IESNYC LUMEN AWARDS 2025

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Award of Excellence

Al-Mujadilah Center & Mosque for Women

Doha, Qatar

BURO HAPPOLD: Gabe Guilliams, Chris Coulter, John Sloane, Elias Gomez, and Aida Miron

In Islam, light is a metaphor for spirituality and righteousness. This center, the first women-led mosque in the Middle East, nurtures a community of women committed to their personal growth and that of their community.

The large hovering roof plane overhangs expansive fenestration while framing views. Notably, the oculus and an undulating plane of 5000+ skylights illuminate the prayer hall below. Each conical skylight perforation integrates custom electric lighting.

The qibla wall pulls away from the roof plane allowing daylight to orient visitors toward Mecca. At night, focal lighting on the qibla wall and ambient lighting emanating from the apertures replicate the daylighting effects.

Multiple physical mock-ups refined the skylight’s geometry, finish, and glazing to limit solar load, maximize the visual impact of daylighting, and minimize visibility of the electric light source within. Manufacturing these skylights offsite greatly improved the consistency of appearance and significantly accelerated onsite installation.

The 100 ft tall luminous minaret, integrated into the landscape, calls to prayer five times each day. Its cable-suspended base dapples the seating area below. Then, the speaker slowly rises, animating the seating area and visually announcing the traditional, audible call to prayer.

We have been lucky to be honored 2 tonight. Both projects are celebrating and elevating people that have been historically underrepresented…I have one request. Stand up. Please sit down if you are a woman, black, brown, Asian, LGBT, Latinos anyone else. Look at anyone that is sitting and keep an eye out for them, protect them and we are all much stronger for that.

ARCHITECTS- Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Elizabeth Diller, Yushiro Okamoto, Evan Tribus

OWNERS- Qatar Foundation, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser

PHOTOGRAPHY- Iwan Baan, Evan Tribus, Gabe Guilliams, John Sloane

Award of Merit

The Travel Agency Fifth Avenue

New York, NY

THE LIGHT: B. Alex Miller and Elizabeth Enders

Integrated lighting enhances the unique character of an almost-Brutalist retail space along an iconic shopping corridor: Leong Leong’s elevated cannabis experience. The ceiling’s unique, inverted-vault “belly” invited indirect lighting, in dynamic white, integrated along the upturned edges. The sloped reveals at the junction of ceiling and wall disperse light as a soft wash. The product cases (designed and fabricated by the lighting designer) appear softly luminous.

In the back, a fully immersive room draws patrons. The lighting here is customizable, offering saturated light palettes to highlight specific product launches and associated content. The vibrant colors call from afar, disrupting the neutral palette of the interiors. A sculptural, floor-to-ceiling display case is illuminated by a large, elliptical colortunable surface above, and indirect LED striplighting in the base. A perimeter wall niche glows from reveals at both the base and top. All the case lighting and the ceiling’s indirect lighting are choreographed wirelessly.

At the entry and waiting area, shielded cylinders on track set the chrome palm asparkle, while minimalist downlights aid transitions. The edge-lit oculus that faces the street constitutes both a minimalist “moon” and bold visual marker. This oculus also changes color, according to time-of-day, seasons, or other needs.

Thank you, Elizabeth and our team TM. This says a lot….(he got choked up.) This has been an interesting year, thank you so much.

ARCHITECTS- Leong Leong

OWNERS- The Travel Agency

PHOTOGRAPHY- Will Ellis

Oxman Studio

New York, NY

TILLOTSON DESIGN ASSOCIATES: Suzan Tillotson and Liyi Pan

The lighting concept for this high-tech design office promotes tranquility and creativity. Tunable-white fixtures in open areas mimic the dynamics of natural light to ease transitions from indoors to outdoors, while precise DMX programming ensures harmony across the two floors.

Downstairs, uplighting from custom, narrow-beam linears emphasize the long, shallow barrel vaults. Downlights in architectural slots provide the workhorse task lighting. Adding some ambience to the glass-walled offices, mini-track in wood shelves illuminate objects. Manual and jamb-switch controls further conserve energy. Between the enclosed offices, trackheads with snoots minimize reflections while highlighting artwork in vitrines, permitting seamless visual flow.

