To say that I’m not adept at renovations and home improvements is a courteous understatement. Tell me it’s demolition time, and I’m right up there with Chip Gaines, but when it comes to redesigning a space and installing fixtures, I’m all thumbs. That’s when I call my father-in-law, who is affectionately known by his six grandchildren as “Pop-Pop.” A little background: I’ve torn many things asunder that Pop-Pop has re-assembled. (And Pop-Pop is building his own airplane—a Zenith CH 750—so he possesses the patience and is more than skilled enough to teach me the renovation ropes.) With his guidance, I’ve installed many ceiling fans and lighting fixtures in my home over the years. Pop-Pop is my go-to guy when I’m in a pinch.
The renovation and retrofit projects featured in this issue of LD+A faced numerous hurdles including antiquated structures, budget restrictions and constructability issues. Whether it’s repurposing Shaw Lane Power Plant in Michigan or re-imagining a beacon such as the Gillette Stadium Lighthouse in Massachusetts, the lighting design teams came through to offer fresh perspectives with increased functionality, re-energizing locations that had become stale and inefficient. There’s an admiration to be had for those who work wonders within the confinements of a pre-existing space; they would definitely make Pop-Pop proud.
This issue also marks the 11th edition of “Lighting Jobs Outlook.” Author Paul Pompeo rounded up some of the leading professionals in the lighting, electrical and controls industries to provide their insights into what 2024 may bring to the employment market, including some interesting comments about AI, which continues to incrementally affect the workforce. Only the future knows whether or not we’ll be visited by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 Terminator exclaiming, “Come with me if you want to work!”
Craig Causer
Editor-in-Chief
c.causer@ies.org