Tillotson Design Associates

Happy International Day of Light! This day marks the anniversary of May 16, 1960, when physicist Theodore Maiman successfully demonstrated the first working laser, a breakthrough that reshaped science, technology, and the way we experience light. For us, light is more than illumination. It defines atmosphere, shapes experience, and brings spaces to life. We’re proud to design with it every day.

We are very excited to announce that we are working on the lighting design for the new Tennessee Performing Arts Center! Designed by BIG @big_builds , William Rawn Associates @rawnarch , and Hastings @hastingsarchitecture , the 307,000 SF project brings four performance venues together on Nashville’s evolving East Bank, creating a dynamic new home for the city’s performing arts community. Renderings by @bloomimages & @big_builds @tennesseepac @thorntontomasetti @kimleyhorn @tillotsondesign @front.global @altieri.llc @vdaglobal @apeiro_design @jaffeholden

Project | Bonhams Auction House A luminous backlit ceiling integrates with the architectural paneling and existing structure, creating a skylight effect that brings soft, even illumination. Location: New York, NY Architect: Gensler @genslernyc Lighting Design: Tillotson Design Associates Photos: Colin Miller, courtesy of Bonham’s #architecturallighting #tillotsondesign

Behind the Scenes | Sotheby’s Auction House Originally designed in 1966 by renowned architect Marcel Breuer, this iconic Brutalist structure was created as the home of the Whitney Museum of American Art. TDA’s ultimate goal was to support a shared vision of architectural preservation, using lighting as a subtle yet critical tool to honor the building’s historic character. “Working on Marcel Breur’s modernist icon, we wanted the lighting to feel true to the original vision. We’re proud of how it came together and are grateful to the entire team who brought this project to life.” -Jen Park, Senior Designer Location: New York, NY Design Architect: Herzog & de Meuron Executive Architect: Platt Byard Dovell White Architects (PBDW) Lighting Design: Tillotson Design Associates Bulb Manufacturer: @tala

Project | Sotheby’s Auction House What was particularly standout about this project was the preservation of Marcel Breuer’s 1960’s design, including the reuse and adaptation of the historic light shades. TDA researched Breuer’s drawings and studied the alignment between the bulb and shade. This analysis informed our lighting strategy and reinforced the importance of selecting a bulb that accurately conveyed Breuer’s original design intent. Location: New York, NY Design Architect: Herzog & de Meuron @herzogdemeuron Executive Architect: Platt Byard Dovell White Architects (PBDW) @pbdwarchitects Lighting Design: Tillotson Design Associates Bulb Manufacturer: @tala #architecturallighting #sothebys #marcelbreuer #tillotsondesign

Celebrating the first edition of Light Your Pasta with Maria and Tillotson Design Team — a unique evening where authentic Italian pasta, great wine, and the power of light come together. Light is at the core of everything we do, shaping not only spaces but also the way we experience them every day. It was a pleasure to sit down with Maria from Tillotson Design and talk about her vision, how light can completely transform environments, and what inspired her journey into lighting design. Thank you to Maria and Tillotson Design for being part of this special moment

Project | Princeton University Art Museum Spotlights on all four sides of this display case allow all objects to be perfectly illuminated. The case was built to scale as a mock-up to confirm the best lighting angles for illuminating all objects. Project: Princeton University Art Museum Location: Princeton, New Jersey Architect: Adjaye Associates | Cooper Robertson @adjayeassociates Lighting Design: Tillotson Design Associates Photo: Alex Fradkin @alexfradkinphoto

