This designer at Hartranft Lighting Studios and B.U.I.L.D. president is working on creating a more sustainable and diverse lighting industry. Why light? I always joke about how I received my first pair of glasses so early in life—that it was the unintentional start of my lighting design journey because of how differently I viewed light…

The evolution of sports lighting Mention the topic of sports facilities and you are likely to hear a discourse on what amounts to evolution or, more specifically, the challenges of the industry and the way manufacturers have created products, and builders have developed methods, to ameliorate those issues. Examples include noise-reduction products and systems in…

The IES 2024 Illumination Award of Merit-earning Agnew K-12 Campus in Santa Clara, CA, uses evolving color schemes, architectural structures, and lighting design to foster STEM learning as well as cross-grade mentorship and social development. While bright tones like yellow signify elementary-aged children, deeper tones such as blue and green support more sophisticated teen learners.…

Readying next-generation caregivers For more than 155 years, St. John’s University has looked to St. Vincent de Paul for its inspiration and vision. While the patron saint of charity was more familiar with candlelight than LEDs and advanced lighting controls, he advised, “Make it a practice to judge persons and things in the most favorable…

Anticipation is high for the summer edition of the largest residential lighting show in the Western Hemisphere, with special emphasis on the event’s architectural lighting resources and a complimentary hotel offer for qualified new attendees. Dallas Market Center will host Lightovation June 18-21, offering 1 million square feet of permanent exhibits encompassing all interior and…

Addressing the question that ruins conversations Since I began advocating for natural darkness, there is one question that has been an incredible obstacle to awareness-creation, like a record scratching to a halt. This one question thwarts our collective thought process and subsequent understanding by immediately creating a lens of fear: Is more light safer? As…

What is the ideal human habitat? In our surveys, 90% of individuals identify natural landscapes as their preferred environments, free from any built structures. The remaining 10% favor outdoor areas with built elements like patios, surrounded by nature. Why? As the biophilia theory explains, we are not just intertwined with nature, we are nature. Human…

Light pollution’s impact on fireflies The rapid evolution of lighting technology over the past century has dramatically altered our nighttime environment, with significant consequences for nocturnal species. Among the most affected are fireflies, whose unique bioluminescent communication system is increasingly disrupted by artificial light at night (ALAN). This disruption poses a serious threat to firefly…

Illumination, marine turtles, and the state of play One of the current, and more interesting, corners of lighting is its interaction with nature. As we discuss the anthropogenic impacts of light on animals, it’s worth looking at marine turtles, which are easily one of the most studied interactions, and, unfortunately, one that remains poorly understood,…

Bridging the Gap Seeking accessible lighting design tools There was one thing my high school art teacher took great pleasure in repeatedly saying to me, often as I was struggling to sand a complicated metal smithing project or when expressing doubt over how I would bring my concept to reality: “You know, there’s a tool…

WestStar Tower features a seamless visual flow The WestStar Tower in El Paso, TX, marks a significant milestone as the first newly constructed skyscraper in the city in 40 years. It brings a fresh energy to the urban skyline, symbolizing El Paso’s unique position along the U.S.–Mexico border. As the headquarters of a leading commercial…

Fragrance and beauty flagship store, Tamburins Seongsu, in Seongsu-dong, South Korea, serves shoppers a multitude for the senses. Soft illumination designed by EONSLD pours  out of the unique glass-box building, as if misty perfume spilling from a bottle, blending the interior atmosphere and design with the exterior façade and surroundings. The design  team relied on…

Supporting diverse sensory needs Lighting plays a fundamental role in shaping our environments. For individuals with neurodivergence—a term encompassing conditions like autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorders, among others—lighting can profoundly influence their ability to function and thrive. Unfortunately, despite its importance, the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals have often been overlooked in our field.…

Designing light for animal pleasure and comfort My team and I have had the privilege of working with some of the leaders in animal habitat design over the last 40 years on such renowned projects as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, New Doha Zoo, National Aquarium of Taiwan, Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, and many…

Seductive and charming, Perlage is an after-hours destination on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with cheeky cocktails like “How ‘Bout Them Apples” and “Tickle Fancy.” The bar takes its name from the French term for the bubbles in champagne, while the interior design by Verhaal and lighting design by Studio Lumen take cues…