On the upper level, visible above the floating stair, backlit ceiling panels ensure abundant illumination in lab areas, balanced with the barrel vaults below. Modified linears, fortified against extreme humidity and temperature, serve as an invisible layer in specialized capsules that require grow lights.

Static CCTs are strategically chosen in enclosed spaces to save costs while highlighting materials and defining space functions. In private offices, 3000K enhances warmth and intimacy, while 4000K creates an energized, focused atmosphere in individual research spaces. Daylight and occupancy sensors balance light levels and energy use, complying with NYCECC 2020.

I am always humbled to receive these awards. Thank Liyi for persevering, it was not an easy job.”-- Suzan Tillotson. “Yay, I am very honored as this was a hard job, but the photos make it look simple. There were lots of details to coordinate. Thank you to the manufacturers and reps who provide help with mockups and onsite support. Cheers!

DESIGN ARCHITECT- Foster + Partners

ARCHITECT OF RECORD- AAI Architects, P.C.

OWNER- Oxman Studio, Neri Oxman

PHOTOGRAPHY- Nicholas Calcott

OWNERS REPRESENTAIVE- TKO Project Management

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER- Cosentini Associates

LANDSCAPE DESIGNER- Hollander Design Landscape Architects

LAB PLANNING CONSULTANT- Jacobs Laboratory Planning Group

GRAPHIC DESIGNER- Pentagram

STRUCTURAL DESIGNER- Silman

CONTRACTOR- Sciame Homes

Charter Communications Headquaters

Stamford, CT

SPARK STUDIO LIGHTING DESIGN: Scott Herrick, Justine Parrish, and Jess Marshall

Two glass towers stand boldly against the evening sky, their illuminated forms sending a clear message: this is a campus where architecture and light are in constant conversation. In the outdoor plaza, subtlety reigns – concealed sources glow beneath benches, curbs, and trees, reinforcing flow while maintaining visual openness. At the heart of the plaza, programmed fins of light rise from a triangular reflecting pool, simulating dynamic blue-white wave patterns that shimmer across mirrored surfaces.

Airy, energetic themes take flight inside the atrium lobby with a positive-negative play of panels, coves, and custom arrays of floating tubes. Seamless lightboxes in the elevator lobby, achieved through interlocking panels and removable LED sheets, elegantly conceal and allow access to infrastructure. The auditorium is dressed in a dynamic wrapper: scrolling RGBW effects are activated by real-time weather and traffic data.

From crisscrossing shadows on interconnecting stairs to glowing tubes suspended in air, each lighting moment adds rhythm and texture. In pantries, daylight is maximized and layered with downlights, coves, and illuminated wood details. Even the high-energy fitness zone shines with tubular lighting that jogs playfully across three ceiling types.

Here, storytelling in light is subtle, expressive, and always in sync with the architecture.

We started the design during the Pandemic and finished last year. Most importantly tonight and in this moment, I'd like to acknowledge my associates, Justine Parrish and Jess Marshall, who really with their attention to detail and their persistence made this a reality.

— Scott Herrick

ARCHITECT- HLW, Jeremiah Hancock, Mike Iovinelli, Michael Tegnell, Jennifer Louis

OWNER- Charter Communications, Jennifer Tuttle

EXPERIENCE DESIGN- ESI Design

PHOTOGRAPHY- Chris Cooper

360 Park Avenue South

New York, NY

LIGHTING WORKSHOP: Doug Russell, Megan Casey, and Sammie Wu

Originally built in 1912, the recent renovation of this classic New York City office tower aims to enhance its appeal to the modern workforce by introducing new amenity spaces. Calm, soft lighting gestures help draw views deep into the interior of the building, playing a key role in its transformation.

Energy from the dynamic streetscape reflects in the mirrored ceiling above the grand staircase. Multicell downlights between the mirrored panels illuminate the space, softened by a backlit, translucent vertical fascia that frames the reflection.

