Episode 18: What Happens When Architects Ignore Lighting Design?

Why are architects who collaborate with lighting designers winning more ambitious clients? 
 
Architect Michael Byrd of Core10 Architecture in St. Louis shares his journey from skeptic to advocate for professional lighting design. "We bought an existing firm and thought we knew everything," he admits. Yet as projects grew more ambitious, his team discovered critical blind spots. A high-end restaurant renovation gone wrong forced them to confront their limitations. Who would have thought dimming LEDs could cause such client distress? The emergency call to lighting designer Lisa Reed saved the project and transformed their approach forever. Through standout examples—a glass-clad bank that glows at night, a 1950s building renovation where lighting changes made immediate impact—Byrd demonstrates how professional lighting elevates both spaces and photography. 

The conversation tackles practical challenges lighting professionals face daily: when to bring designers into projects, how to convince cost-conscious developers, and the frustration of maintenance issues when non-matching replacements destroy carefully crafted lighting schemes. For lighting designers seeking to expand their client base, Byrd offers invaluable perspective on making your case to architects. "We're getting better projects, more ambitious clients," he explains, directly attributing this growth to embracing lighting expertise. This episode isn't just informative—it's ammunition for your next client meeting. 

In This Episode:  

• (00:00) Michael Byrd - From failed engineer to architect and his journey into understanding the importance of lighting design 

• (06:42) The evolution of Michael's firm - From a practical problem-solving practice to embracing lighting design expertise 

• (10:34) Learning the hard way - How a problematic restaurant project with LED dimming issues led to seeking lighting design expertise 

• (18:11) Bank renovation success story - How working with a lighting designer created the perfect nighttime glow for a seamless glass building 

• (20:23) Building renovation impact - How changing lighting fixtures and focus dramatically improved public spaces in a 1950s building 

• (24:36) Expanding appreciation for lighting design - How architects can learn to value technical design expertise to elevate their projects 

• (29:45) When to engage lighting designers - Michael's approach to making lighting design part of full services on nearly all projects 

• (32:53) Making the case to clients - Using visual examples and cost-benefit arguments to demonstrate the value of professional lighting 

• (39:03) Maintenance challenges - The problems when replacement lamps don't match original specifications and the importance of speaking up 

• (44:28) Looking toward the future - Issues with early LED failures, control system obsolescence, and the need for better modularity in fixtures 

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About the show:  
Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing indus...