3 HDR Projects Recognized at 2026 IES Illumination Awards
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has recognized three HDR projects with five national awards in its 2026 Illumination Awards programme. Presented annually, the awards honour exceptional lighting designs that successfully balance technical performance, sustainability, and the artistic application of light to enhance user experience.
Nemours Children’s Hospital
Award of Merit – Interior Lighting
Award of Merit – Lighting Control Innovation
The 28,000-square-foot Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Institute for Cancer and Blood Disorders reimagines pediatric inpatient care through a lighting design focused on healing, comfort, and engagement. Indirect cove lighting and custom fixtures reinforce the unit’s curved architecture, support wayfinding, and create inviting spaces for therapy, play, and recovery. Inspired by floating, colour-changing planes, the design helps reduce treatment-related stress while maintaining visual comfort through carefully controlled glare.
A sophisticated lighting control system uses tunable white and RGB lighting to support circadian rhythms and personalised patient experiences. Bedside controls, touchscreen interfaces, occupancy sensing, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) integration, and switchable privacy glass create a flexible, responsive environment while contributing to energy performance that exceeds 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) requirements by 20%.
Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital
Award of Merit – Interior Lighting
Award of Merit – Exterior Lighting
Replacing a 70-year-old facility, the new 660,000-square-foot Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital uses lighting to strengthen the patient and visitor experience while reducing lighting power density by 20% beyond code requirements.
Inside, layered illumination highlights architectural features, artwork and gathering spaces while supporting intuitive wayfinding and visual comfort. Outside, integrated lighting enhances the bronze façade, entry canopy, landscaped respite areas, and public art, creating a welcoming nighttime presence. Daylight-responsive controls and energy monitoring support sustainability goals while reinforcing the hospital’s identity as a modern healing destination.
UNK Central Green Parable Sculpture at University Village
Award of Excellence – Outdoor Lighting
Parable, a 41-foot-tall, illuminated pavilion at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, transforms a sculptural gateway into a dynamic campus landmark. Digital Multiplex (DMX) controlled light-emitting diode (LED) lighting animates the stainless steel arches with changing colour compositions that respond to seasons, events, and campus life. Thoughtfully concealed fixtures, glare control, and dark-sky-conscious design create an energy-efficient installation that enhances safety, encourages community gathering, and strengthens campus identity.
