Industry News

Dallas Market Center announces a new lighting trade event and educational platform for architectural, specification and design communities debuting in fall 2021. The first ArchLIGHT Summit will take place September 21-22, 2021, in the Dallas Trade Mart, already home to the permanent marketplace for the semi-annual Lightovation, the largest residential lighting show in North America.

ArchLIGHT Summit will feature hundreds of commercial lighting brands plus the opportunity to explore the inspirational permanent showrooms of residential/commercial crossover brands that are part of Lightovation--thus creating the most comprehensive and convenient array of lighting resources for any type of project in the built environment.

The show’s mission is to start fresh and create something fearlessly new driven by three progressive values:

-Only The Best. Present the most important and exciting lighting products available in North America.

-Boldly Inclusive. Work hand-in-hand with industry thought leaders on shaping the show to be inclusive and involving a diverse group of people, programming and outreach to all levels in the industry.

-Radically Playful. Create in-person experiences and dialogue not available online nor at other events: hands-on product interaction and forward-thinking seminars and sessions.

“Listening to thought leaders for design and the built environment we recognized that there is an opportunity to fill a void by creating a different sort of lighting event that simply works better,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Starting from square one we are building a new kind of live event delivering the best products for interactive experiences, exceptional knowledge, and an engaged community to help all stakeholders thrive.”

Dozens of existing architectural lighting resources on campus and a robust local specification community prompted the development of the ArchLIGHT Summit, which will broaden offerings to include non-residential brands in addition to those already present that straddle residential and commercial markets. While the event is targeted to draw a regional attendance base, the city’s central location and accessibility is also conducive to a broader geographic reach.

Both days of the event will include a full slate of seminars, hands-on lab learning, and panel discussions offering architects, lighting designers, specifiers and interior designers timely and accredited sessions on evolving lighting issues and solutions. Attendees will also be able to experience engaging displays and learning labs, receptions and tours within the permanent lighting showrooms participating in the show.

The ArchLIGHT Summit will be co-located with Dallas Design Week, providing additional CEU and networking opportunities for attendees of both events. Dallas Market Center is the largest and most active design center in the country, with more than 1.5 million square feet of home décor showrooms in three buildings.

ArchLIGHT Summit organizers are working closely with an Advisory Board of distinguished industry leaders who provide valuable perspectives for shaping this groundbreaking event and its educational programming. Members include Francesca Bastianini, IES, principal of Sighte Studio; Craig A. Bernecker, Ph.D., founder of The Lighting Education Institute; Andrea Hartranft, FIALD, principal of Hartranft Lighting Design; Archit Jain, IALD, LEED SP, ISLA, principal of Oculus Light Studio; Kelly Roberts, LEED BD+C, IES, studio director of Wald Studio; and Laura McDonald Stewart, FASID, RID, LEED AP, WELL AP, founder and owner of Laura McDonald  Enterprises and PLiNTH & CHiNTZ.

Confirmed association partners include American Lighting Association, Lighting Controls Association, National Lighting Bureau, and Women in Lighting + Design.

Media Partners include Arc, Architectural SSL, Commercial Construction & Renovation, Designing Lighting, Edison Report, Energy Watch News, Furniture Lighting & Décor, Light Directory, Lightsearch.com, McMorrow Reports, and MondoArc.

For more information, visit www.ArchLIGHTSummit.com, with live exhibitor registration available now and sign up to receive information and announcements. Follow ArchLIGHT Summit on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest developments and information on exhibitor and attendee registration.

For information on Dallas Market Center, visit our website. In addition to hosting ArchLIGHT Summit, DMC hosts Lightovation January 7-10, 2021. Keep up-to-date on information by following the Lightovation Facebook page and joining the Lightovation – Lighting Industry Discussion Group.

About Dallas Market Center

Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers, interior designers, architects, and specifiers with top manufacturers in home décor, furniture, gifts, lighting and fashion. Inside its dynamic, five million square foot campus, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education and new products from exhibitors throughout the year via dominant trade events for gift, home décor, holiday and floral; the nation’s most comprehensive apparel and accessories markets featuring the latest styles from East Coast and West Coast designers; the largest residential lighting trade event in North America; a new lighting event, ArchLIGHT Summit, for architects, specifiers, and designers; and the largest and most successful open-daily design center. The marketplace is located in the strongest economic zone in the country. In addition, more than 80 percent of Dallas Market Center buyers report that they do not shop other market centers. To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center and Lightovation Apps. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting Dallas Market Center and ArchLIGHT Summit on social media.