One Citywide Vision, Three Proven Solutions: LEOTEK’s LED Streetlight Upgrade in Olathe, Kansas
📍 Project Overview
The City of Olathe, Kansas undertook a comprehensive citywide LED streetlight modernization to replace aging fixtures affected by a known manufacturing defect that caused bluish and purplish light discoloration after years of operation.
The city’s objective was clear:
- Restore public trust in municipal lighting
- Improve long-term reliability and light quality
- Deploy solutions adaptable to diverse roadway and pedestrian environments
- Reduce maintenance burden and energy costs
To achieve this, Olathe selected a multi-luminaire strategy using three proven LEOTEK products—each optimized for a specific streetscape condition, yet unified by performance consistency and visual cohesion.
🚧 The Challenge: Reliability, Public Confidence, and Diverse Urban Conditions
After several years of service, a portion of the city’s legacy LED streetlights began exhibiting unexpected blue/purple color shift, a known industry-wide defect tied to phosphor degradation.
This issue:
- Prompted hundreds of citizen reports via the city’s OlatheConnect app
- Required large-scale fixture replacement, coordinated with the local utility (Evergy)
- Highlighted the need for durable LED platforms with proven long-term color stability
The replacement effort needed to address not only the defect—but also future-proof the city’s lighting infrastructure across arterials, residential streets, pedestrian areas, and historic districts.
💡 The Solution: Three LEOTEK Luminaires, One Unified System
To meet Olathe’s varied lighting requirements, LEOTEK deployed a portfolio-based approach, ensuring each environment received a purpose-built solution without sacrificing consistency.
1️⃣ GreenCobra® LED Streetlight
Primary roadway luminaire for high-traffic corridors
GreenCobra LED Streetlight
- Advanced optical control for uniform roadway illumination
- Broad wattage range and field-adjustable performance
- Robust thermal design supporting long service life
- Ideal for arterials and collector roads requiring dependable visibility
🔗 https://leotek.com/product/greencobra-gcj/
2️⃣ Arieta® AR13
Architectural LED area light for neighborhood and retrofit applications
Arieta AR13
- Sleek, modern form factor compatible with urban streetscapes
- Universal mounting design, simplifying retrofit installation
- Competitive payback through high efficacy and reduced maintenance
- Suitable for local roads, parking areas, and pedestrian zones
🔗 https://leotek.com/product/arieta-ar13/
3️⃣ Post Top Colonial Lantern
Historic-style luminaire for pedestrian and decorative zones
Post Top Colonial Lantern
- Traditional aesthetics paired with specification-grade LED performance
- Tool-less installation for faster deployment
- Preserves neighborhood character while delivering modern efficiency
- Ideal for parks, walkways, and heritage districts
🔗 https://leotek.com/product/post-top-colonial/
✅ The Results: Citywide Performance, Safety, and Confidence Restored
By integrating three specialized LEOTEK luminaires into a single cohesive system, the City of Olathe achieved:
- Consistent light quality across all environments
- Improved roadway and pedestrian safety through modern optical performance
- Reduced maintenance frequency and lifecycle costs
- Enhanced public satisfaction following widespread fixture replacement
- A future-ready lighting infrastructure designed to avoid repeat color-shift issues
From high-traffic corridors to neighborhood paths, LEOTEK’s solutions now work together to support visibility, durability, and long-term operational confidence—elevating Olathe’s citywide lighting vision.
Download the case study here.
