The New York City section of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IESNYC) recently anounced the 14 winners of the 2020 Lumen Awards, its signature program. The Lumen Awards were created in 1986 to recognize expertise and ingenuity in lighting design. While winners are traditionally announced at the Lumen Gala in person, this year’s gala was canceled due to uncertainty and health concerns imposed by COVID-19.

This year, the Lumen Awards will be unveiled on the IESNYC’s website, with images of the projects, in-depth technical and aesthetic descriptions, video, and commentary by the lighting designers.

In addition, the IESNYC kicked off its 14 Days of Lumen on July 7, a two-week social media campaign on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter that will introduce one winning project per day.

“Though we will miss the excitement and camaraderie experienced at being at the actual gala, it is our intention to virtually replicate the thrill of accepting a Lumen and sharing the excitement with colleagues,” says Clara Powell (LC, MIES, regional sales manager, Cooledge Lighting) and Adrienne Shulman (LC, MIES, regional sales manager, ERCO Lighting), co-chairs of the Lumen Committee. “So in place of the gala, we invite everyone in the lighting community to raise a glass and congratulate our Lumen winners.”

Two Awards of Excellence were presented, which is the highest level of recognition for a permanent architectural application:

• Cooley Manato Studio for the TWA Hotel and Event Center (Queens, N.Y.)
• DLR Group for the Chandler History Museum: Infinite Shade (Chandler, Ariz.)

Seven Merit Awards were granted, given in recognition for a meritorious permanent architectural application:

• The Vessel (New York City) by L’Observatoire International
• The Well (New York City) by BOLD
• Royal Caribbean Terminal at Port Miami (Miami) by Focus Lighting
• KOMA (Marina Bay, Singapore) by Focus Lighting
• Hudson Yards Financial Services Firm (New York City) by Lighting Workshop
• Comcast Technology Center (Philadelphia) by Tillotson Lighting Associates
• Center for Health and Well-Being (Winter Park, Fla.) by Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design.

Lastly, five Citation Awards were presented in recognition for an art installment, technical detail, portion of a single project, temporary installation, or other work:

• Waterlicht (New York City) by Studio Roosegaarde, for Environmental Awareness
• Salvage Swings (New York City) by TM Light for Unexpected Use of Light
• Parade Club at Times Square EDITION (New York City) by Fisher Marantz Stone, for Creative Use of Color
• Mwabwindo School (Mwabwindo Village, Zambia) by Renfro Design Group for Sustainable Daylighting
• Glenstone (Potomac, Md.) for Daylighting Design.

For more information on this year’s award winners, read the original press release or visit the IESNYC website.