The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) recently released the results of a U.S. Department of Energy-funded study, published in Lighting Research & Technology, that validates color preference specification criteria based on American National Standard Institute and Illuminating Engineering Society TM-30-18. The results support TM-30 Annex E recommendations that allow lighting professionals to communicate different color rendition goals (preference, vividness, and fidelity) with far greater precision than prior methods.

The National Lighting Bureau’s first annual Tesla Awards program is now open for submissions. The Tesla Awards recognizes excellence in new construction or retrofit lighting projects that, through the creative use of lighting systems and controls, enhance the value of lighting for occupants.

The Illuminating Engineering Society’s New York City Section has announced a call for entries for the 2020 Lumen Awards. The deadline for submissions is January 10, 2020.

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute recently announced a series of monthly webinars on a variety of leading-edge topics in lighting.

Focal Point has expanded the Seem family with the Seem 1 Indirect and Seem 1 Direct/Indirect luminaires. The narrowest aperture linear luminaires in the architectural lighting manufacturer’s broad Seem portfolio are now available with an indirect asymmetric distribution.

Though the last few years have been very good for the architecture business, the American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index, a leading economic indicator for the construction market, suggests an impending downturn. In an article published on the AIA website, Steve Cimino interviewed three architecture firm leaders–Tim Dufault, FAIA, president and CEO at Cuningham Group; Carole Wedge, FAIA, CEO at Shepley Bulfinch; and Ed Shriver, FAIA, founding principal of Strada–to gain insight into how they’ve faced previous downturns.

Attendees will discover a more interactive, inspirational, and efficient conference and trade show when they meet for LIGHTFAIR 2020, May 3-7, 2020 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. New programming and amenities plus a reimagined trade show layout and streamlined conference will invigorate the 31st staging of the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference.

In October 2019, a group of leaders from industry, academia, and government gathered at the Lighting Research Center (LRC) in Troy, New York for the LRC Summit. The goal of the Summit was to inspire discussion and shape the future of lighting, where the industry plays a strategic, recognized role in benefiting society and the environment — from improving human health to enhancing food production to managing clean energy in the new electric grid.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently issued a statement following the decision by President Trump to officially withdraw from the Paris climate accord.