The feature stair doubles as circulation and lounge space. Warm cove lighting and wallwashing at the adjacent cellar meeting spaces contrast with the slightly cooler stair volume, often daylit from the windows above. Detailing prevents direct and reflected views of the flexible striplighting that outlines the steps and floor opening.

Soft washes on perimeter walls and coves and select focal glows from recessed downlights set the stage for decorative fixtures within the large open lobby. Ceiling popups and a sparkling chandelier define the reception and lounge spaces. Decorative pendants and lamps pull together informal touchdown and meeting areas.

From the street view, the mirrored ceiling provides an intriguing glimpse of the warm interior and activities below.

We are grateful for trust from architect, Architect Plus Information. Thank you to our rep and manufacturer that we relied on their support and genuine enthusiasm means the world to us.

— Megan Casey

ARCHITECT- Architecture Plus Information

OWNER- BXP

PHOTOGRAPHY- Magda Biernat

Citation for Laylight Detail and Execution

Yale Peabody Museum

Renovation and Expansion

New Haven, CT

CLINE BETTRIDGE BERNSTEIN LIGHTING DESIGN: Stephen D. Bernstein, Michael Hennes, Jiyoung Lee, and Clara Samudio

In 2020, the Peabody closed for its first comprehensive renovation in 90 years. The Great Hall, designed specifically to hold the institution’s dinosaur collection, features a 110 ft mid-century fresco. Together, these elements presented unique challenges to relighting a dark exhibit venue.

The new laylight system, which mimics the long-gone original skylights, is transformative. However, the precious, immovable exhibits posed a significant maintenance challenge. Through extensive photometric studies and onsite mock-ups (the museum was closed through COVID), CBB developed an illumination scheme where all the lighting equipment could be accessed from one end of each 9 by 13 ft laylight bay. A combination of four narrow- and wide-beam fixtures are stacked vertically in the cavity above and at the far end of each laylight. The solution ensures smooth illumination across the surface and a convincing connection to the outdoors.

DMX-controlled RGBW fixtures provide tunable white for daylight tracking and saturated colors for special events. By contrast, the fresco maintains its uniform, tuned-white illumination across the mural’s height, using a combination of front lighting and a custom reverse cove.

The design for the Great Hall dramatically improves the visitor experience while maintaining respect for the landmark building.

Thanks to people at Yale who gave us input and were dedicated to make this the best museum it could possibly be. This year is our 40th anniversary. There's probably a lot of CBB alumni out there. We want to thank all of you, because over the years, everyone who’s contributed to who we are has made us the firm we are today.

ARCHITECT- Centerbrook Architects and Planners

OWNER- Yale University

PHOTOGRAPHY- Peter Aaron/OTTO

Citation for Art Memorial

HALO

New York, NY

LIGHTING DESIGN

BURO HAPPOLD: John Sloane and Maya Hladišová

Light has long been used by those in power to surveil marginalized groups, like New York City’s 1800s “lantern law,” which required Black and Indigenous people to carry lanterns at night. HALO, by artist Immanuel Oni, reclaims this archaic form of surveillance. His series of luminous elements in Sara D. Roosevelt Park leads passersby towards a garden honoring the nearby and since paved over Chrystie Street African Burial Ground, where thousands of Black New Yorkers were once laid to rest.

In the 1980s, community organizers established the garden to combat local issues and honor the burial site, naming it the M’Finda Kalunga Garden, which is Kikongo for “garden at the edge of the other side of the world.”

At the heart of the installation stands an illuminated reclaimed pole with a mesh shade, symbolic of a lantern. Mock-ups aligned the artist’s vision with design team’s understanding of how light interacts with materiality. Along the previously underlit Rivington Street, luminous fence elements increase pedestrian visibility. Evoking traditional adire indigo-dye patterns found on African textiles, the mesh forms bear over 400 names of those once buried nearby. Edge-lighting sets the names aglow, educating passersby about the rich history beneath our shared public spaces.

