Energy regulations are crucial for reducing consumption and setting mandatory requirements for new buildings and renovations. Major U.S. standards like Title 24 of California’s regulations, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 serve as the basis for state codes. While the IECC covers both residential and commercial buildings, ASHRAE focuses solely on…
Lighting is always the first place energy experts point to when it comes to reducing electricity usage, but as the DOE’s recently released 2020 U.S. Lighting Market Characterization (LMC) of its Solid-State Lighting (SSL) Program indicates, lighting only accounts for 14% of the nation’s total electricity consumption. (Air conditioning/heating, water heaters, appliances, washers/dryers, refrigerators, and…
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) recently released its four-year review of the Section 301 tariffs on products coming from China — and it’s not necessarily great news for the lighting industry. Those hoping that President Biden would reverse the tariffs that were put into place during the Trump Administration were disappointed…
Summary Background: Design Innovation: Challenges Overcome: Sustainable Success: Background How does a global investment firm reimagine its corporate headquarters? For the BlackRock team, it started with an ambitious goal— co-locate its 4,000 New York City employees from three separate offices into a single, one-million-square-foot headquarters in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, designed around one of the company’s…
The need for architectural services is increasing, boosted by demand for construction services during 2022 and forecasted for growth through 2030, according to a report from Benchmark International. Among construction service types, adaptive reuse is also on the rise. Compared to ground-up construction, adaptive reuse of an existing structure can lower construction costs and speed…
May 1, 2024 The new headquarters for the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) is the first NCAA Division 1 conference based in Washington, DC. As doors officially opened January, 2024 in D.C., with full staff transition expected by this June, the league is eager to highlight the benefits of its new location as a media, sports, transportation and…
April 29, 2024 HGX Design, a firm engaged in select projects of varying scale for commercial, hospitality, and residential clients, proudly introduces Hudson Valley Residence, a ground-up home built on a ridge overlooking the Catskill Mountains. The home was commissioned for a client with multiple residences who envisioned a retreat providing scenic views of the surrounding…
April 25, 2024 Earl Giles Distillery bills itself as “thoughtful, fun, and authentic.” Located in the Art District of Minneapolis’ Logan Park neighborhood, the 18,000 sq. ft. facility is many things: full-service bar and restaurant, distillery, canning and bottling operations, flavor laboratory, gift shop, and private event space. The owners hired Shea, Inc. to create…
April 16, 2024 By Sara Schonour, LC, MIES, IALD, Luxsi and Reiko Kagawa, LC, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, WELL Faculty Are you confused about what lighting designers are asking for regarding material transparency, and how they are defining the ambiguous term “sustainability”? 100+ specifying firms (114 and counting, to be exact) have signed the…
April 18, 2024 Architectural and design firm Lemay, and lighting agency LumiGroup, have combined their expertise to transform a partially under-exploited sector of the Montreal Olympic Park into a bright, warm, and dynamic work environment. Continuing their long-term history of working together on major projects, the mandate was to set up offices which would bring…
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world and placed an emphasis on specific forms of lighting that can disinfect surfaces. Schools are considered high-risk environments for the transmission of infectious diseases due to the close and frequent contact and communication that occur among students and teachers. Furthermore, environments such as athletic training rooms, gymnasiums, cafeterias, and…
An Albany, N.Y.-based nursing home recently installed an Artificial Sky ceiling in one of its patient care wings thanks to the work of Master of Public Health (MPH) student Alexandra Smith. As part of her MPH internship, Smith oversaw the installation and conducted research to evaluate the artificial sky’s impact on residents. The Artificial Sky…
April 8, 2024 A storied past The Pasaje de la Revolución in Merida, Mexico, has seen many transformations over its storied history. Originally an annex between the Archbishop’s Palace and the Cathedral, it housed troops in the early 20th century. Eventually the space was opened up in 1916, creating a pedestrian walkway that continues today….
March 19, 2024 Sterling Vineyards was founded in 1964 by Oxford graduate and successful businessman Peter Newton. As one of only 27 bonded wineries in Napa Valley at the time, Sterling Vineyards was an early pioneer of crafting Bordeaux-inspired red wines in California and helped transform the region into the premier winemaking appellation we know…
March 19, 2024 Like so many waterfront cities, Omaha was looking for ways to revitalize its downtown parkland in an effort to create an aesthetically pleasing destination point. The city’s vision was to transform its three underutilized parks into a beautiful, entertaining recreational hotspot along the scenic Missouri River. What became known as the Omaha…
HLW’s design scheme incorporates the building’s historic character while adding contemporary touches to meet the needs of a modern functional workspace. Bad lighting in the workplace can also be a recipe for disaster for the employee’s mental health and sleep habits. Strategic, thoughtful lighting design demonstrates positive effects on both the functional and emotional aspects of…