Why Hire A Lighting
Designer?
If you think good design is expensive,
you should look at the cost of bad
design.
— DR. RALF SPETH
Do you want your project to stand out?
What Is Architectural Lighting Design?
Lighting design is the art, science, and
economics of lighting the human environment.
It applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Architectural Lighting vs Functional Lighting
Functional Lighting: Lighting
whose only purpose is to
achieve the necessary
illuminations levels for the
task performed in the space.
Light that is adequate for
vision.
Architectural Lighting: Lighting that
enhances the experience of a
building' architecture. It is both an
art and a science, taking into
account the psychological and
physiological effects of light.
Light that creates an appropriate
atmosphere or environment.
Architectural Lighting vs Functional Lighting
Lighting Design Process
This process considers the following:
• The type of activities for which lighting is to be provided
• The amount of light required
• The color of the light as it may affect the perception of objects and the
space as a whole
• The distribution of light in the space to be lighted, whether indoor or
outdoor
• The psychological and physiological effect of lighting on the user
Programming Schematic Design
Design
Development
Construction
Documentation
Construction
Administration
Bidding
Lighting Design Phases
Lighting Designer Hired
Lighting Product Specified
Post
Occupancy
Evaluation
• Among the top five interior design programs, only three
undergraduate and one graduate program require a semester
long course in lighting design
• Among the top ten undergraduate and graduate architecture
schools, only one grad program, and zero undergrad programs,
require a course in lighting design
Why Should I Hire A Professional
Lighting Designer?
Why Should I Hire A Professional
Lighting Designer?
• Technology is developing at light speed. It's hard to keep up.
• A lighting designer can guide you through an entire project as your advocate
• Lighting designers can reduce the project construction and/or operations
costs
• Using a qualified independent professional lighting specialist will add value
and prestige to the project
Economics Of Lighting Design
The designer's knowledge of available lighting products provides the
most cost effective design while still achieving the desired aesthetics.
• Initial material costs
• Energy costs
• Maintenance costs (lamp life, light source replacement, labor costs
to replace, disruption costs during maintenance)
• Ease of maintenance
• User comfort and satisfaction
Rebates For Lighting Applications
New Construction Lighting: $0.20/watt reduced, minimum 20%
below code. Capped at $25,000 per building per year up to 50% of
project cost.
Must provide maintained lighting levels in accordance with IESNA
recommendations
Must be a new construction project or major renovation project
Tax Deductions For Commercial Buildings
The 179D commercial buildings energy efficiency tax deduction.
A tax deduction of $1.80 per square foot is available to owners of
new or existing buildings who install (1) interior lighting; ... that
reduce the building’s total energy and power cost by 50% or more in
comparison to a building meeting minimum requirements set by
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001 (for buildings and systems placed in
service before January 1, 2016) or 90.1-2007 (for buildings and
systems placed in service before January 1, 2017).
Saving Energy with Lighting Controls
• Occupancy sensors that change lighting automatically can reduce
energy consumption by up to 24%
• Tuning of light levels by dimming controls reduced energy
consumption by up to 36% on average
• Using daylight harvesting can reduce energy consumption by up to
28%
• Combining any of the multiple strategies reduces energy
consumption by 38%
Benefits Of Connected Lighting
• Energy savings
• Space planning
• Space utilization
• Security
• Safety
• Occupant comfort
It is the connection of lighting, controls, and sensors to a local
network that can be monitored and controlled.
• In 2016 source energy
savings delivered about
$4.7 billion in reduced
energy bills
• Savings could have been
nearly 10 times greater
($44 billion) if all
applications had been
completely switched to
top-tier LED technologies
Average increases in productivity:
• Individual temperature control: +3%
• Improved ventilation: +11%
• Better lighting: +23%
• Access to natural environment: +18%
Sustainable building design impacts employee health, well-
being and productivity.
Not all build outs need a lighting
designer, but special projects
benefit from hiring one.
They can reduce the project
construction and/or operations
costs providing savings that more
than compensate their fees.
Alessio Urso is the President of LightSmart, LLC, a lighting design
consulting firm in the Metro Atlanta area. He helps architects, interior
designers, and project owners create visually impacting spaces without
affecting the project’s complexity, schedule, and budget. He has over 17
years in lighting design and lighting products distribution.
His attention to detail, understanding of lighting systems in building
construction, on-site experience, communication and organizational skills
have contributed to successful completion of many projects.
Request A Project
Discovery Call

Why Hire A Lighting Designer?

