Advocacy has become one of the defining conversations in the lighting industry. As those conversations continue, I’ve found myself wondering what we’re missing in our collective mindset. Advocacy depends on effective communication. Being adept at choosing words, visuals, and experiences that resonate with others and inspire purposeful action is as much an art as it…

When lighting practitioners think of lighting controls, they often think of commercial building energy codes and the mandatory minimum requirements. As these requirements have evolved over the years, so has lighting control system design, shifting the bar for what lighting controls can and should do at a minimum. For example, where bi-level switching might have…

DLR Group | Photos: Alistair Tutton The University of Houston welcomed its Cougars NCAA Division I football players home with a new 120,000-sq-ft Football Operations Center in fall 2025. Featuring the Big 12 team’s black and red color palette and a lighting strategy by DLR Group, the locker rooms establish a high-energy, dark, and rugged…

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. “There’s something really exciting about seeing the range of work represented in this year’s Illumination Awards: From highly…

Along Compton Creek, a once-vacant half-acre lot has become a place for gathering, recreation and community connection. Alondra Gateway Park brings long-awaited public investment to an area with limited access to green space, creating a compact but highly active civic space rooted in the culture and identity of its neighborhood. First envisioned in 2008 as…

Imagine that you are driving home after a long day at work: It’s 6 p.m. on a November evening and it’s raining. The Sun has set, it’s getting dark, and the streetlights turn on. The highway appears slick and droplets stick to your windshield. Traffic slows, but some drivers maintain normal speeds. Wet pavement reflects…

Smart vehicle technology and the future of roadway lighting Most advances in technology represent incremental improvements, like upgrading your sixth-generation smartphone to the latest model. But once in a while, a technology comes along that truly revolutionizes an industry. Ride-hailing apps displaced long-established taxi systems by using GPS-powered smartphones to coordinate riders in real time.…

Weaving remembrance, culture, and community into the fabric of New Orleans New Orleans. The Big Easy. A city known for its music, cuisine, and, of course, Mardi Gras. The delta region relishes its connection to the Mississippi River, the Gulf Coast, and its multicultural past. But a few hours after midnight on New Year’s Day…

Empowering African refugee communities and informal settlements Imagine a world without artificial light. How might that feel when the Sun goes down? For refugees across Africa, this is not something they have to imagine; it’s their reality. A lack of public lighting has resulted in a vast impact on those who have learned to live…

If you had a chance to explain lighting to 100 10-year-olds, what would it look like? For Equity in Lighting (EIL), it is the perfect mix of art, science, and a little bit of magic to inspire and connect these students to the world of light that surrounds them every day. Over eight weeks, the…

How climate change is redefining outdoor lighting infrastructure I have spent much of my career working at the intersection of design and environment—first in film production, where every set must feel inhabited and true, then in real estate, where the built environment carries the weight of lives lived within, and now in infrastructure, where the…

The Učka Tunnel in Croatia unites steel, stone, and sea To venture into or out of the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia, a deeply historic region turned popular vacation destination known for its culinary excellence and proximity to the Adriatic Sea, travelers must pass through the Učka mountains by vehicle. Snow-capped and primarily limestone, the mountain…

Recasting the National World War I Memorial The National World War I (WWI) Memorial in Washington, D.C., is a choreographed experience of light, landscape, and sculpture. The lighting design operates as both guide and storyteller for A Soldier’s Journey, the sculpture at the heart of the memorial. What begins at the bright edges of Pennsylvania…

With a sold-out show floor for the past two years and a reputation for top-notch programming, the September 15-16 ArchLIGHT Summit at Dallas Market Center is shaping up to be the event’s biggest and best one to date. ArchLIGHT Summit showcases the latest lighting technologies alongside a robust educational lineup for lighting designers, specifiers, architects,…

The June 24-27, 2026, edition of Lightovation at Dallas Market Center will again feature its popular Design + Build Day, previewing the largest residential lighting show in the Western Hemisphere and providing programming for trade professionals on Tuesday, June 23. The upcoming Design + Build Day continues momentum from the January 2026 Lightovation show, where…