2011 Lumen Awards Winners Announced at 43rd Annual Lumen Gala

Hundreds of acclaimed lighting leaders gathered at New York's Chelsea Piers on June 8 to celebrate the winners of the 2011 Lumen Awards at the 43rd Annual Lumen Gala. Hosted by the New York City Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IESNYC), the awards ceremony recognizes lighting design members whose exceptional professionalism, excellence and originality have recently culminated in some of the world's most innovative lighting projects.

"The Lumen committee has done it again in hosting an amazing celebration," said Charles Cameron, of Studio C Squared Inc. and IESNYC incoming president. "We congratulate the winners for their outstanding achievements - this was truly a remarkable year for architectural lighting design."

"The Chelsea Piers venue is spectacular with the exterior deck along the Hudson River - although the 95 degree weather made it much more comfortable to be inside," said Robert Davis, PhD, director of product innovation and marketing at Litecontrol. "The energy generated by the more than 700 people who attended sure made me feel that we are in a vibrant industry with people who are passionate about what they do."

Eleven awards in three categories were presented by Elena Mikoleski, of Acuity Brands and Adrienne Shulman, of GE Lighting: the Lumen Award of Excellence, the highest level of recognition for permanent architectural application; the Lumen Award of Merit, meritorious recognition in permanent architectural application; and the Lumen Citation, special recognition awards for an art installation, technical detail, portion of a single project, temporary installation or other work.

Additionally, individuals were recognized for their dedicated service and contributions to the lighting community with IESNYC Brilliance Awards, IES Section Service Awards and the IES Meritorious Award.

Judging this year's entries was a dedicated panel consisting of Anne D Cheney, LC, LEED AP, IES, DLF; David Clinard LC, IES, principal, Clinard Design Studio; Michael Mehl LC, LEED AP, JB&B, director/lighting design; Jackson Ning II, principal, Kugler Ning Lighting Design; Mark Roush, marketing consultant, Experience Light; and Jean Sundinm, IALD, IESNA, PLDA, principal and co-founder of Office for Visual Interaction (OVI).

Award of Excellence winner Focus Lighting was recognized for its striking work at the newly-opened Science Storms at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. "Lighting plays a tremendous part in creating the museum's dramatic interactive environment," said Paul Gregory, principal of Focus Lighting, Inc. "The positive outcome of joining the creative team early on in the process is irreplaceable. Unifying the team in the beginning stages ensures the best possible design. Without an initial understanding, it is impossible to integrate ideas for the lighting design into the structure."

The Arthouse at the Jones Center in Austin, Texas creates meaningful opportunities to investigate and experience the art of our time, and its recent renovation employs inventive elements that combine function with aesthetics and features tactical additions that intensify the building's layered history. Award of Excellence winner Lumen Architecture, PLLC further enhanced the building with a lighting scheme that locals have described as "modern magic." "I never thought a project could require so many puzzle pieces. The hard work, dedication and both 'good and bad luck' played heavily in the ultimate success of this project," said Nelson Jenkins, principal, Lumen Architecture, PLLC.

The night's double-award winner, Renfro Design Group, Inc., received an Award of Excellence for the Art Collector's Loft in New York, which necessitated a lighting strategy that was both comfortable for a permanent residence and responsive to the presentation of art. The company also received a Lumen Citation for Library Restoration for the Morgan Library and Museum, McKim Library Restoration in New York. This interior landmarked space employed technological lighting upgrades to discretely reinforce the architecture. "Our goal was to conceal the lighting systems in order to reveal the exceptional architecture and provide a luminous environment for the art," said Richard Renfro, principal, Renfro Design Group, Inc.

Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design, Inc. won an Award of Merit for its innovative lighting design solution for the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park in New York. Illuminated from the lobby to the top of the spires, the skyscraper contributes to the iconic Manhattan skyline as a modern reinforcement. According to Serge Appel, associate partner with Cook + Fox Architects, "The lighting design reflects a complete design ethic: a lit core wall in the lobby serves as a visible marker from the outdoor realm of the street while controlled lighting in mechanical rooms continues from office floors, a unifying aesthetic throughout the skyscraper further emphasized by the dramatic horizontal banding of the southeast facing double wall. The tower's crowning element - lit screen walls and spire - reach to the sky and follow the dynamic, upward movement of the tower's crystalline form."

Award of Merit winner One Lux Studio helped to create a dynamic public space and entry into the innovative corporate center at the new 1.4 million-square-foot office tower at 155 N. Wacker in Chicago. A highly integrated lighting design features concealed LED strip lights mounted within an architecturally constructed cove to create the strong diagonal lines and perform unaffected by changes in ambient temperature in interior as well as exterior environments. "Working with building designer Jim Goettsch always proves to have an exciting outcome," said Stephen Margulies, partner, One Lux Studio. "It is our job to help tell his creative story."

"Art as light and light as music" was the lighting inspiration for ,b>Randy Sabedra of RS Lighting, whose design for ABKCO Music and Records in New York won the Lumen Citation for Simple and Playful Use of Light. The design provides a unique illumination scheme for maximizing daylight and expanding spatial boundaries. Highland Associates' Glenn Leitch, AIA, project principal and design director noted, "The lighting design was a unique collaboration simultaneously exploiting the architectural planning efforts, emphasizing the owner's collections, and integrating the lighting seamlessly to create a daring spatial experience."

The Mall of America's South Avenue Renovation in Bloomington, MN is a contemporary, multimillion-dollar renovation that sought to provide a renewed upscale environment and become a more relaxed and defined space. Lumen Citation for Lighting Transformation winner Cooley Monato Studio helped achieve that goal with the creative use of lighting. "The transformation from the previous design to a radiantly sparkling yet tranquil space was accomplished by way of a wonderful collaboration with the architects and owner," said Renée Cooley, Cooley Monato Studio.

"It's not every day that you are asked to light the tallest tower in the world," said Hank Forrest, senior associate principal at Fisher Marantz Stone, Inc. Chosen for this year's Lumen Citation for Facade Lighting award for Burj Khalifa, Dubai, Forrest's team faced the challenge of developing a restrained and minimalist design for Dubai's centerpiece that wouldn't overpower the landscape. Forrest noted, "This was by no means a one-person job. We thank the many hands that made this project successful."

At the end of the evening, Cameron summed up the celebration by saying, "Tonight was a very memorable Lumen Awards ceremony - it was great to see so many familiar faces and some surprisingly stellar dance moves at the AfterGlow party."