Architectural Lighting Increases Pace of Growth

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, February 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Architectural lighting is a young industry, incorporating artificial lighting in buildings and developments to enhance the architectural features of the built environment. Its use in large-scale developments and iconic buildings is becoming ever more pervasive in a region dominated by both.

The reason for the steady growth in this new industry is because "the impact of good lighting within the built environment should not be underestimated, as it can significantly enhance a building and positively influence the perception of spaces. Given this fundamental fact, lighting is clearly a major contributor to the success or failure of a building, which should not be left to chance," says Barry Hannaford, Principal Lighting Designer with Dubai-based dpa Lighting Design, and speaker at the inaugural Architectural Lighting Saudi Arabia Summit.

Featuring regional and international lighting designers and influential architects, the summit - put together by IQPC, takes place from 13 - 16 March 2011, Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will highlight the key themes of implementing groundbreaking design and incorporating sustainable practices in lighting, including reducing energy costs and improving ROI on large developments for the owners.

Lighting accounts for up to 15 percent of project costs, increasing to up to 25 percent for electricity bills. When combining the millions of light bulbs used in commercial and residential buildings, this can easily add up. Energy use is not the only factor which must be considered - as any lighting designer will tell you, maintenance and the use of correct fittings and fixtures can also contribute to reducing energy costs and improving ROI on large developments for the owners, particularly when architectural lighting is factored into a project.

"Any designer can make a building look great on day one with an unlimited energy supply, but it takes a good designer to ensure that it still looks good three years later, with minimal maintenance and without the use of unsustainable amounts of energy," says internationally renowned lighting designer Dominic Meyrick, Principal and Partner with Hoare Lea Lighting.

Ted Ferreira, Principal with CD and M Lighting Design Group, says the importance lies in the equipment just as much as the design, arguing that "the installation and choice of lighting equipment represents a significant percentage of both the construction and operation costs of commercial buildings. To build without an artificial and natural lighting strategy is akin to opening up all of the windows and just letting the cool air run out."

All three experts join a host of critically acclaimed international and regional lighting designers and architects including Beau Mclellan, Principal and Founder, Beau Mclellan Lighting Design; Gerd Pfarre, Principal, Pfarre Lighting; Charles Collett, Country Director (KSA); Aedas, Volker von Kardorff, Principal, Kardorff Ingenieure Lighting Design; and Ahmed Al Ali, Executive Chairman, X Architects, all speaking at the Architectural Lighting Saudi Arabia summit, a four day forum being held in Riyadh from 13 - 16 March 2011. The event will showcase state of the art technologies and techniques for use in architectural lighting in commercial and residential developments and projects. For more information about this event visit http://www.architecturallightingsaudi.com, email [email protected] or call +971-4-364-2975.

About International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC) Middle East:

For over thirty years, IQPC has helped the world's leading corporations solve their business challenges through the sharing of practical industry solutions and global best practice. In the process, the company has built a formidable reputation for quality and value. During this time, the Middle East's most progressive companies have benefited from IQPC's unrivalled global reach, which has connected international expertise with regional and local leaders. For more information, visit http://www.iqpc.ae

    For more information, please contact
    Chichi Osuagwu
    Marketing Manager
    International Quality and Productivity Centre Middle East
    T: +971-4-364-2975
    F: +971-4-363-1938
    [email protected]

SOURCE IQPC Middle East