IES Illumination & Vision Awards
The IES Illumination & Vision Awards provide a unique opportunity for public recognition of professionalism, ingenuity, and originality in lighting design based upon the individual merit of each entry judged against specific criteria.
Judges are selected from a broad professional spectrum representing lighting and design excellence knowledge. The judging system is based entirely on how well the lighting design does or does not meet the program criteria. This program is not a competition. The program is open to any qualified entrant without limitations regarding professional affiliations. Using the same program criteria, Vision Awards are judged locally in the Metro Vancouver area and Illumination Awards are judged globally by IES.
Submissions for the 2027 Illumination Awards will begin on Dec 1, 2026. For further details (important dates, program criteria, submission process), please visit the IES website.
The five category awards are parallel programs created to recognize outstanding lighting design.
Interior Lighting Design
This award recognizes exceptional interior lighting projects that balance the functional illumination of space with the artistic application of light to enhance the occupant’s experience.
Outdoor Lighting Design
This award recognizes excellence in lighting design and application in all aspects of exterior lighting. The award celebrates achievements in aesthetics, applied technical acumen, creative solutions to demanding site conditions and advancements to the industry in outdoor lighting applications.
Control Innovation Design
Advanced lighting control solutions can provide significant energy savings, flexibility and other benefits in buildings. This prestigious award recognizes good lighting projects that exemplify the effective use of lighting controls in non-residential applications.
Energy and Environmental Design Award
This award recognizes quality lighting installations in commercial and industrial buildings that incorporate advanced energy-saving strategies and environmentally responsible solutions into the overall design.
Experiential Design Award (NEW)
This award recognizes the projects that use the design of lighting as art or for effect. This category recognizes themed or immersive environments, whether temporary, permanent or seasonal.
Congratulations to the following recipients of the Vision Awards for 2026!
2026 Vision Awards – Interior Lighting Design
Award of Merit Recipients
King Taps, Willowbrook
Design Firm: ThinkL Studio
Limberlost Place (George Brown College)
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
SFU – First People Gathering House
Design Firm: WSP Canada
Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies
Design Firm: AES Engineering
Award of Excellence Recipient
Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
2026 Vision Awards – Control Innovation
Award of Merit Recipients
Vancouver Chinese Evangelical Free Church
Design Firm: AES Enginering
Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies
Design Firm: AES Enginering
2026 Vision Awards – Experiential Lighting Design (new)
Award of Merit Recipients
Limberlost Place Environmental Storytelling
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
Award of Excellence Recipient
Family Discovery Centre – First Americans Museum
Design Firm: Eos Lightmedia
Congratulations to the following recipients of the Illumination Awards for 2026!
2026 Illumination Awards – Interior Lighting Design
Award of Merit Recipients
Rosemary Brown Recreation Centret
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
Limberlost Place (George Brown College)
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
Vancouver Chinese Evangelical Free Church
Design Firm: AES Engineering
2025 Illumination Awards – Outdoor Lighting Design
Award of Merit Recipients
Outdoor Lighting Design for Horseshoe Bay Park
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
2025 Illumination Awards – Control Innovation
Award of Merit Recipients
Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies
Design Firm: AES Engineering
2025 Illumination Awards – Experiential Lighting Design
Award of Merit Recipients
Family Discovery Centre – First Americans Museum
Design Firm: Eos Lightmedia
Limberlost Place Environmental Storytelling
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio