ArchLIGHT Summit

Any lighting project in our communities - whether for interiors, the outdoors, or infrastructure like roadways - presents our industry with the opportunity to be a good neighbor to those around us or become a nuisance, uphold our obligations to ecological responsibility, and to develop infrastructure lighting that is safe and equitable without leaving the needs of some users behind.

However, conversations with city staff and community members over what makes a quality lighting design and what to expect from our work can be difficult. Many municipal lighting regulations are too minimal or out of date to be useful in lighting design work.

This presentation will provide a vision for what a comprehensive lighting master plan, a lighting ordinance, or both can accomplish for the communities where attendees live and work. These documents help facilitate communication, improve the efficiency of lighting projects by setting clearer expectations, and show neighbors (and ourselves) what to expect from the lighting around them.

The process of developing a lighting master plan offers the opportunity for public outreach and identifying areas currently underserved by lighting infrastructure, improving awareness and equity. For city staff, a dedicated lighting ordinance gives them a more enforceable tool to address and prevent lighting issues in their communities while gaining insight into our industry.

Improving lighting regulations in the areas we live and work in is a win-win scenario we can all advocate for.