Wednesday, November 18, 2009 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM LightMappingNYC: Presentations and Reception

Online Registration has been closed

Group Session: Take the High Lime – Wed, Nov 11th
LightWalk Sessions: Nov 10th thru Nov 16th
Final Session: Presentations and Reception – Wed, Nov 18th

Registration managed by DLF of New York.



LightMappingNYC is intended to provide the New York City lighting design community with a forum to consider the current, past and future conditions of their urban environment at night.  By combining the local / national interest in this topic generated by the IESNYC/DLFNY Lights Camera Walk map with the global scope of PLDA’s Lightmapping initiative, this program will underscore the vital role of lighting design in making New York City after dark.

The multi-part program will include a tour of a significant new lighting installation, interactive group walks in the city at night, and a group discussion / reception.  Attendees will be encouraged to join multiple program parts, but are also welcome to choose what best fits their interest / schedule.  All events are free to the public, but require registration.  Space is limited and registration will be on a first come first served basis.  All events will take place as scheduled, rain or shine. 

The 2009 LightmappingNYC program is a component of the PLDA’s global Lightmapping project.  Previous PLDA LightMapping events took place in Rome, Italy in May 2008 and London UK in September 2008.  LightmappingNYC is the first PLDA LightMapping event to take place in North America.

Lightwalk leader, Leni Schwendinger invites you to view NIGHT CITY, her video inspired by the Professional Lighting Designer Association’s “Lightmapping” events. View the Video

Group Session: Take The High Line  View the Final Presentation (pdf)

Date: Wednesday November 11, 2009, 6:00 PM sharp  
Location:  The High Line, meet at the 10th Avenue Square above 17th Street - enter at 18th, 16th, or 14th Street (High Line map)

Project lighting designer Jason Neches of L’Observatoire International will provide a walking tour and presentation of the internationally acclaimed High Line.  Learn about the challenges and innovations developed for the lighting of this 1.2 mile elevated train track.

Event is free and open to the public.

LightWalk Sessions

PLDA Lightwalks are participatory and fun walks around the city at night.  Led by individuals or design practices from across the urban lighting design team (e.g. lighting design, architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, community groups, academics, etc.), these interactive events are intended to get people from a  variety of points of view talking about light in the city.   Open dialogue between Lightwalk leaders and participants is encouraged.

LightWalk leaders will determine the approach to their specific LightWalk.  The focus can be geographic (focused on a specific area / borough) or thematic (investigating a specific theory, proposition, or issue).  Each Lightwalk group will use photography to document / communicate the experience at the public presentation at the November 18 LightMapping NYC event.

All Light Walk sessions are free and open to the public- space limited to 20 attendees.


Light Walk: Times Square, meet at the base of the TKTS Steps, between 46th and 47th Street - View the Final Presentation (pdf)
Tuesday, November 10, 6:30pm
- Wayne Norbeck AIA of Gluckman Mayner Architects will be looking for darkness in Times Square.

Light Walk: Old St Patrick’s Cathedral (263 Mulberry Street) - View the Final Presentation (pdf)
Tuesday, November 10, 8pm to 9pm
- Discover ‘Shades of Night?? with Light Artist Leni Schwendinger, Urban Designer Brian McGrath, and Architectural Designer Ute Besenecker by exploring and documenting the light changes in Manhattan around Old St Patrick’s Cathedral throughout the night. The team leaders and a group of students will be on site from dusk to dawn, feel free to join us as long as you’d like.

Light Walk: Meatpacking District, 8th Ave and Greenwich Ave  - View the Final Presentation (pdf)
Thursday 12 November 6:00pm
- Julian Kline, of the Meatpacking District Initiative, takes a tour throughout the Meatpacking District and surrounding areas focusing on the architectural lighting that highlights new and historic buildings. There will also be a discussion of the variety of objects that produce the lighting effects and their relationship to the architectural context.

Light Walk: Midtown West, meet at end of Pier 84 (Hudson River and West 44th Street) - View the Final Presentation (pdf)
Thursday, November 12, 6:30 pm
- A dark, revealing spacetime trail between the Hudson River and Times Square with Francis Milloy RIBA, ARIAS, PLDA of Terreform

Light Walk: Virtual New York City - View the Final Presentation (pdf)
Friday, November 13, 11:13 EST (16:13 GMT). Meeting place: The Bronx, New York City, "SecondLife.com"
- Through the experience of our avatars, Nathalie Rozot of Nathalie Rozot Planning & Design will explore the virtual lights of a virtual NYC - natural and artificial. Global participation is encouraged, and flying may be required.  "SecondLife.com" is an online 3D virtual world that exists on the web.  It’s similar to a shared gaming environment, but it exists for social interaction and exploration (no guns).  

Light Walk: Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO underpass, meet at plaza adjacent to Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall (4,5,6) subway station entry  - View the Final Presentation (pdf)
Monday, November 16, 6:00 pm
- A nighttime walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with Stephen Horner IES of Tillett Lighting Design invites the opportunity for reflection & discussion on the nighttime-city, civic identity, infrastructure and lighting’s contributions. We will end up in a DUMBO & walk under the Lumen Award winning installation ‘This Way’. 

View LightMapping NYC in a larger map