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 2026 Illumination Awards will be open on Dec 1, 2025. 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 2025!
2025 Vision Awards – Interior Lighting Design
Award of Merit Recipients
King Taps, King West
Design Firm: ThinkL Studio
Fairmont Pacific Rim Ballrooms
Design Firm: Proxima Lighting Solutions
Joey, King Street
Design Firm: ThinkL Studio
The Stack
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
UBC Museum of Anthropology Great Hall
Design Firm: AES Engineering
Təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre
Design Firm: AES Engineering
2025 Vision Awards – Outdoor Lighting Design
Award of Merit Recipients
Bernard Block Feature Lighting
Design Firm: Proxima Lighting Solutions
City of Nelson’s Hall Street Pier: A Community Landmark
Design Firm: Prism Engineering
The Stack
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
BMO Convention Centre Exterior Canopy & Pavilion Lighting
Award of Excellence Recipient
Design Firm: Eos Lightmedia
2025 Vision Awards – Control Innovation
Award of Merit Recipients
The Stack
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
2025 Vision Awards – Experiential Lighting Design (new)
Award of Merit Recipients
Waterfall
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
Award of Excellence Recipient
ESHLHIHKW’IWS – Making Connections
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
Congratulations to the following recipients of the Illumination Awards for 2025!
2025 Illumination Awards – Interior Lighting Design
Award of Merit Recipient
Joey, King Street
Design Firm: ThinkL Studio
Fairmont Pacific Rim Ballrooms
Design Firm: Proxima Lighting Solutions
King Taps, King West
Design Firm: ThinkL Studio
Richmond Cultural Centre Annex
Design Firm: O4 Architecture / Mac’s II Agencies
təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre
Design Firm: AES Engineering
The Stack
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
2025 Illumination Awards – Outdoor Lighting Design
Award of Merit Recipients
City of Nelson’s Hall Street Pier: A Community Landmark
Design Firm: Prism Engineering
The Stack
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
Award of Excellence Recipient
BMO Convention Centre Exterior Canopy & Pavilion Lighting
Design Firm: Eos Lightmedia
2025 Illumination Awards – Control Innovation
Award of Merit Recipients
The Stack
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio
Bernard Block Façade Lighting Control
Design Firm: Proxima Lighting Solutions
UBC Museum of Anthropology Great Hall
Design Firm: AES Engineering
2025 Illumination Awards – Experiential Lighting Design
Award of Merit Recipients
ESHLHIHKW’IWS – Making Connections
Design Firm: Introba Light Studio