Inside 1500 Mission: Lighting Design for San Francisco's Newest Mixed-Use Tower
CASE STUDY·March 25, 2026·12 min read
Located in the SOMA district just blocks from Twitter, Uber, and Square, 1500 Mission is a 39-story structure with 550 residential units — 20% designated affordable housing — plus 55,000 SF of retail and the new home of San Francisco's Planning and Public Works departments. BLS managed specification of over 3,200 fixtures spanning residential corridors, the two-story lobby, retail spaces, parking garage, and exterior facade. The project achieved LEED certification with lighting power densities 15% below Title 24 requirements.
49 South Van Ness: How Electrochromic Glass Changed the Lighting Equation
CASE STUDY·March 20, 2026·10 min read
Designed by SOM for four San Francisco city agencies, 49 South Van Ness is a LEED Platinum office building with a groundbreaking feature: electrochromic glass panels above the second floor that automatically tint based on exterior brightness, eliminating window blinds entirely. BLS coordinated the lighting package to complement this dynamic daylighting system — selecting fixtures and controls that adjust output based on available natural light, delivering the building for less than the cost of a typical Class-A office.
Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts: Where Architecture Tells a Story Through Light
CASE STUDY·March 15, 2026·10 min read
Mount Royal University's Taylor Centre in Calgary houses an 800-seat concert hall clad in copper-finish corrugated metal panels, designed by Pfeiffer to echo the Rocky Mountain foothills. The lighting design had to serve dual masters — precise performance illumination for the Bella Concert Hall and dramatic architectural expression inspired by prairie barns, aboriginal teepees, and the Alberta rose. BLS specified fixtures from lobby skylights to the acoustical canopy, balancing long Alberta winters' need for natural light with acoustic performance requirements.
Broadway Plaza: Coordinating Lighting Across a Premier Retail Destination
CASE STUDY·March 10, 2026·9 min read
Macerich's Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek is a multi-building open-air retail center featuring courtyards, parking structures, and over 80 stores. BLS coordinated the lighting procurement across the full campus — architectural facade lighting on the BOND garage designed by MGH Architects, courtyard ambient lighting, and tenant coordination for individual retail storefronts. The project required managing dozens of fixture types from 12 manufacturers with staggered delivery schedules across an 18-month construction timeline.
The Global Ambassador: Lighting a Boutique Hotel in Phoenix's Arcadia District
CASE STUDY·March 2, 2026·8 min read
Completed in December 2023 by Common Bond Development Group, The Global Ambassador is a 193,000 SF owner-operated boutique hotel on 3 acres at 44th Street and Camelback Road — the most prominent intersection in Arcadia, nestled between Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley. Built by Okland Construction with Nelsen Partners as architect of record and Berghoff Design Group handling landscape, BLS specified the full lighting package spanning guest rooms, lobby, restaurant, pool deck, yoga balcony, and dramatic exterior facade lighting designed to complement the desert landscape.
TECHNICAL·March 15, 2026·12 min read
The 2025 Title 24, Part 6 California Energy Code brings the most significant updates to lighting requirements in years — demand-responsive controls for loads over 4,000W, reduced LPD allowances, enhanced smart controls, and simplified multi-family regulations.
TECHNICAL·March 18, 2026·10 min read
From Lutron Vive for commercial NLC to ETC F-Drive for centralized architectural LED driving — understanding the landscape of networked lighting controls, dimming protocols, and when to specify each platform.
5 Common Submittal Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
TECHNICAL·March 5, 2026·6 min read
Submittals are the backbone of any lighting project. Learn the most common pitfalls — from incomplete cut sheets to mismatched photometric data — and how to streamline your approval process.
Sustainable Lighting: Beyond Energy Efficiency
SUSTAINABILITY·March 1, 2026·7 min read
While LED efficiency is important, truly sustainable lighting considers material lifecycle, dark-sky compliance, and occupant wellness.
