After rotations in Chicago and San Francisco, the eighth annual Lightfair International trade show and conference returns to New York City, April 29 through May 1 at the Javits Convention Center. Sponsored by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), the show is produced and managed by Atlanta-based AMC and focuses on architectural lighting. Continuing education workshops, a conference program of 30 seminars, a new product showcase, the annual IALD International Lighting Design Awards, and booths presented by more than 320 manufacturers and service firms are among the highlights. To coincide with the show, Lighting Dimensions will co-sponsor an event with the IALD open to all show exhibitors.
Before the proceedings on the show floor get underway, Lightfair will offer a pre-show conference on Monday, April 28. The program offers four full-day workshops (each granting .5 CEU credits to IES members) covering the topics of interior and exterior landscape lighting, lighting evaluation and audit practices, lighting techniques for residential and commercial space, and "compressed lighting," the latter billed as a refresher course of architectural lighting essentials.
Because Lightfair is in our own backyard this year, Lighting Dimensions is joining with the IALD to host a cocktail reception Monday evening, 4-6pm, at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers in midtown (811 Seventh Avenue). This will also serve as the IALD semi-annual meeting and a general meeting of the LIRC (Lighting Industry Resources Council). Attendance is open to members as well as Lightfair exhibitors, so we hope to see you there. For more information, please call Christine Merklinger at Lighting Dimensions, 212/229-2965, ext. 852.
The New Product Showcase signals the beginning of the show's industry buzz at 8:30am on Tuesday, April 29. Always drawing a full house, the one-and-a-half-hour multimedia presentation reviews products introduced within the past year, and unveils the show's Best New Product of the Year Award.
With exhibit hall hours of 10am to 6pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29 and 30, and 9am to 3pm on Thursday, May 1, the show expects to attract more than 6,000 registered attendees. Besides an array of luminaires, lamps, ballasts, and other architectural lighting technologies on display, the show floor will feature a special international pavilion spotlighting foreign manufacturers and service companies. Complimentary shuttle service, running every 15 minutes throughout show hours, will travel between the Javits Center and three midtown locations: the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, the Marriott Marquis Hotel, and Penn Station.
Conference sessions covering a range of topics are divided into the following tracks: lighting applications, design process, energy and technology, retail display and design, applying research, and perspectives.
Special events set for Lightfair include an architectural lighting boat tour (April 28), the Richard Kelly exhibition and luncheon (April 29), a Designers Lighting Forum of New York benefit reception-sponsored by Philips Lighting-at Windows on the World (April 29), the Nuckolls Fund Luncheon (April 30), and the IALD Awards at the Laura Belle supper club (April 30).
Lightfair pre-registration closes April 4, but call 800/856-0327 for more information about events. For conference program information, contact conference and marketing director Renee Gable at 404/220-2217. To schedule a meeting with Lighting Dimensions editors or advertising representatives, call 212/229-2965, or stop by our Lightfair booth (#363). See you in New York.