New York, NY — NYControlled, New York’s only trade show focused exclusively on lighting controls, returns for its third year with exciting updates — including the launch of NYControlled Hands-On: An Interactive Lighting Controls Workshop, a new educational feature designed to give lighting professionals direct, practical experience with lighting control systems. The workshop will take place on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, including lunch, as part of the expanded NYControlled programming at the Metropolitan Pavilion. An optional evening networking reception will follow from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Now in its third year, NYControlled has quickly become a must-attend event for lighting professionals eager to explore the future of controls in a focused, community-centered environment. Jointly organized by IESNYC and DLFNY, the show brings together manufacturers, specifiers, designers, engineers, and integrators to connect, learn, and shape the lighting controls conversation.
A Growing Show, A Fresh Educational Opportunity
Developed in collaboration with the Lighting Controls Association (LCA), the NYControlled Hands-On workshop is led byC. Webster Marsh, Education Manager at the LCA and Lighting Controls Designer for Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting. This intensive training session will help professionals engage more deeply with control technologies, providing a strong foundation for the main exhibition day on Wednesday, October 15.
The workshop offers a six-hour interactive learning experience, beginning with lunch and continuing through a full afternoon of active, hands-on training. Participants will assemble and interact with real systems from six leading manufacturers, gaining firsthand exposure to key components, workflows, and design strategies — all within a collaborative, expert-guided environment. Designed for designers, specifiers, and other lighting professionals, this kind of experience builds confidence with controls through direct, hands-on interaction. It bridges the gap between design decisions and real-world outcomes, while sharpening participants’ ability to evaluate systems and engage manufacturers with clarity and purpose.
A required 2-hour pre-event webinar recording will be provided to all participants in advance of the workshop. This on-demand video introduces the participating manufacturers and covers key concepts in lighting control systems, giving attendees the foundational knowledge they need to fully engage in the hands-on experience. Watching the webinar beforehand ensures participants arrive prepared for system setup, programming, and collaborative design exercises.
“Lighting controls can be intimidating to the inexperienced, but NYControlled Hands-On is all about making lighting controls easy to understand,” said Webster Marsh. “We’re creating a hands-on lighting controls experience that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the real-world challenges lighting professionals deal with every day.”
Practical Learning, Meaningful Connections
Designed for lighting professionals with at least 1–2 years of experience, the workshop offers a product-based learning experience that emphasizes practical application, design thinking, and communication. Participants will:
- Recognize essential components and strategies used in contemporary control systems
- Evaluate and compare systems from six different manufacturers
- Apply lighting control approaches to project design, documentation and execution
- Interpret and create documents like OPRs, Control Intent Narratives, and Sequences of Operation
- Collaborate more effectively with clients, manufacturers, and project teams
Only 30 participants will be accepted, ensuring close interaction with instructors and product specialists. All attendees will receive a certificate of completion, and the session will conclude with an optional evening networking reception from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, offering a relaxed opportunity for deeper exploration and connection. Participation in the workshop is part of a $300 NYControlled Education Package, which includes not only the workshop and pre-event webinar, but also VIP access to NYControlled 2025 on October 15 — including complimentary admission to the Exhibit Hall and all Presentations throughout the day.
For $300, attendees receive incredible value: a hands-on training experience, access to expert instructors and a VIP pass to the entire show “, said Nehal Youssef, NYControlled Chair. “NYControlled Hands-On reinforces NYControlled’s commitment to education — not just showcasing products, but equipping the community with the knowledge, tools and confidence to use them.”
Save the Date — and Register Early
NYControlled Hands-On: An Interactive Lighting Controls Workshop
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Lunch included)
Optional Evening Networking Reception: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Metropolitan Pavilion
Education Package: $300
Space is limited. Early registration is strongly encouraged.
More Info: www.nycontrolled.com
Main Event — NYControlled 2025
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | Full Day Exhibition + Presentations
Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W 18th St, New York, NY
Exhibitor Registration Deadline: August 29, 2025
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