NLB Announces the 7th Annual Tesla Award™ Winners
The National Lighting Bureau is pleased to announce the winners in the 7th Annual Tesla Awards. The projects being recognized support the organization’s mission of advancing lighting excellence and innovation in lighting design, and promoting best lighting practices to create an inviting, healthier and more sustainable future. The awards ceremony took place on April 14th at 11 am Eastern time during LEDucation 2026 in New York City, booth PF4. The ceremony was hosted by NLB chairperson Mary Beth Gotti and NLB Executive Director Tom Butters. Judges for this year’s program were: Dawn DeGrazio, LC; Terry McGowan, LC, FIES, Director-at-Large NLB; Naomi Miller, FIES, FIALD; Mark Roush, FIES, LC, MArch; and James Yorgey, PE, LC, Director-at-Large NLB.
Award of Excellence
Award of Excellence
Arvest @ Ledger Offices
Bentonville, AK
C. Brooke Silber, Leela Shanker, Enrique Rojas, Ira Rothman
Borealis Lighting Studio
Photography: Todd Mason of Halkin Mason Photography
This project benchmarks a broader definition of sustainable lighting. Carbon becomes a design input instead of a close-out calculation. Carbon accountability, material transparency and human well-being are all integrated into the design. The workplace is organized as an interior/exterior loop with terraces, bikeable and walkable circulation paths and integrated planting to encourage daily movement and connection with nature.
This project was also awarded a Special Citation for Innovative Lighting Controls.
Award of Excellence
Cologne Cathedral
Cologne, Germany
Philipp Schmitz, Stephan Thiele, Andreas Schulz, Thomas Möritz
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Photography: HGEsch Photography
The lighting design for Cologne Cathedral beautifully illustrates the lighting design approach “light follows architecture.” Indiscriminate floodlighting is artfully replaced with targeted illumination. The original architectural plans for this magnificent gothic cathedral were missing, requiring the need for extensive empirical façade studies and onsite testing of optics and luminaire positioning. Over 700 compact LED luminaires with custom clamp and bracket systems protect the heritage stonework.
Award of Excellence
222 N. LaSalle Lobby Renovation
Chicago, IL
Giulio Pedota, Samantha Komber, John Jacobsen
Schuler Shook
Photography: DANIEL KELLEGHAN
The lobby of this building is repositioned as a striking amenity for a discerning tenant base. Small profile 2700 K luminaires are seamlessly integrated into the architecture. Soft lighting emanates from the floor, balustrades, pilasters and millwork to create a cohesive immersive experience that elevates the atrium. Close collaboration between the client and design team brought into focus the vision of a sophisticated European lounge-like environment.
Award of Merit
Award of Merit
Bow Valley College Esports Arena and Production Hub
Calgary, Alberta Canada
Vannessa Pederson, Darren MacNeil, Stephen Lee, Tyler Shellenberg, Rachel Fitzgerald
Stantec
Photography: Joel Klassen
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
This project reimagines existing classrooms as high performance environments that support emerging academic programs. A multi-layered, dynamic lighting control strategy elevates operational flexibility. The lighting design prioritizes performance, visual comfort and emotional impact.
Award of Merit
Mosaic
San Francisco, CA
Emily Klingensmith, Travis Shupe, John Jacobsen, Katelyn Le-Thompson (formerly with Schuler Shook)
Schuler Shook
Photography: Jason O’Rear
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
The retail podium of this urban high-rise is transformed into a vibrant amenity suite that hosts conferences and other events. Indoor and outdoor areas are seamlessly integrated to create an inviting and flexible destination for both daytime and nighttime gatherings. Carefully integrated electric lighting highlights the refined material palette and brings balance to spaces with daylight from windows and skylights.
Award of Merit
Pan American Health Organization
Washington, DC
Vannessa Pederson, Shannon Glover, Anna Zuercher, Chloe Dye
Stantec
Photography: Jeffrey Totaro
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
This project transforms an historic 1965 building with contemporary functionality without disturbing sensitive historic ceilings. The lighting design features a revitalized chandelier and flexible lighting systems that elevate both in-person and remote communication.
Award of Merit
PENN 2 Exterior Lighting
New York, NY
Francesca Bettridge, Michael Hennes, Nira Wattanachote, Alexis Arnoldi
Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design
Photography: Matthew Cohn
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
This renovated office tower, situated at the threshold of the nation’s busiest train station and New York City’s premier arena, defines a major urban gateway with much stronger visual identity. The lighting design reimagines the vast underside of the two-block building addition that shelters the entrance plaza, clearly distinguishing and announcing the numerous entry points.