  • 1.
    Why Hire ALighting Designer?
  • 2.
    If you thinkgood design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design. — DR. RALF SPETH
  • 3.
    Do you wantyour project to stand out?
  • 4.
    What Is ArchitecturalLighting Design? Lighting design is the art, science, and economics of lighting the human environment. It applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces.
  • 5.
    Architectural Lighting vsFunctional Lighting Functional Lighting: Lighting whose only purpose is to achieve the necessary illuminations levels for the task performed in the space. Light that is adequate for vision.
  • 6.
    Architectural Lighting: Lightingthat enhances the experience of a building' architecture. It is both an art and a science, taking into account the psychological and physiological effects of light. Light that creates an appropriate atmosphere or environment. Architectural Lighting vs Functional Lighting
  • 7.
    Lighting Design Process Thisprocess considers the following: • The type of activities for which lighting is to be provided • The amount of light required • The color of the light as it may affect the perception of objects and the space as a whole • The distribution of light in the space to be lighted, whether indoor or outdoor • The psychological and physiological effect of lighting on the user
  • 8.
    Programming Schematic Design Design Development Construction Documentation Construction Administration Bidding LightingDesign Phases Lighting Designer Hired Lighting Product Specified Post Occupancy Evaluation
  • 9.
    • Among thetop five interior design programs, only three undergraduate and one graduate program require a semester long course in lighting design • Among the top ten undergraduate and graduate architecture schools, only one grad program, and zero undergrad programs, require a course in lighting design Why Should I Hire A Professional Lighting Designer?
  • 10.
    Why Should IHire A Professional Lighting Designer? • Technology is developing at light speed. It's hard to keep up. • A lighting designer can guide you through an entire project as your advocate • Lighting designers can reduce the project construction and/or operations costs • Using a qualified independent professional lighting specialist will add value and prestige to the project
  • 11.
    Economics Of LightingDesign The designer's knowledge of available lighting products provides the most cost effective design while still achieving the desired aesthetics. • Initial material costs • Energy costs • Maintenance costs (lamp life, light source replacement, labor costs to replace, disruption costs during maintenance) • Ease of maintenance • User comfort and satisfaction
  • 12.
    Rebates For LightingApplications New Construction Lighting: $0.20/watt reduced, minimum 20% below code. Capped at $25,000 per building per year up to 50% of project cost. Must provide maintained lighting levels in accordance with IESNA recommendations Must be a new construction project or major renovation project
  • 13.
    Tax Deductions ForCommercial Buildings The 179D commercial buildings energy efficiency tax deduction. A tax deduction of $1.80 per square foot is available to owners of new or existing buildings who install (1) interior lighting; ... that reduce the building’s total energy and power cost by 50% or more in comparison to a building meeting minimum requirements set by ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001 (for buildings and systems placed in service before January 1, 2016) or 90.1-2007 (for buildings and systems placed in service before January 1, 2017).
  • 14.
    Saving Energy withLighting Controls • Occupancy sensors that change lighting automatically can reduce energy consumption by up to 24% • Tuning of light levels by dimming controls reduced energy consumption by up to 36% on average • Using daylight harvesting can reduce energy consumption by up to 28% • Combining any of the multiple strategies reduces energy consumption by 38%
  • 15.
    Benefits Of ConnectedLighting • Energy savings • Space planning • Space utilization • Security • Safety • Occupant comfort It is the connection of lighting, controls, and sensors to a local network that can be monitored and controlled.
  • 16.
    • In 2016source energy savings delivered about $4.7 billion in reduced energy bills • Savings could have been nearly 10 times greater ($44 billion) if all applications had been completely switched to top-tier LED technologies
  • 17.
    Average increases inproductivity: • Individual temperature control: +3% • Improved ventilation: +11% • Better lighting: +23% • Access to natural environment: +18% Sustainable building design impacts employee health, well- being and productivity.
  • 18.
    Not all buildouts need a lighting designer, but special projects benefit from hiring one. They can reduce the project construction and/or operations costs providing savings that more than compensate their fees.
  • 19.
    Alessio Urso isthe President of LightSmart, LLC, a lighting design consulting firm in the Metro Atlanta area. He helps architects, interior designers, and project owners create visually impacting spaces without affecting the project’s complexity, schedule, and budget. He has over 17 years in lighting design and lighting products distribution. His attention to detail, understanding of lighting systems in building construction, on-site experience, communication and organizational skills have contributed to successful completion of many projects. Request A Project Discovery Call