New York, NY — October 17, 2025 — The lighting-controls community gathered this week at the Metropolitan Pavilion for NYControlled 2025, New York’s only trade show dedicated exclusively to lighting controls.
Presented by the Illuminating Engineering Society New York City Section (IESNYC) and the Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY), the event drew a highly engaged audience representing every part of the controls ecosystem—from manufacturers and specifiers to integrators, engineers, and educators.
A Focused Community with Real Conversations
NYControlled continues to prove that the strength of a trade show lies not in its size but in its substance.
The 2025 edition was defined by meaningful, high-value conversations that led to genuine business connections. Exhibitors praised the event for enabling deep engagement—time to talk, understand, and collaborate with attendees eager to learn and explore what’s new in lighting controls.
Its intentionally intimate format allows discussions to move beyond introductions to shared problem-solving, where professionals exchange ideas on interoperability, commissioning, and the evolving role of controls in sustainable, intelligent design.
Hands-On Learning Takes Center Stage
A major evolution this year was the debut of NYControlled Hands-On: An Interactive Lighting Controls Workshop, held October 14 in partnership with the Lighting Controls Academy (LCA) and led by C. Webster Marsh, Education Manager at the LCA and Lighting Controls Designer for Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting.
The sold-out, six-hour program invited participants to work directly with control systems from leading manufacturers.
“The NYControlled Hands-On Workshop was built to empower attendees who are new to lighting controls to engage the exhibit hall with confidence and curiosity. Lighting controls can be intimidating and people may shy away if they aren’t confident in their knowledge; we wanted to remove that barrier, and I believe we accomplished that goal. I was able to see many of the participants from the workshop actively discussing systems and solutions throughout the exhibit hall, eager to apply what they learned and expand upon that knowledge.
As a lighting controls designer, I can honestly say that NYControlled stands apart from other conferences. Most trade shows treat lighting controls as a side topic, offering broad overviews instead of innovation or unique ideas that aren’t applicable to my projects. NYControlled is different, as it is entirely focused on controls. That focus facilitates an environment for new insights, practical ideas, and genuine conversations about the future of lighting controls.”
— C. Webster Marsh, Education Manager, Lighting Controls Academy
“It’s excellent to have a show that is exclusively focused on controls. There are many lighting events where people come to look at lights, but here they come because they want to see controls—and your solutions—and we want to be part of that.
Hands-on learning is especially important in our field—it connects technology to real-life application and back to design intent. NYControlled’s balance between product showcase and educational programming truly supports that connection.”
— Jordan Mills, Regional Sales Manager, Casambi
“NYControlled was an excellent show—an opportunity to reconnect with industry friends and the design community while seeing real advancements in user-centric and visual control interfaces, from home automation to large-scale commercial systems.
I had a wonderful time discussing the role of integrators in our complex world where lighting meets construction. We’re here to support designers and manufacturers alike—from the earliest design phases to after-installation support.”
— Scott Hendrickson, Director of Special Projects, Eos Lightmedia
A Show Defined by Energy and Engagement
“We want people to come here to see, learn, and get inspired—to leave with ideas, not just information,” said Nehal Youssef, Sales Manager at Diversified Lighting and NYControlled Committee Chair. “This show isn’t about overwhelming people with products; it’s about sparking curiosity and keeping that hunger to learn more. The energy, even toward the end of the day, was high—attendees were excited to be here, and exhibitors were equally engaged.
By keeping the show intentionally intimate, we make space for meaningful connections—for meeting the person, not just the device on the table. We’re still a young show, and we’re committed to continually evolving and improving. That ongoing work and reflection are what keep NYControlled thoughtful, relevant, and driven by purpose. Education will continue to be at the forefront of the event, especially as technology advances so quickly in this field.
The feedback on the second-day hands-on experience was phenomenal, and we’ll expand on that next year
Evolving with Intention
Now in its third year, NYControlled has established itself as a platform shaped by the needs of the controls community. Each edition is deliberately refined—with expanded learning formats, extended exhibit hours, and curated participation from manufacturers whose products drive the conversation forward.
The 2025 edition once again demonstrated NYControlled’s distinctive atmosphere—one where attendees can see, test, and discuss technology in an environment that prioritizes clarity over noise.
The success of NYControlled 2025 reinforces a central idea: the future of industry events lies in focus, relevance, and connection. As lighting controls continue to evolve at the intersection of design, data, and integration, NYControlled remains committed to providing a forum where learning and collaboration spark progress.
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