Pivotal Lighting Design

04/22/2026

True brilliance is found in design that respects the natural world. integrates advanced daylighting strategies and smart controls to create stunning architectural environments with minimal environmental footprint. Our work focuses on reducing light pollution and energy waste, ensuring that our built spaces live in harmony with the Earth’s natural cycles.

Happy Earth Day from Pivotal!

04/15/2026

Lighting systems do more than illuminate spaces—they shape how occupants feel, move, and perform within a building. But as lighting controls become more advanced with automation and data-driven capabilities, they can also become more complex—and less intuitive for users.

In a new article for Consulting-Specifying Engineer, Pivotal Lighting Design’s Grant Kightlinger and Seth Ely, along with former Studio Leader Lauri Tredinnick, explore how optimizing lighting control systems can improve usability while delivering meaningful benefits for both occupants and facilities. By applying cognitive walkthroughs, designers can uncover inefficiencies and streamline user interactions, making lighting control systems more user-friendly.

Learn how lighting controls can be designed to enhance the user experience while still supporting seamless operations and energy efficiency. → https://bit.ly/3OHi9VE

04/07/2026

Lighting design is evolving faster than ever. Next week, Leah Robinson, Tyler Garlock, and Jennifer Newman are attending LEDucation 's , April 14-15, in New York City to stay at the forefront of emerging lighting trends.

If you’re attending, be sure to connect with our team to explore how we can elevate your next project through innovative lighting solutions.

04/07/2026

Connected lighting and IoT are making buildings smarter and reshaping how facilities operate. Explore how these powerful ecosystems can provide real-time insights that boost efficiency, cut costs, and enhance safety and comfort.

Engineers &M

Lighting is no longer just about illumination. As buildings become smarter, modern lighting systems are becoming connected, IoT-enabled platforms that transform how buildings operate.

In their recent EC&M article, ’s Arati Sakhalkar and Samarth Kathare explore the capabilities of connected lighting and how these intelligent ecosystems can be implemented to support a broad range of operational, analytical, and occupant-focused functions. Using sensors, networks, and centralized platforms, these systems can deliver real-time insights and automation that improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance safety and comfort.

Discover how connected lighting and IoT systems are emerging as critical, data-driven platforms shaping the future of facility management. https://bit.ly/4ti5HKM

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03/19/2026

Explore how thoughtful design fosters connection, collaboration, and student achievement at the The University of Arizona’s Student Success District — where renovated historic buildings and new spaces unite students, support services, and cutting-edge learning environments.

Alongside project partners, Poster Mirto McDonald and The Miller Hull Partnership, ’s lighting strategies help create welcoming, adaptable environments that support focused study, wellness, and meaningful interaction across the district.

Read more about our lighting design’s role in shaping the Student Success District ➡️ https://bit.ly/4sYVbbh

03/09/2026

March is Women’s History Month, and we’re celebrating the women of whose creativity, technical expertise, and leadership elevate every space they shape. Their work continues to expand what’s possible in lighting design.

02/12/2026

is hiring multiple Lighting Designers to join our team.

Work on diverse projects where lighting plays a critical role in aesthetics, occupant experience, and building performance. At Pivotal, you’ll collaborate with a team that delivers thoughtful, technically driven lighting solutions with real-world impact.

See below for positions and locations:

Chapel Hill, NC — Lighting Designer II

Chicago, IL — Lighting Designer I & II

Seattle, WA — Lighting Designer II

Grow your career at Pivotal. We’d love to hear from you — learn more and apply today ➡ https://bit.ly/4aKxmgM

02/10/2026

Thoughtful lighting can shape the patient's care experience. At Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, designed lighting for the oncology center’s public spaces that balances visual interest with comfort, supporting patients, caregivers, and clinicians throughout the care journey. From the glowing registration areas to the calming rooftop café, every detail is designed with purpose.

See how lighting supports healing environments ➡️ https://bit.ly/4abJC8S

Project partners: Affiliated Engineers and Flad Architects

01/29/2026

Nestled in southern Colorado Springs, Fountain Valley School of Colorado’s new bell tower feels as though it has always belonged. Designed to complement the scale and character of the campus, the tower carefully balances architecture, landscape, and light.

Close coordination across disciplines and a clear client vision informed a precise, refined lighting approach. Working alongside Lake Flato Architects, helped bring the design vision to life, resulting in a warm, welcoming presence after dark that meets both aesthetic and technical goals.

Explore more thoughtfully crafted lighting designs ➡️ https://bit.ly/3zIgDv8

01/21/2026

Meet Leah Robinson, a senior lighting designer at , whose foundation in building systems and light theory began in university. At Affiliated Engineers, Inc., she mastered complex electrical systems and honed her skills under experienced mentors, discovering the transformative power of lighting in every project. Today, Leah leverages that expertise to create thoughtful, impactful lighting solutions that enhance both architecture and human experience with the Pivotal team.

Learn more about Leah and her design philosophy ➡️ https://bit.ly/45XIyE1

01/09/2026

Aggie Square, a joint venture between Science & Technology, LLC, and the UC Davis is more than a multi-building innovation district — it’s a place where research, learning, and community intersect. worked closely with ZGF Architects and Affiliated Engineers, Inc. to deliver lighting that’s functional, flexible, and visually inviting. From low-glare illumination in high-performance labs to layered pedestrian-scale lighting in outdoor gathering spaces, every detail enhances both efficiency and experience. Decorative accents introduce warmth and intimacy, while central plazas feature multi-head adjustable columns to support events without visual clutter.

See how lighting design fuels collaboration and discovery ➡️ https://bit.ly/4qwi5pH