February 27, 2023
Howard Brandston: 1935 - 2023
Photo credit: Sam Koerbel
Legendary designer’s positive impact on projects, people and the design profession continues to shine
The lighting industry has lost a legend. Renowned lighting designer Howard Brandston passed away on Friday. According to the obituary, Brandston had Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 87 years old.
Brandston was one of the most decorated and recognized lighting experts in the United States. During his illustrious career that spanned over fifty years, Brandston led the illumination for more than 2,500 commercial, institutional, residential and governmental projects. His most well-known project may be the lighting of the Statue of Liberty in 1986.
Brandston, who founded Brandston Partnership in 1966, went on to receive many lighting awards, including Lifetime Achievement awards and “Fellow” status with both the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD).
Early in his career, Brandston worked with major NYC developers in trend-setting designs for hotels, office lobbies and exterior environments. Working internationally was a part of his early business model. Brandston also worked with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as adjunct professor, making valuable contributions to RPI's Lighting Research Center.
Longtime business partner, Robert Prouse, who retired from Brandston Partnership in 2018, informed the lighting community of Brandston’s passing with a LinkedIn post on Friday:
"It is my sad duty to tell you all that Howard Brandston passed away peacefully this afternoon, after a few days in hospice care. For those that didn’t know him, he was a towering figure in architectural lighting design. He was a founding member of the IALD, Past President of the IESNA, and recipient of MANY awards. Memorial service tentatively scheduled for NYC in May…"
– Robert Prouse, February 24 post on LinkedIn
Lighting advocacy
In the 2000’s Brandston stepped out of retirement and turned his attention to activism when government energy mandates were steering consumers to compact fluorescent sources. Brandston often warned that the benefits of energy savings realized by compact fluorescent sources were outweighed by the negative consequences of widespread use of compact fluorescent sources.
Brandston warned that focusing mainly – or solely – on the energy rationale of converting incandescent sources to compact fluorescent was ignoring the more impactful consequences surrounding the drastic reduction in the quality of light and lighting systems that utilize CFL sources.
Lytei's 2020 Interview of Howard Brandston:
In 2020, Lytei founder Sam Koerbel documented his visit to a retired Brandston in rural Upstate New York — wonderfully capturing Brandston’s perspectives on his trailblazing and legendary career. The six-part video series explores Brandston’s career, perspectives, inspiration and legacy.
Tributes have poured in for Brandston, including numerous comments on Prouse’s original LinkedIn post that delivered the news to the lighting community.
Brandston’s legendary contributions will continue to illuminate lighting projects and lighting people worldwide. May his memory be a blessing.
