News & Insights
VIDEO: Better lighting. Better hospitals.
Why this matters now
Lighting in hospitals affects more than visibility. It shapes circadian rhythms, supports clinical tasks, influences patient comfort, and reduces medical errors. Research and clinical practice both keep raising the bar for what hospital lighting should do. At the same time, energy targets, infection control practices, and renovation pressures complicate the picture. Hospital leaders are paying closer attention to lighting than at any point in recent memory.
What leaders are weighing
Healthcare leaders are weighing the cost of better lighting systems against their benefits across patient outcomes, staff well-being, and energy performance. They are deciding how to balance color quality, glare, controls, and infection control compatibility. There are tradeoffs around budget, renovation disruption, and how to coordinate lighting upgrades with broader capital plans. Clinical leaders want lighting that supports care. Facilities teams want maintainable systems. Sustainability teams want energy savings. The right design strategy delivers across those goals.
How Salas O’Brien is helping clients respond
Our lighting designers and healthcare engineers work together to bring clinically informed, energy-aware lighting strategies to hospital projects. We help clients evaluate fixtures, controls, and circadian strategies that fit clinical workflows and infection control practices. We help leaders make decisions that improve outcomes and hold up across long building life cycles. Hear Kelly Jones, Andy Powell, Steven Duff, and Duc Bui talk about how better lighting supports better hospitals.
Kelly Jones, LEED® AP
Kyllene (Kelly) Jones is a recognized leader in architectural lighting design, celebrated for her visionary approach, refined aesthetic, and portfolio of award-winning projects. With more than 27 years of experience, she has contributed to over 500 architectural lighting projects spanning hospitality, themed entertainment, mixed-use developments, and master planning worldwide. Kelly serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact her at [email protected].
Andy Powell
Andy Powell brings over 40 years of experience at the intersection of lighting design, electrical engineering, and architectural engineering. His background allows him to bring innovative lighting solutions from multiple perspectives, including visual quality, electrical performance, coordination with building systems, and constructability. That breadth makes him a strong technical resource for owners, architects, and design teams seeking lighting strategies that are both creative and practical. Andy serves as a Senior Vice President at Salas O’Brien. Contact him 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.
Duc Bui, PE
Duc Bui is an expert in the electrification of healthcare facilities. A leading provider of electrical engineering solutions and an innovator in using low voltage DC power for LED lighting , he holds a US Patent on Direct Current Power Delivery System. Duc specializes in healthcare facilities and pharmaceutical facilities with a strong presence in California serving large corporations such as Kaiser Permanente, Abbott Vascular, Tenet, University of California Irvine, and the University of Southern California. Duc serves as a Principal for Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].