They say you can’t light the play until you’ve read the script. What is the “script” in architectural lighting design? Can early discussions regarding the needs and preferences of the end users, together with an understanding of visual-psychological-physiological goals, serve to create more productive and aesthetically pleasing environments? It’s also been said that creativity exists within constraints. Is it possible that illumination standards, codes and laws be viewed not so much as limitations of the creative process, serving as an impetus to increased innovation as well?

With the ever-increasing complexity that is lighting design in the 21st century, earlier involvement can serve to enhance the collaborative process. In a world in which the visual task is increasingly light itself, can an argument be made that it is never too early for lighting professionals to become involved in the design process? That lighting conceptualization may actually initiate the discussions around architecture and the built environment?

Our panel will discuss and relay their experiences, providing insights, opinions and even some answers to that timely question of when to call the lighting designer…NOW is never too early!

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PRESENTERS

Dietrich C. Neumann
Professor of the History of Modern Architecture and Urbanism
Director, John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage
Dietrich teaches Modern and Contemporary Architecture at Brown University and is the author of several books on architectural lighting design, such as "Architecture of the Night" (2003) and "The Structure of Light: Richard Kelly and the Illumination of Modern Architecture" (2011).

Stephen Bernstein
Founder and Principal of Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design
Stephen is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and has also completed studies at Parsons The New School for Design. His award-winning work exemplifies his ability to respond creatively to the design intents of architects and interior designers. His designs provide an energy- and cost-efficient solution while maintaining a project’s overall design integrity.
In the course of his career, Stephen has met the challenges of a range of commercial, institutional, and residential projects, and has developed a complete understanding of building types, architectural styles and uses of space. He leads CBB’s lighting design team in projects for high-profile clients nation-wide and around the world. His portfolio includes numerous LEED projects, including the first law office interiors to achieve LEED certification.
His innovative designs have been recognized with over 45 prestigious awards including the Lumen Award, Lumen Citation, IALD Award of Excellence, IALD Citation, GE Edison Award, the Architectural Lighting Magazine Outstanding Achievement Award, and multiple IES Illumination Awards. He was the first recipient of the Illuminating Engineering Society New York Section’s Brilliance Award, for his contribution to the New York City lighting community.
Stephen is a Professional Member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and a Member of the Illuminating Engineering Society (MIES). He is currently on the Richard Kelly Grant’s Board of Directors. In the past, Stephen has served as Treasurer for the IALD and as a member of the IALD’s Board of Directors. He was instrumental in establishing the AIA Center for Architecture in New York City and served on the Center’s Capital Campaign Steering Committee and its Advisory Council.
He has been a keynote speaker at the Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center’s annual “Industry-Academia Days” Conference. He is on the advisory board for the graduate lighting program at the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID). Stephen is active in the education of emerging lighting designers: he was a judge for 2019 IESNYC Student Lighting Competition: Light & Culture and was a key organizer of the Center for Architecture’s Richard Kelly exhibit. He is member of the Board of the Richard Kelly Grant, and has served on the IES Scholarship Committee. He frequently speaks for AIA Continuing Education Systems (CES) courses and recently presented a program at Leducation 2021. In addition, he has taught at Parsons The New School for Design, where he has been a regular guest critic for the Masters’ program.

Enrique Peiniger
Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of OVI
Enrique Peiniger was formally trained in the fields
of architecture and social sciences and continues to catalyze conversations across design fields and disciplines. His passion for cutting-edge technology is evident in all of OVI’s work, ranging from thoughtful historical renovations to contemporary, avant-garde architectural master works. He began his career working for the distinguished daylight design studio, Bartenbach in Austria and later joined a renowned manufacturer in Berlin creating custom luminaire designs, prior to becoming a US Citizen.

Enrique is an Associate Member of the AIA, as well as one of the first Certified Lighting Designers in the world. In his role as Chief Innovation Officer for OVI he continues to use his expertise in daylighting and cutting-edge technology to support OVI’s inventive architectural lighting design solutions - solving design challenges with custom lighting solutions that often become industry standards.

From the detailed scale of product designs to hi-rise super tall towers and masterplans, Enrique’s human-centric approach utilizes light to shape architectural space and the built environment. His tremendous knowledge of LEED, WELL and biophilic design are evident in OVI’s work and critical in geographic regions that demand energy efficient designs that optimize natural daylight.

An accomplished speaker and lighting educator, Enrique has presented at professional lighting congresses and universities worldwide, including lectures at World Architecture Day in New York City, Light + Building in Frankfurt, Yale University, Light Insight Arabia Conference in Dubai, Light Middle East in Dubai and PLDC conventions in Berlin and London.

Jean Sundin
Founder and Chief Creative Officer of OVI
Jean is one of the world’s first certified lighting designers. She began her career working on the Louvre’s Pyramid, the Maison Caree in France, Stansted Airport in UK, Bilbao Metro System in Spain, Philip Johnson’s Glass House in New Canaan and many other notable works. As Chief Creative Officer of OVI, Jean has developed pioneering solutions for internationally renowned lighting showpieces, including the New York Times Building, Saudi Aramco (KAPSARC), Canadian Parliament and New York City Landmark Rockefeller Center.

Jean’s artistic sensibility results in technically imaginative and culturally relevant work that demonstrates the highest caliber of lighting design expertise, on world class architectural projects. She has designed iconic lighting for historic
and avant-garde structures, masterplans, bridges, memorials, historic landmarks, cultural buildings and residential towers.

An accomplished speaker, Jean has lectured extensively including events at Yale University, Light + Building in Frankfurt, MasterDIA in Madrid, Euroluce in Milan and PLDC conventions in Berlin, Madrid and London. Jean has also been featured in AL Magazine’s One-on-One Interview series.

As an advocate for lighting education, she was previously the Director of Education for the PLDA, has led training seminars for the Illuminating Engineering Society and was appointed a distinguished faculty member at Parsons The New School for Design. She currently serves as an Advisory Board Member for the New York School of Interior Design Lighting Program.

MODERATOR

Leela Shanker
Leela is founder of the Flint Collective NYC, an art and design collective that works with light to enhance the experience of public space in New York. After completing a Master of Architecture and Master of Fine Arts Lighting Design at Parsons School of Design, Shanker joined WeWork’s in-house lighting design team as Lead, Lighting and is now a designer with Borealis Lighting Studio. Shanker is a member of the IES, IALD, AIA and a contributing member to the Green Light Alliance (GLA) - an international network of lighting professionals progressing industry-led standards, research and advocacy for circular lighting design principles.