The Athena lighting control system is a comprehensive, cloud-connected platform that empowers architects, lighting designers, electrical engineers, and facility managers with full control over lighting, shades, and building management. By integrating wired and wireless technologies with cloud-connected software, Athena enables intuitive management of tunable-white and full-spectrum lighting, whether paired with Ketra luminaires or any fixture type. This system is designed to deliver immersive lighting experiences while simplifying building operations for high-rise offices, college campuses, luxury resorts, and other complex environments.
Athena leverages Lutron’s wireless technology and modular data system to offer scalable, next-generation control across properties. Its modular architecture allows buildings to adapt over time, enabling conference hall customization, lighting plan changes, and phased installation without rewiring. Wireless technology and cloud-powered workflows streamline specification, accelerate construction, and provide a foundation for future system expansion, maximizing efficiency while minimizing disruption during installation or upgrades.
Building on Lutron’s portfolio of wireless controls and Ketra luminaires, the Athena system introduces breakthrough devices and form factors. Ketra and Rania D2 downlights deliver high-quality light in ultra-slim housings, while the wireless Sunnata control family—including keypads and dimmers—leverages Clear Connect technology to simplify retrofits and maintain design integrity. Dynamic, day-synchronized light and shade control enhance occupant well-being, reinforce connection to the outdoors, and improve energy efficiency. Athena’s wireless nodes and automated shade integration allow minute-by-minute adjustments to light color, intensity, and shade position, emulating natural sunlight cycles, reducing glare, and maintaining exterior views while mitigating thermal gain.
Athena’s modular data system provides unmatched scalability for projects of any size, from individual rooms to entire skyscrapers. Coin-sized wireless nodes enable flexible placement, offering unprecedented design freedom and adaptability. Over-the-air software updates keep the system future-ready, adding new features and functionality over time. The platform is suitable for demanding projects worldwide, including architectural offices, hotels, universities, and hospitals. Cloud connection simplifies building management, consolidating control into a single platform while maintaining bank-grade security through rigorous encryption protocols.
With cloud connectivity, Athena translates collected data into actionable insights to manage entire properties at scale. Users can monitor energy consumption, identify space utilization patterns, and address system issues in real time. The system combines intelligent shades, dynamic lighting, and connected apps to deliver a holistic light experience. Internet connectivity enables frequent software updates, bug fixes, security enhancements, and new feature releases, ensuring the system evolves with user needs. Athena can also operate completely offline, retaining core functionality and flexibility regardless of internet access.
Athena’s scalability and technical specifications allow extensive customization. A single building (“place”) can include up to 100 systems, with each system supporting up to 16 processors or gateways, 300 areas, 100 zones per area, and 99 switchlegs per zone. Up to five Athena touchscreens can be deployed per processor. The system uses Clear Connect Type X (CCX) wireless technology to create a self-healing mesh network, with precise spacing and clustering requirements to optimize performance and minimize RF interference. These capabilities support large-scale commercial towers, with up to 100 floors and 1,600 processors or gateways, while also accommodating emergency lighting, load shedding, and demand response programs. Athena integrates with BACnet/IP, RESTful API, RS232, Telnet, and contact closures for broad building automation interoperability.
Athena provides sophisticated shade automation and tunable white control. Automated shade schedules optimize natural light, mitigate direct sun, and maintain preferred shading positions based on building location, facade orientation, and time of day. Tunable white lighting mimics natural light cycles, with definable minimum and maximum correlated color temperatures (CCT) and controllable intensity ranges. Automation can seamlessly exit and re-enter without waiting for scheduled transitions, while scheduled events and timeclocks allow fine-grained control for fixed, recurring, or astronomic-based timings.
Cloud-connected Athena systems unlock additional functionality through the Lutron app, Designer software, and Lutron Dashboard. Users can manage access with secure accounts, single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, and configurable permissions. The system allows remote management of lighting and shading, adjustment of zone levels and scenes, and integration with load shed and demand response programs. Automatic firmware deployment ensures continuous updates, new features, security improvements, and bug fixes, all managed through Lutron’s cloud infrastructure without requiring on-site servers.
The Athena platform is designed for flexibility, scalability, and continuous evolution, delivering a unified solution for lighting and shade control across a wide range of building types and scales. Its combination of modular hardware, wireless and wired integration, cloud connectivity, advanced shading, and tunable lighting automation positions Athena as a forward-looking solution for modern building management and occupant experience.
https://commercial.lutron.com/us/en/whole-building-systems/athena
