News & Insights
VIDEO: Lighting as a design tool
Why this matters now
Lighting has moved well beyond illumination. It shapes wayfinding, branding, mood, productivity, and the perception of safety. With LED technology now standard and advanced controls widely available, owners and designers have more creative range than ever. They also face more decisions: color quality, glare, controls integration, and how light interacts with architecture, art, and daylight. Done well, lighting elevates a project. Done poorly, it undermines everything around it.
What leaders are weighing
Project teams are deciding how early to bring lighting into the conversation and how much of the budget to allocate to it. They are weighing the appeal of dramatic effects against the realities of maintenance, energy use, and code. There are tradeoffs between architectural integration and flexibility for future uses, and between centralized control platforms and simpler local systems. Owners want timeless results without locking themselves into hardware that may be obsolete in a few years. The right balance depends on the program, the architecture, and how the space will be used over time.
How Salas O’Brien is helping clients respond
Our lighting designers work alongside architects, owners, and engineering teams to use light as part of the design intent rather than as an afterthought. We bring technical depth in fixtures, controls, and daylight integration together with a creative eye for how spaces should feel. We help clients balance ambition with maintainability and budget, and we help owners make control choices that hold up over time. Hear Ion Luh, Steve Duff, and Pedro Colicchio discuss what lighting can do when it’s treated as a design tool.
Ion Luh, M.Sc, IALD
Ion Luh’s lighting design experience bridges the demanding application in pharmaceutical research facilities to dramatic lighting for the theatrical experience of audiences in major concert halls. Recipient of numerous international design awards, Ion speaks at various design conferences globally. Ion serves as a VIce President at Salas O’Brien. Contact her at [email protected].
Steven Duff, ASSOCIATE IALD, LC, MIES
Steven is a highly skilled Senior Lighting Designer with extensive
experience across various industries, including healthcare, education,
commercial centres, and performing arts. He’s played an integral role
in shaping the lighting design for landmark projects like the Royal
Columbian Hospital and Sanofi Pasteur facility. He blends technical
proficiency with artistic vision so each project not only meets functional
requirements but also enhances the atmosphere and user experience.
Pedro Colicchio B.ARCH., LC
Pedro Colicchio is a Senior Lighting Designer with over 20 years of experience and a demonstrated passion for creating thoughtful, high-quality lighting solutions. His work spans a range of sectors, including education, healthcare, and performing arts. Notable projects include the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building at York University’s Schulich School of Business, the Peterborough Hospital Learning Centre, and the Lubbock Performing Arts Center (Buddy Holly Hall), a landmark venue for music and theatre in Texas. Pedro serves as a Senior Associate at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].