ArchLIGHT Summit is a commercial and architectural lighting event delivering an all-encompassing experience for designers, specifiers, and architects. The show is hosted by the Dallas Market Center, a permanent show room venue, much like a shopping mall for different wholesale industries. Of the 5 million square foot campus, 1 million square feet is devoted specifically to lighting. Open daily, the campus features permanent exhibitors offering over 3,800 product lines. In addition, they host over 30 shows annually, including the leading show for residential lighting – Lightovation. Many of Lightovation’s exhibitors cross over into the commercial lighting market, and so a show designed for that segment of the market was a natural next step.
Last year was the inaugural show, and the Dallas Market Center is hoping to build on last year’s success to deliver an even bigger and better event this year. In the midst of a pandemic, in the heart of the Delta variant surge, might seem like an inopportune time to launch a trade show. But the hosts were well positioned to navigate the challenges posed by COVID. An average of 3,500 interior designers shop the campus monthly. So, by late 2021, they were very adept at implementing protocols that kept attendees safe. Last year’s event was the commercial lighting industry’s first in-person event in many months, and people were yearning to gather with their colleagues in person. In some ways, it was an excellent time to start a show.
The two-day show is packed full of exciting events. The festivities get started the night before, with a welcome party hosted by Women in Lighting + Design (WILD) on the top floor of the Dallas World Trade Center. The show kicks off the next morning, running all day Thursday and into Friday afternoon. The main exhibition area, located in the first-floor atrium of the Trade Mart, is open throughout the show and will feature over 80 exhibitors, including well-known names such as Signify, Hubbell, Legrand, and USAI. Educational seminars will take place on the fourth floor of the Trade Mart. All sessions are accessible to attendees for a flat fee of $50 (that increases to $75 if you register on-site, so make sure to sign up in advance). Lunch will be provided on the showroom floor, allowing attendees to maximize their time while at the show.
An attraction that is sure to be popular is the Color Wheels, an award-winning exhibit intended to play with your perception of light and color as you observe them. The captivating project was created by Alessandra Stratimirovic and Athanasssios Danilof and will be on display on the showroom floor throughout the show.
ArchLIGHT Summit has a plethora of educational events to offer attendees, including over 20 AIA accredited (and by extension, IDCED) sessions. The popular “Designing with TM30,” hosted by Jason Livingston and Tony Esposito, is back this year. To fully explore all aspects of color rendition, the show has hired live models so that attendees can see the effects of lighting on skin tone. After the seminars, guests can head over to the nearby Relaxation Station, sponsored Sonneman – A Way of Light.
The show also features several talks on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Laura Van Zeyl, Vice President of Audience Development in Lighting, explained that this was a vital aspect from the beginning. They wanted to ensure that the educational component of the show was about more than just lighting application. Furthermore, they emphasize addressing these difficult-to-talk-about issues in a way that isn’t alienating, but rather engaging. Kevin Coleman was a speaker at last year’s show, and he is back by popular demand. His presentation, “Diversity and Inclusion: Uncovering Bias and Microagression in the Lighting Industry and Workplace,” addresses this uncomfortable topic in a way that is light, fun, and engaging.
With so much going on, it can be easy to get lost and miss an event. So, ArchLIGHT Summit has created their own app, sponsored by Casambi. The app will allow guests to easily navigate the show, allowing set their own schedule and receive notifications about events or seminars of interest. There is also a community feature that should facilitate networking at the show.
The inaugural show was attended by over 750 people, and so far, this year’s show is on track to be even bigger. Attendees from the northeast, west coast, Canada, and even Hawaii have already signed up. ArchLIGHT Summit is an event that you don’t want to miss.