Buyers Find Latest Innovations in Commercial and Architectural Lighting at LFI 2014

An estimated 25,000 buyers from around the world eagerly searched out the latest commercial and architectural lighting products displayed by over 500 top-notch exhibitors occupying more than 200,000 square feet of space at LIGHTFAIR International 2014 (LFI 2014), which was held on June 3-5 at the Las Vegas Conventional Center.

After 25 years of history, LFI is recognized as the world's No. 1 annual commercial and architectural lighting show. It is produced and administered by AMC Inc., and sponsored by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

This year the show featured a product mix that topped 40 categories and included integrated design, alternative energy and solar power, OLEDs, healthcare, hospitality, digital signage, and software. The products were divided among a Building Integration Pavilion, Daylighting Pavilion, Design Pavilion, Exterior & Roadway Lighting Pavilion, Global Light + Design Pavilion, and New Exhibition Pavilion.

The Building Integration Pavilion housed companies displaying solutions and products that create highly functional, energy-efficient buildings.

With "green industry" continuing to flourish, the Daylighting Pavilion focused on architectural daylighting, daylighting harvesting, energy efficiency and conservation, solar shading, and natural light.

A showcase of modern and classic decorative designs, the high-style products on show in the Design Pavilion received enthusiastic attention from lighting professionals.

LFI's latest addition for manufacturers who offer outdoor lighting was the Exterior & Roadway Lighting Pavilion, which featured products and innovations specific to environmentally-responsible lighting.

The Global Light + Design Pavilion presented the world's finest decorative lighting designs from internationally recognized manufacturers based outside the U.S.

The New Exhibitor Pavilion featured first-time participants from around the globe who showcased the products and technological advances they are offering to the architecture and commercial industry.

LFI Innovation Awards
Preceding and setting the stage for the trade show opening was the celebrated LFI Innovation Awards, which featured the industry's most innovative products and designs introduced during the last 12 months. There were 261 entries spanning 14 categories, and each submission was judged by an independent panel of lighting professionals. The winners were awarded for entries that exemplified the best in innovative design and thinking.

This year's winners were Acuity Brands Lighting Inc., Hess America, DiCon Lighting, and Osram.

Acuity's winning product, named “OPEN,” was awarded as “Most Innovative Product of the Year,” the program's highest award. Hess America's “MOON” was presented the “Design Excellence Award” in recognition of its outstanding achievement in design. DiCon Lighting's Cielux T80 LED Track Light won the “Technical Innovation Award,” which recognized the design's forward-thinking advancement in lighting technology. Osram's “TRAXON Debut” received the Judges' Citation Award, which represents special recognition of an innovative product at the judges' discretion.

Also, LFI this year awarded exhibitors that excelled in visual booth display and product presentation. The 2014 "Best Booth Award" winners were Bright View Technologies Corp., Lumium Lighting, Hess America, Pinnacle Architectural Lighting, Inc., Tech Lighting-Generation Brands, Daintree Networks, Solatube International Inc., OCL Architectural Lighting, NERI North America, Inc., Reggiani Lighting USA, Inc., and Abilux.

LFI's 2014 conference curriculum featured more than 220 hours of education and contained 81 accredited course offerings, making it the largest conference in LFI history. Two new forums were introduced this year—the LFI Healthcare Lighting Forum and the LFI Hospitality Lighting Forum. World-known keynote speakers addressed multiple facets of lighting and design, leading the more than 170 presenters who took the stage during the five-day conference program beginning June 1.

“When the lighting and design industry looks for innovation, it looks to LIGHTFAIR,” commented Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman and president of LFI managing partner AMC. “Illuminating the future is what LFI has been all about for 25 years. That mission continues in 2014 with a conference and trade show of unsurpassed magnitude.” (KL)