6 minute read
A Connected Future
My Visit to Leviton’s Nashville Experience Center
By Randy Reid
When I arrived at Leviton’s Nashville Experience Center, aptly named Leviton LIVE, I expected a product showcase. What I encountered instead was a facility focused on innovation, user experience, and human-centered design.
Spread across 7,000 square feet in a renovated 19th-century brick warehouse, this facility is less about marketing and more about immersion, where lighting, power, and data converge to demonstrate what the built environment can and should be.
From the moment I stepped inside, I could feel the intentionality of the space. Acoustic lighting panels from Birchwood hang above, diffusing light while softening sound. Original brick walls, carefully preserved by a landlord who understood their historical value, anchor the interiors with warmth and authenticity. There’s not a drop of sheetrock in sight – just honest materials and thoughtful lighting that instantly makes visitors feel both comfortable and inspired.
A Culture of Innovation and Experience
Steve Anson, Senior Director of Marketing at Leviton, served as my host and guide, and he wasted no time introducing the company’s philosophy. “Innovation only happens with people,” he said. “It’s not about just having great products. It’s about empowering users, connecting teams, and staying curious.” That mindset is embedded in everything Leviton does.
Leviton’s portfolio spans three major verticals: residential, commercial, and industrial. But within those categories are deep specializations. For example, the company’s UX line, part of its Viscor Lighting family, has emerged as a leader in hospital-grade lighting, a niche that requires exacting standards in performance, hygiene, and redundancy.
Steve explained that they don’t just sell lighting; they help solve use-case problems in real-world spaces, from surgical suites to university campuses.
Lighting with Purpose and Precision
While walking through the Nashville center, Steve pointed out the deliberate design strategies that informed every lighting decision. For example, a pair of suspended luminaires—the “165s”—serve as circadian-friendly fixtures, precisely angled to deliver light directly to the eye for maximum impact. Circadian entrainment principles were subtly embedded throughout the space to enhance health and wellness without screaming "biophilia."
Other lighting zones were equally curated. The commercial boardroom features a different color temperature and beam angle than the executive lounge or kitchen area. Some fixtures graze brick; others remain hidden in millwork. Wall-washing techniques reveal the subtle textures of aged surfaces, while undercabinet lighting brings dimension to otherwise overlooked nooks. It’s theatrical lighting meets workplace functionality.
Perhaps most impressive is the attention paid to how natural and artificial lighting interact. Automated shades, controlled by Leviton’s Sapphire system, balance daylight with electric light seamlessly. A connected audio system allows the space to shift effortlessly from business mode to happy hour mode, proving that lighting is just one part of the broader sensory experience.
Empowering Users Through Technology
Of course, no modern space would be complete without intelligent controls. At Leviton LIVE, nearly every device, from a light switch to a USB receptacle, is smart. Steve demonstrated a receptacle that distinguishes between an iPhone and an Android, adjusting voltage accordingly. “There’s a Texas Instruments chip inside,” he explained. “It knows exactly what you’re plugging in and charges it the way it needs to be charged.”
Smart panels, such as the Leviton Load Center, take electrical monitoring to a whole new level. From a smartphone app, users can remotely shut off circuits, check loads, and even respond to electrical faults—all while away from home or office. “Think of it as the Nest for your panel box,” Steve said. “Except this one controls everything.”
Even the content on the digital signage throughout the facility is dynamic. Through a cloud-based system, Leviton can change branding, client-specific messaging, or educational prompts with a few keystrokes. “We can go from ‘tour mode’ to ‘cocktail mode’ in seconds,” Steve said. “It’s all about creating environments that adapt to the people in them.”
Fourth Utility: Connectivity
While lighting and electrical power are foundational, it’s Leviton’s network connectivity business that may hold the most untapped potential. In their data center mockup, I saw the nerve center of modern infrastructure—rows of patch panels, structured cabling, and fiber optics that support everything from AV and security systems to high-performance computing environments.
With the acquisition of Berk-Tek, Leviton became an end-to-end provider of structured cabling. Their Long Reach solution, a hybrid fiber-copper offering, powers entire campuses with minimal latency. “We manufacture our own fiber and copper,” Steve shared. “From North Carolina to Scotland, we control the whole process.”
The “Fourth Utility” concept – the idea that internet connectivity now ranks alongside water, gas, and electricity – is central to Leviton’s strategy. It’s a recognition that buildings are only as smart as the infrastructure that supports them. And in this post-COVID world, where hybrid work is here to stay, infrastructure must be as adaptable as the people who use it.
Where Design Meets Delight
One of the most surprising aspects of my visit was how fun it all felt. From the vinyl record wall commemorating Leviton’s product patents to the acoustic guitar in the lounge ready for local Nashville talent, this place isn’t just an experience center. It’s a hospitality suite disguised as a tech showroom.
“We want people to feel like they’re in a high-end Nashville hotel,” Steve said. And they’ve succeeded. Visitors don’t just get a tour. They get a story, a vibe, and a vision of what’s possible when technology and design align. It’s no surprise that guests often return not out of necessity, but because they simply want to be here again.
Final Impressions
In an era where technology can often feel impersonal or overwhelming, Leviton LIVE flips the script. Their Nashville experience center proves that spaces can be smart without being sterile, connected without being cold. They’ve created an environment that inspires learning, collaboration, and innovation—all while reminding us that at its best, lighting isn’t just something you see. It’s something you feel.
From preserved brick to smart USB receptacles, Leviton’s message is clear: The future is on. And thanks to spaces like this, that future is also beautifully lit.