We want to thank the Lumen committee for recognizing a project with high social value but an extremely low budget. To our younger designers in the room, we hope this can serve as an inspiration no matter what experience you have, together we can make a difference.

ARTIST- Immanuel Oni

OWNERS- FABnyc, Ryan Gilliam, M’Finda Kalunga Garden, Debra Jeffreys-Glass

FABRICATOR- Beam Center, Stephen Callendar, Brian Cohen

PHOTOGRAPHY- Elyse Mertz, John Sloane

Citation for Historic Renovation

Gould Memorial Library Rotunda Renovation, Bronx Community College

The Bronx, NY

CLINE BETTRIDGE BERNSTEIN LIGHTING DESIGN: Francesca Bettridge, Michael Hennes, and Nira Wattanachote

Gould Memorial Library, a National Historic Landmark designed by McKim, Mead & White, was inspired by Rome’s Pantheon. Inside, the domed rotunda was originally skylit. A plaster ceiling was added underneath, illuminated by high-pressure sodium pendants, resulting in a low CRI and warm CCT that made everything look yellow.

The redesigned lighting is code compliant, dimmable, and highlights the historic architecture. Brighter LEDs with a high CRI sufficiently illuminate the 77’ high space.

AGI studies and mock-ups confirmed that the concept was viable. A custom, frosted diffuser floats under the LED source to refract light onto the plaster ceiling, creating the illusion of the original skylight. A dimming system adds flexibility for day and night events.

New pendant fixtures hang from the catwalk above the plaster ceiling at the center of each ceiling opening, then drop below the ceiling to prevent overheating, halving energy use. Remotely located drivers aid maintenance.

Before the renovation, HID floodlighting darkened the balcony sculptures and cast decorative elements in shadow. The new lighting reveals the floor pattern’s colors and the veins of the magnificent marble columns. The historic domed space, sculptures, and architectural details that were lost are now rediscovered.

The Rotunda was originally sky lit. A plaster ceiling was added underneath illuminated by high pressure sodium pendants. The result was a low CRI and warm CCT that made everything look yellow. The redesign lighting is code compliant, dimmable and highlights the historic architecture. Meteor Lighting was extremely helpful with samples and custom modifications of their fixture.

— Francesca Bettridgeudge

ARCHITECT- Beyer Blinder Belle Architects

OWNER- Bronx Community College

PHOTOGRAPHY- Elizabeth Leidel Photography, provided courtesy of Meteor Lighting, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects

Citation for Facade Lighting

Garage Facade at Princeton University

Geo-Exchange Plant

Princeton, NJ

FISHER MARANTZ STONE: Enrique Garcia-Carrera, Kristina Jajalla, and Laetitia Stephanos

Developed as part of a large geothermal infrastructure project, Princeton University’s new Meadow’s Drive Garage helps put the university’s net zero program on full view. ZGF created a facade of undulating fabric mesh that gives the building a light and ethereal character. A series of vertical barrel vaults support tensile fiberglass mesh to provide shading while maintaining views and airflow. During the day, shadows create visual interest.

After sunset, 3000K uplighting grazes the facade. Discreet, 15 by 30 degree beams cast shadows in the reverse direction and create an entirely different play of light and shadow. The protruding vaults of the fiberglass mesh catch most of the uplighting, reducing upward spill to address light pollution concerns.

An architectural valance conceals the continuous line of uplighting, and grazing downlighting that renders the curves of the precast base. Digital modeling helped refine the photometrics and produced quality renderings for the client. Princeton is currently seeking Parksmart certification, a sustainability standard established by Green Business Certification Inc.

I don’t know how many more times I’ll be up here, so I want to take the opportunity to thank Charles Stone, and Paul Marantz, who I knew for 35 years. “Every day I saw him I learned something knew.

— Enrique Garcia-Carrera

ARCHITECT- ZGF Architects, Maryam Katouzian

OWNER- Princeton University, Ron McCoy, University Architect

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER- AKF Group

PHOTOGRAPHY- Halkin Mason Photography, Fisher Marantz Stone.