A panel discussion was held between a lighting designer, electrician, electrical contractor, and integrator to discuss communication and coordination between these roles on job sites. The panelists discussed what information they receive from lighting designers, what additional information would be helpful, differences installing LED fixtures presents, and training opportunities around new technologies. A key topic was improving communication between designers and installers to facilitate construction and ensure project success.

1. A Lighting Designer, Electrician, Electrical Contractor, and an
Integrator Walk Onto a Job Site…

2. Sighte Studio, LLC
A Lighting Designer, Electrician, Electrical
Contractor, and an Integrator Walk Onto a Job
Site…
Moderators: Francesca Bastianini & Alex
Pappas-Kalber
March 28, 2017

3. Credit(s) earned on completion of
this course will be reported to AIA
CES for AIA members. Certificates of
Completion for both AIA members
and non-AIA members are available
upon request.
This course is registered with AIA CES
for continuing professional
education. As such, it does not
include content that may be deemed
or construed to be an approval or
endorsement by the AIA of any
material of construction or any
method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or
dealing in any material or product.
___________________________________________
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and
services will be addressed at the conclusion of this
presentation.

4. This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws.
Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without written
permission of the speaker is prohibited.
© Sighte Studio, LLC 2017
Copyright Materials

5. The goal of the panel is to have the CA kick off meeting that we all want to have, but that is never in the budget.
The discussion focuses on a missing step in the life of many projects, when lighting designers hand over their
documents to electricians and electrical contractors that they rarely get to meet until there is a problem on the
job site. Instead more open communication between these key team members can help to create a smooth
construction phase and successful completed project.
With experience on the installation side, electricians and electrician contractors can help lighting designers and
architects understand what information should be included in a lighting package. For lighting manufacturers, the
experience of these individuals can provide insight into what information should be included with the fixture to
installation and compatibility easier.
Course
Description

6. Learning
Objectives
1. Presentation of LED technology as it relates to the coordination and testing of
compatibility with dimming controls
2. Client, Specifier and Installer communication regarding factors to keep in mind when
specifying LEDS
3. Differences in installing LED fixtures vs other “older” lighting source fixtures
4. Maintenance factors considered when wiring or installing for LED fixtures
5. What knowledge should specifiers, and even manufacturers, share with their LED fixtures
for easier installation.
At the end of the this course, participants will be able to:

7. MODERATORS:
Francesca Bastianini, Principal Sighte Studio, LLC
Alex Pappas-Kalber, Principal Sighte Studio, LLC

8. PANEL:
Caroline Harrison , Top Shelf Electric
David Zeki, Lion Electric
Whitney Wertz, One Button

9. Caroline Harrison, Top Shelf Electric
Caroline holds a bachelor degree in Interior Architecture from The George Washington
University. As a Lighting Designer, she spent her first years designing retail flagship clothing
stores across Europe and Asia. She moved on to work on hospitality, hotel, and private
residence projects before joining Top Shelf Electric Corp, an electrical contracting firm,
specializing in residential high-rise, mixed-use and commercial construction. As a project
manager, she works closely with the developers to procure the lighting package and
coordinates installation details and delivery schedules with the field. Caroline communicates
daily with her project engineers and foremen. She educates them on the fixtures and resolves
installation, dimming and control issues throughout the entire construction process.

10. Dave Zeki, President, Lion Electric
Dave is a 4th generation licensed electrical contractor. Possessing master electrical licenses that
span NJ,NYC & FL, Dave always says that this business is his “birth right” and views the trade as
more than “just work” or another “job.” His family was allowed to have a private electrical
contracting business in a communist country and actually competed against the government for
contracts to install high tension distribution lines throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Taking great
pride in his professional lineage, Dave continues his family’s proud tradition for yet another
generation.
Education: BS, Political Science- Montclair State University 2002
Dave’s first love is Soccer (Glory Glory Man United!) as he was a state championship winning
soccer player with Pompton Lakes HS (1996). His current infatuation is with the game of golf,
and can be usually found on a golf course every Sundaymorning during golf season, playing to
a 9 handicap.

11. Whitney Wertz, One Button
Lighting Environment Designer at OneButton
Whitney manages OneButton's lighting integration for Lutron systems including RadioRa and
Homeworks. Her interest in smart home technology and her background as a lighting buyer
and interior design assistant led her to pursue a more technical design role in the industry.
OneButton provides AV solutions to simplify and enhance the technology experience of any
environment through a deep understanding of the client's personal preference and purpose of
an environment. OneButton has refined a design process to improve collaboration with industry
partners.

12. QUESTION 1
What information do you typically receive about the lighting design before
you get to a job or upon arriving at the job?

13. QUESTION 1
What information do you typically receive about the lighting design before
you get to a job or upon arriving at the job?
Follow-up
What information do you wish you could receive
before arriving on a job site?

14. QUESTION 2
What conversation do you wish you could have with a lighting designer at
the point that construction starts?

15. QUESTION 3
What do you wish lighting designers took into consideration when designing
projects with LED?

16. QUESTION 4
How are LED specifications processed at the EC level when there isn't enough
control/driver information and there is not a direct channel to speak to the
designer?

17. QUESTION 5
In the last five years what has been the biggest difference in the equipment
you install?

18. QUESTION 5
In the last five years what has been the biggest difference in the equipment
you install?
Follow-up
Has the difference been due to the physical manufacturing of products or
the technology that goes into them?
(assuming that most are LED)

19. QUESTION 6
Have you received/sought out any training for new
LED fixtures and controls?

20. QUESTION 6
Have you received/sought out any training for new
LED fixtures and controls?

21. QUESTION 6
Have you received/sought out any training for new
LED fixtures and controls?
Follow-up
Does the current training you receive to be an electrician cover the changes
in LED technology or does it provide a basis for how to understand it?

22. QUESTION 7
What is the biggest disconnect between what lighting designers say and
what they mean?

23. QUESTION 8
How has the change in technology and light sources
improved your work?

24. Last Question
Panelists, if you could look out into the audience and say one thing to lighting
designers to make your life easier, what would it be?

25. This concludes The American Institute of Architects
Continuing Education Systems Course
www.sightestudio.com