The “Glare Fixers”: How Marvin Pipkin Turned an “Impossible” Joke into One of Lighting’s Greatest Breakthroughs
Today, reducing glare is one of the most basic goals in lighting design. Whether it's an LED downlight, an architectural
The 1939 World’s Fair: The Event That Launched the Fluorescent Lighting Revolution
When the gates opened to the 1939 New York World's Fair, visitors expected to see the "World of Tomorrow". What
Illuminating the Last Remaining Wonder of the Ancient World: The Pyramids of Giza
For more than 4,500 years, the Great Pyramid of Giza has stood as one of humanity’s most extraordinary engineering achievements.
Howard Brandston: A Legendary Figure in the Field of Modern Architectural Lighting Design
If you’ve spent any time in the world of architectural lighting in the last 5 decades, you’ve heard the name
Radiant History
Georges Claude: Neon Pioneer
In 1912, after years of experimentation with gases and tubes, lighting inventor and neon pioneer Georges Claude discovered the perfect commercial application for his neon tubes: Advertising Signs. That year Claude installed the first-ever neon
Wabash, Indiana: The First Electrically Lighted City in the World
In the late 19th century, as the world was on the brink of an industrial revolution, a small city in Indiana embarked on a groundbreaking journey that would forever change the way we view electricity.
The First Night Space Shuttle Launch
On the evening of August 30, 1983 the Space Shuttle Challenger and her crew thundered into the night sky as it left the high-pressure xenon light illuminated launch pad of Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. This
My Kind of Sign: C-H-I-C-A-G-O Theater’s Iconic Electric Sign
No electric sign is as tied to a city’s history and culture as the historic 6-story vertical Chicago Theater sign on State Street (yes, that great street). That sign along with the theater’s marquee has
“One Hot Night” NASCAR Under the Lights
Billed as "One Hot Night," the 1992 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first superspeedway race run at night, thanks to a new $1.7 million lighting system installed at the 1.5-mile track.
X-Rays Discovered By Accident in 1895
Wilhelm Roentgen, Professor of Physics in Wurzburg, Bavaria, discovered X-rays in 1895—accidentally—while testing whether cathode rays could pass through glass. His cathode tube was covered in heavy black paper, so he was surprised when an
Stanley McCandless: The Father of Modern Lighting Design and His Brilliant Legacy
In the world of theater, film, and architecture, lighting design plays a crucial role in setting the mood, enhancing performances, and creating immersive experiences. Behind this art form stands one influential figure who revolutionized the
The Argand Oil Lamp
January 1780 The Argand lamp is a type of oil lamp invented in 1780 by Aime Argand and was extremely unique at the time. His wick consisted of a flat ribbon, shaped like a cylinder, sitting in a reservoir
The First Halogen Lamp
The first lamp to use halogen gas (chlorine) was patented in 1882, but the first commercial halogen lamp that used iodine as a halogen gas wasn’t patented until 1959 by General Electric. It was developed
Taming the Traffic Chaos: The Inception of the Electric Traffic Light
In the bustling streets of urban America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, chaos and confusion reigned supreme; however, a beacon of order and organization would soon emerge to reign in the madness
