New York, NY – June 19, 2025 — Last night, the New York City Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IESNYC) honored the recipients of the 2025 Lumen Awards at the 57th annual Lumen Gala. Held at Pier 60 in Chelsea Piers, this signature industry event welcomed professionals from across the lighting community to celebrate projects that exemplify creativity, innovation, and impact. With the Hudson River as its striking backdrop, the evening recognized work that reflects both the evolution and future of lighting design.
Guided by this year’s theme, Reflect & Refract, the event paid tribute to the power of light to shape, mirror, and transform the world around us—and to the people whose passion and creativity make that transformation possible.
“This year’s theme captures the heart of our community,” said Christine Heller, IESNYC Board Member, Lumen Committee Chair, and Principal at Focus Lighting. “We reflect on where we’ve come from as designers, and we refract those experiences into bold, forward-thinking work. The 2025 recipients embody that dual spirit—honoring our growth while pushing the boundaries of what’s next.”
Each year, the Lumen Awards recognize excellence, ingenuity, and lasting impact in lighting design. The 2025 jury, composed of esteemed professionals from across the lighting industry, selected nine projects for their technical innovation, visual storytelling, and emotional resonance.
2025 Lumen Award Recipients:
Award of Excellence
• Buro Happold for Al-Mujadilah Center & Mosque for Women
Award of Merit
• Lighting Workshop for 360 Park Avenue South
• Spark Studio Lighting Design for Charter Communications Headquarters
• Tillotson Design Associates for Oxman Studio
• TM Light for The Travel Agency Fifth Avenue
Citation Awards
• Fisher Marantz Stone for Garage Facade at Princeton University Geo-Exchange Plant
• Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design for Gould Memorial Library Rotunda Renovation, Bronx Community College
• Buro Happold for Halo
• Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design for Yale Peabody Museum Renovation and Expansion
“The Lumen Awards continue to showcase the innovation and excellence that define the lighting design profession. As a community, we celebrate the talent, discipline, and creativity that push our industry forward and expand what lighting can achieve—visually, technically, and emotionally.”
— Shoshanna Segal, President of IESNYC and Principal at Hartranft Lighting Design
The 2025 Lumen Jury included:
Andrew Lazarow (Studio Leader, LAB at Rockwell Group)
Scott Hay (Partner, Reveal Design Group)
Chadwick Carswell (Owner, Chadwick Carswell Lighting LLC)
Christopher Ventresca, IES, LEED AP (Founding Principal, Ventresca Lighting Designers)
David Cyr, LC, MIES, IALD (Associate Principal, IMEG)
Lee Brandt, IALD, IES, CLD, LC (Senior Principal, HLB Lighting Design)
Golsana Heshmati, IALD, IES (Principal and Founder, The SEED)
From emerging voices to celebrated studios, the 2025 Lumen Awards Gala captured the energy, creativity, and connection within New York City’s lighting community. It was a night to come together, honor outstanding design, and look ahead to where lighting can take us—reflecting on shared experiences and refracting them into new inspiration, all in the unique spirit of this event.
Click here for more info and photos of the winning installations.
