[pasbesoin]

When I'm somewhere like that regularly, I've taken to bringing in my own torchiere floor lamp, if the ceiling's not too high and I have control over the built-in lighting. Nice, indirect light, off of the usually white ceiling tiles. Note that bulb choice/color also makes a difference, with such a lamp.

IKEA now has them for like $8. Pop in a $1-2 LED bulb, and Bob's your uncle.

Of course, my encounter with facilities involved convincing them I'd not brought in a halogen lamp (remember those, in torchiere lamps?) that was going to burn the place to the ground. (Back then, it was a compact fluorescent. A technology I've come to despise for various reasons.)

For something more compact and portable, I might look for a lightweight sconce that I could hang on one of those 3M removable hooks. Or, if they don't bother you, a very compact/portable desk lamp.

P.S. That place, I might have been better off if it HAD burned to the ground.