(USA) – New York’s Lincoln Square Synagogue honoured at 33rd Annual International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) International Lighting Design Awards at San Diego Air and Space Museum.  

Luminaries of the lighting profession gathered at the San Diego Air and Space Museum on 27 April to honour the winners of the 33rd Annual IALD International Lighting Design Awards. Seventeen projects from eight countries were on display – including religious spaces, memorials, façades, and even a gas station. Taken together, the winners represent some of the most innovative and inspiring work found anywhere in the world of architectural lighting design.

The highest point score winner across all categories, in addition to receiving an Award of Excellence for their project, receives the IALD Radiance Award for Excellence in Lighting Design. Tillotson Design Associates received this honour for the first time; the award was accepted in person by Ellen Sears for the Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York, NY USA.

Five undulating glass ribbons, representing the five books of an open Torah scroll, form the east façade of the Lincoln Square Synagogue and welcome visitors to this striking house of worship in the heart of Manhattan.

Linear LEDs integrated into the top and bottom extrusion of each glass facet illuminate the interlayer of sheer, bronze-coloured, woven and pleated fabric, as well as the white translucent dot frit pattern on the interior lite. This increases privacy for worshippers inside while allowing a slightly obscured view to the beauty of the interior. At the base, a white acrylic diffuser protects the LEDs, while wiring for the 500+ fixtures runs horizontally through the narrow extrusions to 50 drivers located in accessible ceilings to the north and south of the façade.

“This project shows clear evidence of a tight collaboration between all design consultants,” one judge commented. “The lighting significantly contributes to an uplifting, poetic, inspiring experience of space, and boasts fantastic fixture integration throughout.”

In the sanctuary, the light on the translucent frit, fabric interlayer, and glass mullions forms a backdrop for the Ark. Six hundred thirteen 1-3/4” diameter recessed LED downlights in the gentle convex ceiling make reference to the 613 commandments in the Torah, and create a star-like atmosphere that suggests the desert sky.

“This project illustrates good detailing, a fine balance of the various light effects, and a strong concept that justifies the choice of each,” another judge wrote. “Nothing is out of place or done ‘too much.’”

Downlights in the sanctuary are zoned to allow varying light levels for the Ark, the bimah, the pews, and the aisles for different events. The “in-the-round” seating is enclosed by the angled facets of the acoustical wall panels, which symbolise a nomadic tent structure. LED lights housed in wall coves with resin diffusers spill soft light onto the wood panels to accentuate the form.

Linking the interior to the exterior, the lighted glass façade creates a dynamic and evocative enclosure for these spaces. One judge breathlessly called this project “beautiful, organic, peaceful, warm and comfortable,” praising the team’s careful detailing. From symbolic concept to flawless execution, Tillotson Design Associates have created a serene and sacred space in the city that never sleeps.

The IALD Lighting Design Awards program, established in 1983, honors lighting projects that display high aesthetic achievement backed by technical expertise. Additionally, projects can also be submitted for consideration in the sustainable design award category, which means the project undergoes an additional round of judging keyed solely to the fulfillment of sustainable design principles. A panel of award- winning lighting designers, architects and interior designers review the projects.

Other winners included:

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