LightWorks, Inc.

It's Engineers Week! A big huge acknowledgement to the talented engineers who have contributed to our success thru the years! If you weren't aware, LW provides lighting engineering scope for some of our projects - the 'swirl' in our logo actually indicates this part of our service offerings! A special shout-out to our awesome and supportive engineering clients - SK Design Group, Inc., Taliaferro & Browne, Inc., Kimley-Horn, Olsson, Henderson Engineers, BranchPattern, IMEG, Uhl Engineering Inc to name most of them!

Here’s to a new year blooming with fresh possibilities! We’ve been having a blast crafting light bulb terrariums, adding a little spark of creativity to the season. And just in time to celebrate our 23rd year in business—what an exciting milestone! A huge THANK YOU to all our amazing clients for your continued support - we truly appreciate you!

We are thrilled to announce that we have recently received the IES Illumination Award of Merit for FOUR of our projects for meritorious contribution to lighting design! It's always rewarding to receive recognition from a jury of our peers for our dedication to the craft of lighting design. Each of these projects reflects the hard work and creativity of an incredible team, and we couldn’t be more proud to have been involved in each of them. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to these successes! Here’s to continued innovation and collaboration! ???

Sometimes we get to celebrate a seemingly flawless project, since it won't be making it past the design stage. Even if it's not making it out of the ground, we can still reflect on what could have been and appreciate the thoughtful design that was created! It's forever Perfect on Paper! Adrienne Yoxall Anderson Knight Architects PKMR Engineers

Colorful public art coming to a park near you! We had a successful client mockup this week at Zahner. Can’t wait for these sculptures to come to life!

Earlier this week, LightWorks had the opportunity to tour Rock Cottage Glassworks with Dierk Van Keppel, a master artisan. It was fascinating to see the wide range of techniques he uses to create his custom glass pieces. Additionally, Rock Cottage is producing the new Silica Studios collection from Home | Shop Co. (silicastudio.com), offering ready-made custom glass lighting using historical molds and patterns, making it accessible for commercial projects. Below are some images showcasing some of the 260 historic molds that Dierk acquired from a glass factory closing in Arkansas, 30 of which are actively used in his studio + a photo of Dierk holding one of the largest glass spheres he can make, measuring 18 inches + an image of Dierk next to a glass fusion example used in a commissioned "Immuno" piece for the University of Kansas Cancer Center + Dierk standing next to the 2000-degree furnace. Thank you for the inspiring afternoon, Dierk!

LW welcomed Jonah Vandel a few weeks ago as the latest member of our team! Jonah's outside-in approach to architectural lighting design, paired with his horticultural background, brings a unique perspective that will undoubtedly enrich our projects. He has a love for outdoor spaces and the way that lighting can enhance those spaces. Jonah's creativity shines through not only in his professional endeavors but also in his side gig with Drunchies—hosting private dinners that are amazing! Him and his wife, Alexa, have two adorable miniature dachsunds named Bonnie & Beans. Looking forward to creating great things with you at LW!

It’s been a busy summer so far for the LW crew. We have managed to thread the needle between deadlines though for some fun team activities! ?We started off June with a trip to HE Williams to learn about new products with an informative factory tour. Thanks to Mercer Zimmerman for everything! ?We hosted a group of super impressive girls from Nepal in our Studio for a discussion on what we do and about women in STEM. ?We gained two new employees - Jonah joined us full time and Micah returned for a summer internship. (More on Jonah later!)

Green Dirt On Oak is a unique dining establishment born from the historic renovation of a former automobile repair shop. LW collaborated closely with the design architect/contractor and the owner to transform the space into something truly special. Despite the challenges that came with the project, the final outcome is nothing short of spectacular. For those in the Kansas City area, this spot is definitely worth a visit! Green Dirt Farm, LLC www.greendirtfarm.com

We're super excited to share some great news regarding a young designer who has been interning with us this past semester. In addition to graduating from Kansas University in Architectural Engineering this past weekend, she learned she was selected by the Robert J. Besal Memorial Education Fund to be a 2024-25 Besal Scholar! Then, to stack on another accolade - her and her teammate won for KU in the Kansas City IESNA Student Scholarship competition! Join us in telling Micah Steele CONGRATULATIONS!!! We have immensely enjoyed her time with us this semester and are thrilled to have her join us as a full time summer intern. She will continue part-time in the fall as she continues on to graduate school. WAY TO GO MICAH!