wood ceiling element shaped like a comb, with layers of rich timber descending above a major stair. Lighting this feature required fine-tuning to ensure that every plane and angle read clearly without introducing glare or unevenness. Even the construction process posed unusual challenges. The Summit Building was assembled using a method Michael referred to as “railroad construction.” Instead of building floor by floor, the team constructed one vertical section from the ground up, then moved over and repeated the process. It made energizing the lighting system more complex than usual, as certain zones came online before others. This rolling activation required HLB to be highly adaptive, coordinating site visits and system checks in lockstep with the construction schedule. Despite the hurdles, the final product is seamless. At the 2025 IALD Awards, Michael and Teal accepted the Award of Merit with pride. “It’s a remarkable achievement,” Michael said. “But really, it belongs to the whole team— the architects, the contractors, our former designer Sam Hewitt, who poured so much passion into this project.” In the Summit Building, lighting doesn’t simply illuminate the architecture—it becomes part of it. The interplay of shadow and material, the flexibility of control, and the responsiveness to both daytime users and theatrical needs set a new standard for convention spaces. The IALD recognition is well-earned, not because the lighting shouts for attention, but because it whispers with purpose. ■
Concealed lighting transforms this commissioned wood installation into a glowing centerpiece for the Summit Building’s mixing zone.
Suspended above this area is a commissioned wood art installation, developed in collaboration with a local artist. HLB’s job was to light the piece without overwhelming it. The result is a luminous form that glows from within— more chandelier than sculpture, but with a presence that’s understated and artful. Fixtures were carefully concealed and aimed to create a soft, floating effect. Michael emphasized that mock-ups were a critical part of the design process. “You can do all the 3D modeling in the world,” he said, “but there’s no substitute for building it and seeing it in person.” To that end, the convention center rented a warehouse in Seattle where full-scale mock-ups of the ballroom canopy, the theatrical lighting system, and the Hill Climb circulation zone were assembled. The Hill Climb, another signature space, features a vertical 82
designing lighting
LIGHTING DESIGN HLB Lighting Design LIGHTING DESIGNERS Teal Brogden, Michael Lindsey, Samuel Hewett (formerly with HLB Lighting Design) ARCHITECTS LMN Architects CLIENT LMN Architects MEP Arup LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Ltd. GENERAL CONTRACTOR Clark / Lewis ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR VECA Electric PHOTOGRAPHY © Lauren K. Davis / feinknopf