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
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Award of Excellence
Cologne Cathedral
Cologne, Germany
Philipp Schmitz, Stephan Thiele, Andreas Schulz, Thomas Möritz
Licht Kunst Licht AG
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Award of Excellence
222 N. LaSalle Lobby Renovation
Chicago, IL
Giulio Pedota, Samantha Komber, John Jacobsen
Schuler Shook
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
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
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Award of Merit
Mosaic
San Francisco, CA
Emily Klingensmith, Travis Shupe, John Jacobsen, Katelyn Le-Thompson (formerly with Schuler Shook)
Schuler Shook
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Award of Merit
Pan American Health Organization
Washington, DC
Vannessa Pederson, Shannon Glover, Anna Zuercher, Chloe Dye
Stantec
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Award of Merit
PENN 2 Exterior Lighting
New York, NY
Francesca Bettridge, Michael Hennes, Nira Wattanachote, Alexis Arnoldi
Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
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
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Award of Merit
Reverb HQ
Chicago, IL
Emily Klingensmith, Travis Shupe, Scott Tobin, John Jacobsen
Schuler Shook
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Special Citation for Excellence in Lighting Controls
Community Involvement
Opening the Edge
New York, NY
Kate Sweater Hickcox
Dwaal Lighting Design
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Award of Merit
State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters
Springfield, IL
Giulio Pedota, Laura Roman, Jackson Pattermann, Samantha Komber, John Jacobsen
Schuler Shook
(Descriptive paragraph about the project)
Other Special Citations
Community Involvement
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 Excellence
Award of Excellence
A Word from the Designers
With great appreciation, the National Lighting Bureau acknowledges all participants of the 7th Annual Tesla Awards. Congratulations to all Tesla Award winners for their commitment to promoting excellence in lighting.
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.
Past Award Winners
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.