The evolution of human-centric lighting Earlier this year, I stood with my son beneath the dome of the Pantheon in Rome. As daylight beamed down through the oculus, we were filled with awe, just as countless others have been for more than two millennia. The temple’s ancient designers understood that light can do more than…

New Community Living Center brightens the lives of veterans Massachusetts’ Veterans Home at Chelsea has a long history of caring for the health of its residents. Established in 1882, the facility, formerly known as the Soldiers’ Home at Chelsea, has provided residential and long-term care programs to eligible Massachusetts veterans since the post-Civil War days.…

Approaching lighting design from a place of curiosity   Why do we design any structure? The answer goes back to one immutable truth—to serve our needs. Whether it be a place to do our jobs, live our lives, or pursue our dreams, all buildings are designed to serve the people who occupy them. As sustainability…

When girl-boss Beth Bedingfield set out to open another Transform Gym location in Boulder, CO, to host the only Lagree/ Versa workout classes available in the country at the time, she knew she needed something special to give her group-training routines the flair they deserved. Using low-impact Versa Climber machines to achieve intense, calorie-burning results,…

As design professionals increasingly strive to create environments for health and well-being, an emerging discipline aimed at supporting recovery from trauma is drawing increased attention. Referred to broadly as trauma informed design (TID), this novel framework for creating spaces that foster recovery and healing, indoors and out, focuses on incorporating architectural and landscape elements with…

From the early 20th century to today, from an annex between the Archbishop’s Palace and the Cathedral to housing for Mexican troops, from collapse and disrepair to an inviting pedestrian walkway, the historic Pasaje de la Revolución in Merida, Mexico, currently serves as an exhibition space for sculptural artwork by national and international artists. Featuring…

Rekindling Philadelphia’s Historic Boathouse Row In the late 19th century, the 12 historic houses of Boathouse Row, along the Schuylkill River, were constructed thanks to the private investments by individual rowers, many of whom were factory workers from the neighboring breweries and textile mills of East Falls in Philadelphia. For more than 150 years, the…

One of Structura’s focuses while designing exterior products is to create a juxtaposition of wood and metal design aesthetics. Adding the wood components brings a natural warmth to the product and installation while providing another element that the customer and architect can customize to make their own. When we show the products to people, most…

The IES Illumination Awards provide a unique opportunity for public recognition of professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design based upon the individual merit of each entry judged against specific criteria. This program is not a competition. The Illumination Award for Interior Lighting Design sponsored by Edwin F. Guth, the Illumination Award for Outdoor Lighting…

Lighting has played a crucial role in human civilization since ancient times, shaping our environments, enhancing safety and influencing cultural practices. From the earliest use of fire to the development of sophisticated lighting controls, the history of lighting reflects humanity’s ingenuity and quest for illumination. Part I of this column explores the evolution of lighting…

The 211 Tower in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood recently underwent a significant transformation, primarily driven by a strategic façade lighting installation. The building, originally constructed in the Brutalist style in the late 1960s, was facing an "image problem" that the new owners sought to rectify. This challenge was met with the innovative application of SGM's…

Lobster eyes. Cuttlefish skin. Butterfly wings. Peacock feathers. Brittlestar armor. Clusterwink snail shells. These marvels of nature represent a vast intelligence that we’ve looked to for inspiration in engineering and design. Nature is teeming with algorithms waiting to be deciphered, categorized and applied. According to architect Michael Pawlyn, “There is extensive work under way to…

To create a tranquil space that captures elements of classical architecture and the surrealist art movement, The Lighting Practice made use of unique tools such as wet-listed light fixtures and pool-submersible luminaires to wash the The Aqua Foro Pool Club in Philadelphia in soft, alluring illumination.     1. Vertical illumination in and around pool…

Research and Markets has published the 18th edition of its United States Lighting Fixtures Market report for 2024. The seven-chapter report states that while the market slowed to pre-COVID-19 levels in 2024, estimates show market expansion is expected for the next two calendar years due to an expected increase in construction of non-residential projects. The…

At IES2024: The Lighting Conference held in New York City in August, the DOE’s Integrated Lighting Campaign (ILC)—part of the Better Buildings Initiative—recognized 16 organizations for their commitment to energy-efficient and environmentally responsible work in buildings and outside spaces as well as two additional organizations for exhibiting exemplary support for this work. Designed to demonstrate…