IESBC Announces Its 2016 Vision Award Winners

IESB Awards AES

 

 

 

July 12 2016

The Illuminating Engineering Society of British Columbia (IESBC) has announced the winners of its 2016 Vision Awards. Awarded projects include UBC’s Student Union Building (AES Engineering Ltd.), Simon Fraser University’s Trottier Observatory and Science Courtyard (Integral Group Consulting (BC) LLP), and L’Occitane en Provence’s Vancouver flagship store (Render Light & Planning).

IESBC celebrates outstanding BC lighting engineers and designers for their local and international projects, and aids in the application of international award opportunities and IES’s Illumination Award. The IESBC Vision Awards are stage one leading up to IES’s National Illumination Awards. Submissions for the Illumination Awards open January 1, 2017.

More on this year’s Vision Award winners, all located in Vancouver, appear below.

Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award for Interior Lighting Design

• Project: UBC Student Union Building

• Lighting design firm: AES Engineering Ltd.

The new Student Union Building, a five-storey, 23,000 square meter facility, forms the central piece for a new public square at the entry of UBC (shown above). The concept was to highlight each feature and allow the illuminance and luminance from those features light the space. This also allowed the architect’s concept of clean ceilings, in the atrium to be actualized. Photo credit: PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.

In 1902 Edwin F. Guth founded the St. Louis Brass Company, later renaming it the Edwin F. Guth Company. Mr. Guth’s profound creativity, entrepreneurialism and focus to improve interior lighting are partially represented through 147 patents awarded to him prior to his passing in 1962. This award recognizes exceptional interior lighting projects that balance the functional illumination of space with the artistic application of light to enhance the occupant’s experience.

Award: The Outdoor Lighting Design Award, sponsored by Eaton

• Project: SFU’s Trottier Observatory and Science Courtyard

• Lighting design firm: Integral Group Consulting (BC) LLP

The observatory and courtyard, resulting from a $2.7 M contribution by the Trottier family and SFU, are designed for use by astronomy students, the general public and the Starry Nights@SFU program. The observatory features a six-meter-diameter dome housing a 0.7-metre diameter reflector telescope that is capable of tracking distant galaxies billions of years old. The viewing plaza offers a sundial, space for people to set up their own telescopes next to the dome, and an outdoor gallery featuring illuminated seasonal star charts.

The Outdoor Lighting Design Award recognizes excellence in lighting design and application in all aspects of exterior lighting. The program celebrates achievements in aesthetics, applied technical acumen, creative solutions to demanding site conditions and advancements to the industry in outdoor lighting applications. The goal of the program is to further the understanding, knowledge and function of outdoor lighting as a critical aspect of the built environment. 

IESB Awards SFU

Photo credit: Ema Peter

Award: BC Hydro Lighting Redesign Award

• Project: L’Occitane en Provence Vancouver Flagship

• Lighting design firm: Render Light & Planning 

Located on the southwest corner of Robson and Burrard Street, one of Vancouver’s most prominent retail locations, the 1700-square foot, LED-illuminated retail outlet evokes the creative and intimate environment inspired by Paul Cezanne’s atelier. 

BC Hydro Power Smart presents the Lighting Redesign Award to recognize local talents that bring innovation and energy efficiency in lighting design. The Lighting Redesign Award recognizes quality lighting redesign, or major retrofit installations in existing commercial and industrial buildings, that incorporate advanced energy-saving strategies and environmentally responsible solutions into the overall design, without sacrificing visual interest.  

 IESB Awards Occitane

Photo credit: Johnny Milkovich, Double Vision Photography

Submissions were judged locally based on how well the lighting design met the program criteria. This year’s IESBC judges included Shail Mahanti, Douglas Welch, Matt Davis and Carol Kelley.

IESBC aims to bring together the best of B.C.’s lighting professionals, including lighting designers, engineers, architects, interior designers, manufacturers, representatives and distributors. The organization offers monthly seminars to educate trade and residential designers as well as any one interested in learning more about the lighting industry.  

 

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • March 19, 2026 - Wow Lighting and Controls Proudly Celebrates 70 Years in the Lighting Industry

    Wow Lighting and Controls Proudly Celebrates 70 Years in the Lighting Industry

    This year, Wow Lighting and Controls proudly celebrates 70 years in the lighting industry! During that time, Wow Lighting and Controls has been a trusted expert in Alberta’s lighting industry. Their independence and entrepreneurial spirit have been key to their success, allowing them to cultivate strong relationships with clients, customers, and manufacturing partners while delivering innovative lighting solutions. Read More…

  • March 18, 2026 - Liteline Presents ATTRACKT - New Product Webinar - March 31, 2026

    Liteline Presents: ATTRACKT – New Product Webinar – March 31, 2026

    Join Liteline for the launch of ATTRAKT, a low-voltage magnetic lighting system designed for modern spaces. ATTRACKT’s compact, refined form factor delivers exceptional flexibility, with fixtures that can be easily positioned and reconfigured to suit evolving lighting needs. With versatile modules and connectors to create customized layouts, ATTRACKT provides a clean, modular solution that elevates… Read More…


Design

  • Prolux Lighting & Controls: Lighting Project Highlight – The Westin Pool, Calgary

    Prolux Lighting & Controls: Lighting Project Highlight – The Westin Pool, Calgary

    Lighting natatorium environments requires fixtures that can withstand humidity, chemicals, and demanding conditions, without compromising the architectural design of the space. For this project, the team specified the LumenWerx VIA2 Seal above the pool with a natatorium finish, designed specifically for high-moisture environments. Traditional natatorium fixtures are often large and bulky to ensure durability, but… Read More…

  • CSC LED: Why Blue Light at Night Is a Problem & How Amber Optics Solve It

    CSC LED: Why Blue Light at Night Is a Problem & How Amber Optics Solve It

    Outdoor lighting plays a critical role in safety, visibility, and security—but not all light is created equal. In recent years, increased awareness around blue-rich white light has raised important questions about its impact on human health, wildlife, and the night sky. As municipalities, designers, and property owners look for better solutions, Amber Optics are becoming… Read More…


New Products

  • Leviton|Viscor: Certolux MSUo-Green LED Recessed Surgical Luminaire w/Overlapping Door Frame

    Leviton|Viscor: Certolux MSUo-Green LED Recessed Surgical Luminaire w/Overlapping Door Frame

    The MSUo-Green LED Recessed Surgical Luminaire is engineered to deliver exceptional performance in demanding healthcare environments, making it an ideal choice for surgical suites requiring precise illumination and rigorous infection control. Designed for supplemental lighting above the operating table perimeter, this fixture combines advanced cleanroom construction with energy-efficient technology. Featuring green and white LED arrays, the MSUo-Green… Read More…

  • Magic Lite: Modern Pathway Light

    Magic Lite: Modern Pathway Light

    Discover the subtle elegance of the L-shaped Modern Pathway Light from Magic Lite, designed to complement contemporary outdoor settings with its sleek and classy design. This pathway light is perfect for those looking to enhance their landscape with a reliable, energy-efficient lighting solution. The cast aluminum body ensures durability and weather resistance, and easily mounted… Read More…