How SDSU Brought Sustainable Solar Lighting to the Mission Valley River Park
FLT lit the 52-acre Mission Valley River Park at San Diego University with 358 IPL solar pathway lights, making it the first of its kind in San Diego.
Overview
Public University
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IPL
Designed for commercial pathways, bike trails, and public spaces, the IPL's contemporary square form integrates seamlessly into natural environments. Powered by the FLT Adaptive Intelligence™ Lighting Controller for reliable, all-night performance, every night.
Seeing is Believing |
FLT Solar Lights in the Field
The Mission Valley River Park spans a sprawling 52-acre footprint beside the flood-prone San Diego River – a site where traditional AC wiring posed real cost and vulnerability concerns. When the design-build team first raised solar lighting as an option, Paul Jackson, SDSU Program Manager for Mission Valley Development, was unconvinced.
Prior experience with low-output residential solar fixtures had set a low bar for him. Before committing, he wanted to see the technology perform in the field. Lighting designer Kenny Perez of Visual Concepts arranged site visits to active FLT installations in North County San Diego and Paul went to see them for himself during nighttime hours.
“When I saw how bright they were, the quality of the light, and the look of the poles—even with the thick marine layer we get around here—I was pretty pleased. That put me at ease.”
SDSU Solar Park Lighting: 52 Acres, No Trenching Required
The original plan called for fully wired AC lighting throughout the River Park. Given the sheer scale of the site, that meant significant trenching, conduit runs and electrical installation costs. When the design team proposed solar during a value engineering review, the cost case was compelling enough to revisit the assumption.
Beyond material savings, FLT’s self-contained solar fixtures accelerated the installation timeline. It’s simply a matter of getting the posts up, and the lights turn on with no underground coordination required.
“It’s definitely quicker to just put these posts up and get FLT solar lights in operation.”
A Solar Light That Works With the River, Not Against It
Sitting directly alongside the San Diego River, the Mission Valley River Park faces periodic flood risk. Any major flood event that reached the park could compromise the underground wiring, a vulnerability that solar’s self-contained design eliminates entirely.
Equally important was the park’s ecological context. Adjacent river habitat and wildlife required lighting that wouldn’t spill light into the channel after hours. FLT's customizable operating profile—reduced lighting output after 11 PM and reactivated by motion sensing as needed—protecting the habitat while keeping the park safe for late visitors.
“We can balance safety for patrons who are around at night with the impacts on habitat and wildlife in the adjacent river. That’s been a huge plus.”
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FLT Solar Lighting: A Key Component of LEED ND Silver
Sustainability is embedded in SDSU’s capital project standards. Most university buildings achieve LEED certification, and Mission Valley was no different. Snapdragon Stadium achieved LEED Gold. The broader development—streets, walking spaces, park space and lighting—was designed to LEED Neighborhood Design standards.
The park and public space development earned LEED ND Silver, with FLT solar lighting explicitly identified as a contributing factor.
“FLT lights are a key component to our achieving of LEED ND Silver.”
David is realistic and knowledgeable about battery technology, he acknowledges that while even high-quality lithium (LiFePO4) batteries will eventually need replacing, but that time hasn’t come yet. “That email hasn’t arrived. The reliability is what’s allowed the relationship to continue,” he says plainly, “If they hadn’t been reliable, we would have stopped buying them years ago.”
Dusk to Dawn: FLT’s customized operating profile balances community safety with San Diego River habitat every night
Real Support from Real People: How FLT Earned SDSU’s Trust
When an unexpected issue surfaced in The River Park, FLT's technical support team worked through it methodically: investigating root cause, confirming the warranty and coordinating replacement parts directly to SDSU's on-site electrician.
Paul's expectations were reasonable: fast resolution matters, but so does getting the right answer. The fact that Paul still remembers his support contact by name says something about the kind of service FLT delivers.
What would SDSU Mission Valley Development Tell Other Developers about FLT Solar Lights?
When asked what he’d tell another developer or project manager considering FLT:
“Absolutely consider it. We’ve been happy with the solar lights and the sustainable component of those solar lights. They should definitely use FLT.”
Ready to bring FLT solar lighting to your next project?
Talk to usFrequently asked questions
Yes, First Light Technologies' solar area lighting is designed to match the light output and reliability of traditional AC fixtures without any underground electrical infrastructure. At San Diego State University's 52-acre Mission Valley River Park, 358 FLT IPL Solar Pathway lights fully replaced a planned AC wiring approach, with no complaints about light levels or pathway safety since installation, proof that commercial solar lights can perform at scale.
Yes. FLT's Solar powered lighting supports several LEED credit categories including reduced site disturbance and sustainable site development. FLT lighting was cited as a key component in SDSU's Mission Valley River Park earning LEED Neighboourhood Design Silver, a whole-development certification covering streets, public spaces and lighting.
FLT solar pole lights are fully self-contained, with no underground wiring or electrical components that flooding could damage. This makes them a strong fit for riverfront, coastal or wetland-adjacent sites. SDSU's River Park sits directly alongside the San Diego River and faces periodic flood risk with no impact to its FLT solar lighting.
Yes. FLT offers customized operating profiles, including scheduled output reduction and motion-based reactivation, to limit light spillage intro sensitive habitats after hours. At Mission Valley, First Light Technologies' solar lights reduce output at 11 PM and reactivate on motion, balancing park safety with protection of the adjacent river ecosystem.
Yes. Without trenching, conduit runs or electrician-coordinated wiring, FLT solar fixtures typically install significantly faster than a wired AC system. Paul Jackson, SDSU's Program Manager, Planning, Design & Construction noted "it was definitely quicker to just put these posts up and get them in operation" across the 52-acre park.