Award of Merit
PENN 2 Interior Lighting for Public & Amenity Spaces
New York, NY
Francesca Bettridge, Michael Hennes, Nira Wattanachote, Alexis Arnoldi
Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design
Photography: Matthew Cohn
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
The relocated triple-height lobby for this renovated office tower serves as a civic-scale beacon and establishes the building’s new identity. Accent lighting integrated within the ceiling slots delivers flexible illumination. Along with concealed perimeter lighting that grazes the stone walls, the result is a dramatic contemporary entry that reveals the building’s renewed vision to those viewing it from the street.
Award of Merit
Reverb HQ
Chicago, IL
Emily Klingensmith, Travis Shupe, Scott Tobin, John Jacobsen
Schuler Shook
Photography: Amanda Glandon
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
A repurposed historic Morton Salt building now houses the largest online marketplace for musical instruments. Materials, shapes and textures were carefully considered to support their brand while creating inviting, hospitality-like spaces for their staff and visitors. Visually interesting sconces and pendants work with downlights, track and linear grazers to help deliver a fun, creative environment.
Award of Merit
Yale Linonia & Brothers Reading Room Renovation
New Haven, CT
Francesca Bettridge, Nicole Y. Kim, Clara Samudio
Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design
Photography: © Frederick Charles
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
The renovation of one of Yale’s most beloved study spaces thoughtfully blends sustainability with historic preservation. Through careful restoration of original ceiling fixtures, the addition of table and floor lamps, and the discreet integration of other LED luminaires, the library retains its historical feel but with a much brighter mood.
Special Citation for Innovative Lighting Controls
(Sponsored by the Lighting Controls Academy)
Arvest @ Ledger Offices
Bentonville, AK
C. Brooke Silber, Leela Shanker, Enrique Rojas, Ira Rothman
Borealis Lighting Studio
Photography: Todd Mason of Halkin Mason Photography
In this project, controls operate as both efficiency engine and experiential tool: daylight harvesting trims perimeter loads, high-end trim and granular zoning secure peak-hour savings, and occupancy/vacancy strategies limit off-hours use. Circadian-aligned , scheduling modulates spectrum and melanopic stimulus, particularly in windowless rooms where skylight-simulated fixtures deliver WELL-aligned cues. Commissioning and post-occupancy tuning maintain performance while supporting individual preference through task-level dimming.
Special Citation “for community involvement in the lighting design process”
Opening the Edge
New York, NY
Kate Sweater Hickcox
Dwaal Lighting Design
Photography: Tameek Williams for Design Trust for Public Space
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
The project transforms a fenced, unused green space in a public housing campus into a warm welcoming public plaza. Volunteer residents became co-designers, shaping priorities and reviewing design iterations over nearly a decade.
Special Citation “for adaptive reuse of a retail building”
State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters
Springfield, IL
Giulio Pedota, Laura Roman, Jackson Pattermann, Samantha Komber, John Jacobsen
Schuler Shook
Photography: Angie McMonigal Photography
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Once a vacant Sears store, this new EPA headquarters stands as testament to environmental stewardship and urban reinvention. The design team retained much of the existing structure while introducing bold new interventions that flood the once-enclosed building with natural light. Daylight and integrated architectural LED linear lighting enhance the sense of openness, highlight the clean geometry, and support the office’s organized, efficient layout.
Other Special Citations
Arvest @ Ledger Offices
Bentonville, AK
C. Brooke Silber, Leela Shanker, Enrique Rojas, Ira Rothman
Borealis Lighting Studio
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Images from the Awards Presentation
Community Involvement
Arvest @ Ledger Offices
Bentonville, AK
C. Brooke Silber, Leela Shanker, Enrique Rojas, Ira Rothman
Borealis Lighting Studio
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Award of Excellence
Award of Merit
Special Citation
About the NLB
The National Lighting Bureau is an independent, IRS-recognized not-for-profit, educational foundation that has served as a trusted lighting information source. The Bureau provides its services to the public free of charge, thanks to the generous funding of the organization’s sponsors which include professional societies, trade associations, labor unions, manufacturers, and agencies of the U.S. government.
In keeping with its commitment to recognizing excellence in lighting, the NLB proudly highlights past recipients of the Tesla Awards. These award-winning projects exemplify innovation and dedication to the principles of effective lighting design—enhancing human performance, promoting health and well-being, ensuring safety and security, preserving the integrity of the night environment, and enriching overall occupant experience. Each winning project stands as a benchmark of quality and a testament to how thoughtful lighting can transform spaces and elevate lives.