[Brooklyn, NY] — November 13, 2025 — Lux Collaborative, an architectural lighting design practice known for its people-centered and interdisciplinary design philosophy, today announced plans to transition its ownership and governance structure to a worker-owned cooperative in 2026. This shift will make Lux Collaborative the first lighting design firm in the world to adopt a cooperative ownership model, underscoring its commitment to democratizing the workplace through accountability and shared purpose.
This commitment marks a pivotal moment in the firm’s evolution. At the beginning of 2025, Kyle McGahan, founding member and sole owner of Lux Collaborative, made the decision to reorganize the company, reflecting a deliberate and future-oriented choice to align the firm’s structure with its values. McGahan’s decision affirms his belief that lasting success is built through shared ownership, transparency, and collective responsibility, principles that have defined Lux Collaborative since its inception.
“Just as design isn’t only about creativity, but about responsibility to the world we shape together with our clients, ownership isn’t merely a structure for profits and privileges — it’s about trust and the shared responsibility we have for a future that recognizes every eligible worker with the opportunity to participate in the ownership of Lux Collaborative,” said McGahan. “This transition opens the next chapter in our journey as a company and sets the stage for a more equitable future, ensuring that our team leads not just with design excellence, but with integrity,” McGahan added.
The announcement coincides with the United Nations’ designation of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, reinforcing Lux Collaborative’s alignment with a global movement toward more democratic and sustainable business models.
Throughout 2025, Lux Collaborative and its employees have engaged in a participatory planning process to design and implement the company’s new cooperative governance model. This process has been facilitated by The ICA Group, a national nonprofit consultancy that has worked with small businesses to coordinate their transitions to employee ownership for almost fifty years.
With this move, Lux Collaborative positions itself as an industry pioneer, introducing a transparent and equitable model of ownership within the lighting design profession — one dedicated to creating a tangible, positive impact on society, nurturing the environment, and strengthening partnerships that enable Lux Collaborative to shape the world with light.
Further announcements and company updates will be shared following the formal launch of Lux Collaborative’s worker-owned cooperative structure in 2026.
Photo Credit: Stephanie Hynes Photography
About Lux Collaborative
Lux Collaborative is a people-focused lighting design studio dedicated to centering worker voice and equity within the field of architectural and landscape lighting design for the benefit of its clients and community. The studio’s work is rooted in care, rigor, and the courage needed to engage a rapidly changing world. Its interdisciplinary team brings together decades of experience collaborating with local and international partners to illuminate a world we all share. Above all, Lux Collaborative values its commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration, delivering insightful and inspired ideas that honor the human experience and advance a positive, equitable future for all.
For more information, visit www.luxcollaborative.com.
Cover Photo Credit: Stephanie Hynes Photography