August 18, 2024
10 Projects Honored with IES Illumination Awards at IES24
Tillotson, HLB, Niteo, and DLR Group among the firms whose projects earned accolades
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) honored the recipients of the 51st Annual Illumination Awards on Friday, August 16, during its annual conference, IES24: The Lighting Conference, held in New York City. The event recognized ten outstanding lighting projects worldwide, including three Special Citations, four Awards of Excellence, and three Awards of Distinction.
This year's honorees spanned the globe, showcasing the diversity and creativity in lighting design. Of the ten awarded projects, half were based in North America, including four from the United States and one from Canada. The other five projects hailed from China, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Japan, illustrating the international scope of the awards.
Above: Suzan Tillotson of Tillotson Lighting Design accepts an Award of Distinction
Notably, the Award of Distinction, a prestigious recognition for extraordinary achievement in lighting design, was presented to three exceptional projects: West Block by Lightemotion, Perelman Performing Arts Center by Tillotson Lighting Design, and Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto by Studio ZNA. These projects exemplified the highest standards in lighting design, merging technical excellence with artistic innovation.
A Memorable Moment at the Ceremony
One of the highlights of the evening involved the WEGO Lighting Design team, who traveled from Japan to receive the Award of Distinction for their work on the Yixing Hexi Spa Club. In a memorable and unexpected turn, a teenager accompanied the design team to the stage. The young man, a high school student, surprised attendees when he stepped up to the microphone to deliver the acceptance speech.
Speaking in very good English, the young man explained that his father, Besson Tao, a key designer on the project, had asked him to present the speech on behalf of the firm. The audience warmly received the gesture, appreciating the personal touch and applauding the young man's poise.
Celebrating Excellence in Lighting
The IES Illumination Awards are renowned for recognizing professionalism, ingenuity, and originality in lighting design. Unlike some competitions, the awards are based on the individual merit of each project, judged by a diverse panel of experts from various fields within the lighting industry. This approach ensures that each project is evaluated on how well it meets the rigorous criteria set by the program, focusing on the art and science of light.
In addition to the Illumination Awards, the event also featured presentations of the 2024 Brandston Award and the Besal Lighting Education Fund 2025 Scholarships. These honors highlight IES's commitment to fostering education and innovation within the lighting industry, ensuring the continued growth and development of future lighting professionals.
Below are the ten projects that were honored with awards:
The Perelman Performing Arts Center at WTC
Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto
West Block
Yixing HEZI Spa Club
Lighting Design for Baoding Shiguang Park
The Wave
I-74 Mississippi River Bridge
Space Needle Exterior Lighting
The Stone Church Kanzo Uchimura Memorial Hall
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine
