Gyms and Auditorium Lighting: Retrofits That Score Big

When the gym is empty, it’s game time—for your maintenance team.

Gymnasiums and auditoriums are at the heart of school life, hosting everything from pep rallies and basketball games to graduation ceremonies. That makes them two of the most rewarding—and visible—places to upgrade your lighting.

No matter the size of your budget, there’s an upgrade you can make that will pay off handsomely in the long run, as well as show immediate benefits. In addition, many utilities offer rebate opportunities, making the upgrade even more cost-effective. (Check out Keystone’s Rebate Tool for more information.)

Here’s a Good / Better / Best approach to LED retrofits in gyms and auditoriums that can raise energy efficiency, improve safety, and even boost school spirit.

GOOD

Vertical LED HID Replacement Lamps 

The easiest way to start a gym upgrade is to replace outdated metal halide lamps with LED screw-in replacements. These lamps provide higher output, better efficiency, and a longer lifespan—all while using the existing fixture housing. It’s a fast, effective way to improve visibility and reduce energy costs without requiring a full fixture swap. Keystone’s vertical HID LED replacement lamps, which are equipped with adjustable Power and Color Select, are a great example. Power and Color Select allows users to adjust wattage and color temperature to suit the space and change the atmosphere as needed.

BETTER

Linear or Round LED High Bays

For even greater performance and consistency, consider replacing old fixtures with new LED high bays. Keystone’s linear or round high bay options with Power Select and Color Select features provide flexibility for various gym needs. These options offer better distribution, easier maintenance, and tunable settings to match different events or times of day.

Customer Example:

Circleville City Schools installed Keystone high bays in its gym. The use of LED saved the school thousands in yearly energy costs while brightening the space. The school also opted for sensors and wireless control, giving the athletic director added customization abilities.

Benefits: 

• Greater energy efficiency and reliability
• Improved lighting coverage and tailored performance
• Compatibility with sensors and wireless control for maximizing customization opportunities

BEST

Add SmartLoop Controls to Your High Bays

To truly modernize your gym or auditorium, integrate wireless sensors into your LED high bay setup. With systems like Keystone SmartLoop, schools have created custom lighting scenes, automated scheduling, and motion-based controls—all managed from a mobile app. This allows facilities to reduce energy consumption while turning everyday events into experiences with dramatic lighting effects.

Customer Example:

Snake River High School used SmartLoop controls in its gym. The wireless control system has allowed the school’s athletic director to customize the lighting with event scheduling and preset scenes for sports and public assemblies.

Benefits: 

• Ultimate control of lighting settings 
• Maximum savings while upgrading lighting quality 
• An ever-ready space that inspires school pride

Conclusion:

Gymnasiums and auditoriums are high-impact environments. An LED lighting upgrade here is seen and felt by every student, teacher, athlete, and guest who enters. It’s a smart place to start—and a powerful way to bring your school’s energy to light.