has provided a future-proof solution that enhances service provision and sustainability. Automated emergency lighting testing and online reporting reduce maintenance resource burden and ensure regulatory compliance.

The SmartScan platform combines high-efficiency LED luminaires with intelligent wireless controls, delivering energy savings of up to 70% through presence detection, daylight dimming, and timed overrides. This ensures optimal illumination for both pedestrian and vehicle safety while reducing operational costs and carbon footprint. The system’s ability to integrate occupancy profiling and energy performance monitoring via a secure web dashboard supports the NHS Hospital Trust’s decarbonisation goals.

Overall, Thorlux SmartScan represents a cost-effective, resilient, and environmentally responsible choice for critical PFI infrastructure like hospital car parks.

Michal Luczun

Project Manager, Communities - Healthcare, Mitie FM Limited