In honor of Earth Day, we would also like to feature our project, the Smith College Neilson Library in Northampton, MA. The surrounding area was taken highly into consideration for this project, which received a  LEED credit of 6 for light pollution reduction.   The lighting design for this library renovation marries the need for highly functional and modern lighting with a nuanced aesthetic appropriate for the architect’s vision of this historic New England building and the flanking “jewel box” volume additions. The view from the exterior is inviting and set apart from other buildings on the campus while being mindful of glare and overall brightness, adhering to Dark Sky principles.   A quote from James Lowenthal, President, DarkSky Massachusetts on the Smith College Neilson Library: “In my opinion, some of the best lights on campus, or anywhere, are  the excellent, fully-shielded, zero-glare post-mounted fixtures you used for the Neilson Library amphitheater....in almost every talk I give, I show pictures of the Neilson amphitheater at night as examples of good lighting — and I always say explicitly that they were designed by you all.” - James Lowenthal President, DarkSky Massachusetts Project: Smith College Nielson Library Location: Northampton, MA Architect: @shepleybulfinch Design Architect: @mayalinstudio_ Lighting design: @tillotsondesign Photo: @nic.lehoux

Dark Sky compliance Is defined as a set of standards aimed at reducing light pollution, which disrupts ecosystems, human health, and our ability to see stars. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) leads efforts to promote dark sky compliance by educating manufacturers, designers, and local governments about responsible outdoor lighting management. Suzan Tillotson is a proud member of the International Dark-Sky Association. Although, all of us at TDA continue to design with its standards in mind. This Earth Day, we would like to highlight one of our projects which not only complies with Dark Sky but was designed especially with sustainability and energy performance in mind. Foundation in the Midwest is an office project which was designed to comply with ASHRAE 90.1-2013, achieving energy performance 20% below code for interior spaces and 6% below code for the exterior façade. We carefully mocked up and specified the most efficient products available at the time, ensuring that neither aesthetics nor performance were compromised. Accessories were added where necessary to create a comfortable environment while maintaining the intended performance of each fixture. Careful positioning and aiming of fixtures allow the project to meet Dark Sky requirements while still maintaining a softly glowing presence Most of the manufacturers specified uphold sustainable practices, such as using recycled metals in fixtures, cardboard for shipping, and renewable energy in production. Additionally, the specified fixtures were manufactured in the United States, supporting the local economy while minimizing transportation impact. Project: Foundation in the Midwest Location: Detroit, MI Architect: Studio James Carpenter, JCDA Inc @jamescarpenterdesign / Studio Unseen Light @studiounseenlight Lighting Design: @tillotsondesign Photo Credits: Sam Fentress Photography

| Behind the scenes Focusing is a defining moment in our projects. By carefully aiming, shaping, and adjusting each fixture on site, we transform drawings into reality, ensuring our lighting intent is fully realized in the built space.

Tillotson Design Associates worked closely with architect David Hotson on the integration lighting into SkyHouse, a four-level penthouse situated at the summit of one of the earliest surviving steel-framed skyscrapers in New York City. The lighting was carefull integrated into the sculpted all-white interior, creating luminous volumes of high-color-rendering LED light that discretely enhances the spatial design rather than calling attention to itself, enhancing the impact of the vivid furniture and appointments design by Ghislaine Viñas. In the four-story living room, thin LED uplight panels placed on top of the exposed structural steel softly illuminate the dramatic volume above. Backlit LED troughs with flush, low-iron, white opal glass fronts are strategically located throughout to provide soft ambient light. When off, they disappear into the white walls and ceilings. A dark ceiling reveal in the main living space, barely 2” wide, conceals HVAC supply and return air while also integrating small spotlights for reading and highlighting furniture and artworks. Decorative pendant fixtures over the dining room and kitchen table add an intimate glow. In the bathrooms, LED lighting set behind opal glass wraps the custom washbasins that are set behind the canted stone walls, enhancing the volumetric design while providing optimal lighting around the mirrors. In December 2025, this penthouse was selected by Interior Design Magazine as the single most iconic apartment for the twenty-year history of the ID ‘Best of Year’ Awards Program. With thanks to: Interior Designer @ghislaine_vinas Construction Manager @silverlining_inc Photographer @eric.laignel and Cindy Allen, Editor-in-Chief at Interior Design @thecindygram

This past week, Associate Principal Noor Traboulsi traveled to Frankfurt for Light + Building, one of the world’s largest lighting trade fairs. We’re always eager to explore the latest innovations shaping our ever-evolving industry. Take a look at some of Noor’s lighting highlights from the week!