May 6, 2024. New York City. The Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY) announces the inaugural Beacon Awards — an annual awards program to recognize the thoughtful integration of lighting design in built projects created within the greater New York metropolitan region (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut). Two additional awards, for product design and service to the industry, will also be launched.
The Beacon Awards began as a collaboration among the late Caroline Rinker, Co-Founder of O’Blaney Rinker Associates and Co-Chair of LEDucation; Charles Pavarini III, Founder of Pavarini Design; and Donna Sumner, Director of Architectural Product Solutions at Acuity Brands. “We want to continue with Caroline’s legacy with an awards program to celebrate excellence in the execution of lighting design. The Beacon Awards will be a source of inspiration and a testament to the limitless possibilities of lighting,” stated Pavarini.
“We are also honoring the late Lana Lenar who was a Past President of DLFNY and admired throughout the larger industry as an avid supporter of the New York City lighting community. Proceeds from the Beacon Awards will fund the Lenar Lighting Empowerment Scholarship, with the goal of nurturing the next generation of designers inspired by and passionate about the power of light,” stated Sumner.
The Beacon Awards submission portal will be open June 3rd through September 4th, 2024 to all lighting designers and consultants, architects, interior designers, and industrial designers, whose office(s) is located within the greater New York Metropolitan Area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut). Design practitioners located anywhere in the world may submit projects constructed in the greater New York metropolitan region. For applicants from the greater New York metropolitan region, projects can be located anywhere in the world. Fees are $300 per entry with a discounted early entry fee of $250 if submitted by August 26th.
Winners will be announced October 9, 2024 at the historic Sony Hall in midtown New York City. DLFNY will assemble a seven-member judging panel of esteemed professionals in education, lighting design, interior design, and architecture. The panel will deliberate the relative merits of submitted projects, in terms of exceptional application of light or lighting effects that amplify the occupant experience.
A single project will be recognized in each of the following five project categories:
RESIDENTIAL
Interior and exterior spaces with an exceptional application of light or lighting effects that amplify the occupant’s experience in spaces primarily used as a residential property. These spaces include but are not limited to primary detached residences, apartments, and vacation homes.
COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
Interior and exterior spaces with an exceptional application of light or lighting effects that amplify the occupant’s experience in spaces primarily used for commercial purposes. These spaces include but are not limited to offices, retail, civic buildings, and airports.
HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL
Interior and exterior spaces with an exceptional application of light or lighting effects that amplify the occupant’s experience in spaces primarily used in transactional service-oriented activities. These spaces include but are not limited to hotels, restaurants, retail, casinos, and spas.
EXTERIORS
Exterior spaces with an exceptional application of light or lighting effects that amplify the occupant’s experience in spaces primarily used for commercial purposes. These spaces include but are not limited to offices, retail, civic buildings, and airports.
NEW YORK PROJECT
This category is open to any project type (commercial, residential, exterior, etc.) that is located within the New York Metropolitan Area that illustrates an exceptional application of light or lighting effects that amplify the occupant’s experience. This award category is open to all designers whose offices operate both inside and outside of the New York Metropolitan Area.
A single product will be recognized for:
PRODUCT DESIGN
Industrial designers or lighting manufacturers based anywhere in the world and having sales in the New York metropolitan region may submit products introduced to the market after March 1, 2022. The winning product shall exemplify the highest form, function, and aesthetics in terms of innovative design, new technology, material, construction, operation, utility, energy efficiency, and sensitivity to the environment.
No submission necessary:
ICON AWARD
The ICON Award is a special recognition honoring an individual, firm, or company for their commitment to advancing the impact of lighting within the built environment, and their commitment to the New York metropolitan design community. This single winner will be selected each year by the DLFNY Awards Committee.
For more information about the DLFNY Beacon Awards, please visit: https://awards.dlfny.org or email info@dlfnybeaconawards.com