The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) is a learned society of architectural lighting designers founded in 1969 and based in Chicago.
History In 1969, a group of lighting designers—including Ray Grenald and Howard Brandston—established the International Association of Lighting Designers. At that time, all existing industry organizations were primarily focused on the science and engineering of lighting rather than the aesthetic design.
One of the founding designers was Lesley Wheel. Originally trained in theatrical lighting design, Wheel had become the first woman to start a career in architectural lighting design. She later served as president of the IALD, and remained a fellow until her death in 2004.
Partnerships The IALD has partnered with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to promote sustainable lighting. The IALD also maintains partnerships with the IES, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and other professional organizations to promote the industry and develop technical standards.
Lobbying On May 26, 2009, the IALD called upon its members to voice their disapproval of bill set for a vote the following day in the Texas House of Representatives. A last-minute amendment to Texas House Bill 2649 would have required licensure (i.e. as an engineer, architect, landscape architect, or interior designer) to offer lighting-design services directly to the public in Texas. The proposed legislation was successfully defeated.
The IALD International Lighting Design Awards The IALD International Lighting Design Awards (IALD Awards) is an industry awards program recognizing excellence in architectural lighting design bestowed by the IALD. Held annually, the IALD Awards have been granted to lighting designers and design firms since 1983.
Project Submission Design firms submit entries for projects that meet specific eligibility requirements through the IALD website. A panel of volunteer judges reviews all accepted entries through two rounds of blind judging (no knowledge of the submitting firm or individual designers on the project).
Judging and Scoring Advancement from the first to the second round is based on evaluating the entry’s submitted short brief and a single-page poster of chosen project images. During the second round, those advancing projects are scored by each judge based on a set of ten discipline criteria. Total averaged scores from the second round (which will range from 0 to 105 points) determine the winners for the year. There is no minimum or maximum number of awards granted.
Awards Granted IALD Awards of Excellence (scoring above 88) and IALD Awards of Merit (scoring between 80 and 87.999) are based on points earned for technical and aesthetic design achievement. Recognition in the form of an IALD Special Citation may be given for a particularly innovative aspect of a project's lighting design. The IALD Radiance Award for Excellence in Lighting Design, the top honor of the IALD International Lighting Design Awards, is presented to the project that is judged among all submissions to be the year’s finest example of lighting design excellence (based on the highest point score).
Past Award Winners Year IALD Award of Excellence Winners (Radiance Winner in bold) IALD Award of Merit Winners2022 (39th)Expolight for Synagogue: Babi Yar Holocaust Memorial Center in Kyiv, Ukraine Erik Selmer for Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway Brandston Partnership Inc. for Humen Transit Oriented Development Exhibition Center in Dongguan, China Lighting Design Institute of UAD for Xu Wei Art Museum in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Beijing Puri Lighting Design for Chamber Chapel in Qingdao, Shandong Shanghai ATL Lighting Design for Guanyin Altar in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Project Lighting Design for Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River in Bangkok Beijing Bamboo Lighting Design for Fusheng Art Gallery in Wuhan, HubeiTillotson Design Associates for David Rubenstein Forum, University of Chicago Arup and Jill Anholt Studio for Sea Change in Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver Qlab Sp. z o.o. for Piłsudski Bridge in Kraków CosmoC Lighting for Lun-Ping Cultural Landscape Park Pavilion in Taoyuan, Taiwan Brandston Partnership for Chongqing Qiansimen Sales Center in Chongqing Brandston Partnership for Shanghai Rock Bund in Shanghai Ning Field Lighting Design Corp for Jiaxing Train Station in Jiaxing, Zhejiang RDesign International Lighting for Guangming Culture and Art Center in Shenzhen Michela Mezzavilla reMM Lighting Design + MMAS Lighting Design for Xapo Bank Hall in Gibraltar Eleftheria Deko & Associates Lighting Design for Acropolis of Athens and Monuments in Athens Speirs Major for BIO4, Amagerværket in Copenhagen2021 (38th)Light Bureau for Kungsträdgården Lux Populi for NorthConnex Natalya Koptseva and Vasily Tarasenko for Central Mosque in Shali, Russia Office for Visual Interaction for Canadian Parliament West Block - Committee Rooms Sirius Lighting Office Inc. for Toranomon Hills Business TowerGlint Lighting Design for Chongqing Changshou Sales Gallery LICHT (In-house lighting studio at ICRAVE) and HLB Lighting Design for The David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Light Concept for Sharjah Mosque in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Lighting Design International for Harrods Fine Dining in London, England Lighting Planners Associates for Takanawa Gateway Station L'Observatoire International for Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Oculus Light Studio for Nitro in Seattle, WA USA School of Architecture, Tsinghua University and One Lighting Associates (Beijing) for Wang Jing Memorial Hall in Songyang Schuler Shook for 25 E Washington Lobby in Chicago, IL, USA Schuler Shook for 600 West Chicago Lobby Renovation in Chicago, IL, USA Schuler Shook for CME Group in Chicago, IL USA Schuler Shook for WEGO Lighting Design Co., Ltd. for Starbucks Reserve® Tianjin Riverside 66 Flagship Store WORKTECHT & Co. for The Ritz-Carlton Nikko2020 (37th)Arup UK for The University of Sheffield Concourse AKLD Lighting Design, Ltd. for The Keller Center - University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy Fisher Marantz Stone for Vancouver Waterfront Park Grant Street Pier and Plaza HGA for Tennessee State Museum Light Bureau for Kistefos - The Twist in Jevnaker, Norway Speirs Major for Re-Lighting of Interior of Norwich Cathedral Studio Fractal for Royal Opera House in London, England 18 Degrees for International Presbyterian Church in Ealing, England Art Light Design Consultants, Inc. for Green Jadeite in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Dark Light Design for Microsoft Buildings 121 & 122 in Redmond, WA USA Fisher Marantz Stone for Shanghai Waterfront – 25 Landmarks (in collaboration with seven lighting design firms) J.Y. Lighting Design for La Vie Ltd. Wine & Spirits Merchant in Taipei, Taiwan Lam Partners for Free Library of Philadelphia Light Collab for Singapore Buddhist Lodge Lighting Planners Associates for Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Lightsphere GmbH for Givaudan Zurich Innovation Center PritchardPeck Lighting for 160 Spear Street in San Francisco, CA, USA Sean O’Connor Lighting for RH New York ZENISK AS for H&M Flagship Store Façade Lighting in Oslo, Norway2019 (36th) Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design for Emerson College Student Dining Center Office for Visual Interaction for Meixi Urban Helix Changsha Lighting Design International for Kimpton Fitzroy Lighting Planners Associates for Mt. Fuji Heritage Centre, Shizuoka Schlaich Bergermann partner for A Family of Bridges for the Town of Riedlingen Schreiber Studio for London Mithraeum School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, One Lighting Associates (Beijing) for Lounge Bridge in Shimen Village Speirs Major for Gasholders London Susanna Antico Lighting Design Studio for Antwerp's Cathedral and Immediate Surroundings Tillotson Design Associates for Bloomberg European Headquarters Tillotson Design Associates for Gateway Arch Museum ÅF Lighting for Stovnertårnet (The Stovner Tower) Oslo, Norway artec3 Studio for Centro Botin Cantabria, Spain Arup Deutschland GmbH for Amorepacific Headquarters Electrolight (San Francisco) for Rothy's at Fillmore San Francisco, CA Electrolight (Sydney) for Raku Canberra, Australia EXP for Washington/Wabash Elevated Train Station Haberdashery for Amaranthyne Henderson Engineers for KU Medical Center Health Education Building University of Kansas Medical Center KSLD EFLA Lighting Design for Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, One Lighting Associates (Beijing) for Exhibition Halls and Workshops of Rice Barns Wuzhen, Zhejiang, China Speirs Major, Mulvey & Banani Lighting Inc. for CF Toronto Eaton Centre Bridge Stantec for BPX Energy Denver, CO2018 (35th)HLB Lighting Design for United States Courthouse Los Angeles Licht Kunst Licht AG for German Ivory Museum, Erbach Licht Kunst Licht AG for HSBC Cafeteria, Düsseldorf Limari Lighting Design for Bahá’í Temple for South America in Chile Lighting M Inc. for Ota Civic Hall Ōta, Gunma Lux Populi for Lakeview Pantry Chicago Unolai Lighting Design & Associates for New Shanghai Theatre ShanghaiÅF Lighting for Story Wall Eskilstuna Eskilstuna, Sweden ÅF Lighting for The Svindersvik Bridge Stockholm, Sweden Arup for Mathematics: The Winton Gallery, Science Museum London, England UK Creative Lighting Design & Engineering, LLC for The Ghost Train Shorewood, WI USA Electrolight for The Urchin, Westfield Chermside, Brisbane Foster + Partners for Apple Michigan Avenue, Chicago KGM Architectural Lighting for Hyundai Capital Convention Hall, Seoul Lighting Design International for Oxford Street Estate in London, England2017 (34th)Beijing United Artists Lighting Design Corp Ltd for Harbin Opera House Interior Lighting Design Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design for Hancher Auditorium, University of Iowa Cooley Monato Studio for Barneys New York L’Acte Lumière for Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg Tillotson Design Associates for 599 Lexington Avenue Ground Floor Upgrades New York, NYAnita Jorgensen Lighting Design for 225 Park Avenue South New York, NY Buro Happold for 888 Boylston Boston, MA Electrolight for Corrs Chambers Westgarth Perth, Australia Light + Design Associates for Debenhams Oxford Street London, England Lighting Planners Associates for Amanemu Ise-Shima, Japan Schuler Shook, Ross Barney Architects, Sasaki for Chicago Riverwalk2016 (33rd)AUREOLIGHTING for CEPSA Flag Petrol Station in Adanero, Spain Originator Lighting Design Consultants Inc for Astron Wall in Shenzhen, China Tillotson Design Associates for Lincoln Square SynagogueArup for Fulton Center and Sky Reflector-Net Cooley Monato Studio for NBCUniversal Lobby and Mezzanine Restoration in New York, NY Electrolight for Sake, Double Bay in Double Bay, Australia The Flaming Beacon for Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort in Sanya, China Iris Associates Inc for Tokyu Harvest Club Kyoto Takagamine & Viala in Kyoto, Japan Iwai Lumimedia Design for The Heisei Chishinkan Wing of the Kyoto National Museum: Façade Lighting Planners Associates for Aman Tokyo Lighting Planners Associates for “Minna No Mori” Gifu Media Cosmos in Gifu, Japan* Steensen Varming for Australian War Memorial Toh Design for FARMUS Kijimadaira in Nagano, Japan WORKTECHT CORPORATION for The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto Zeve Muhendislik ve Aydinlatma San. Tic. Ltd. Sti. for Kirikkale Merkez Nur Mosque in Kirikkale, Turkey2015 (32nd)BUME Perfect Illumination Design & Engineering Company, Stufish Entertainment Architects and Steven Chilton Studio for The Han Show Theatre in Wuhan City, Hubei, China Fisher Marantz Stone for The National September 11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center