The recent edition of LEDucation in New York City proves there remains an insatiable thirst for LED knowledge among lighting specifiers, architects, and other design professionals. This year the annual event was expanded to two full days and was relocated to a larger venue in order to accommodate the waiting list of exhibitors and better serve the record-breaking number of attendees.
Held just 10 days before the global lighting technology show behemoth – Light + Building – in Frankfurt and a little more than two months before the perpetually well-attended Lightfair International in Las Vegas, relative upstart LEDucation has proved over its eight-year history that it not only can consistently attract top exhibitors and an enviable clientele, but also expand its scope.
While Light + Building and Lightfair entice premium lighting industry designers and vendors, LEDucation (held between these two top shows) attracted scores more attendees than ever before. Held in Manhattan since its founding eight years ago, LEDucation has broadened its reach far beyond its initial draw of the Greater New York area which includes New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The year-over-year growth in participation and attendance led to the show’s organizers to increase the show dates to span two days instead of one and necessitated a move to a larger exposition space.
“As LEDucation has continued to sell out exhibit space each year, and we have continued to experience record attendance, the volunteer committee felt that 2014 provided us with a great opportunity to expand the show,” explains co-chair Burt Grant. “By relocating the event to a larger facility, we [were able to] accommodate more exhibitors that have been on a long waiting list. It also ensured that more people could attend the educational sessions by hosting them over a two-day period.” In 2013, the show attracted more than 3,000 attendees and had a sold-out show floor of 150+ exhibitors.
The committee’s decisions were a resounding success. More than 200 leading manufacturers from the U.S., Canada, and Europe exhibited their latest solid-state lighting technologies and products during the tabletop exposition held in March at the Sheraton® New York Times Square hotel. Thousands of industry professionals nationwide joined their fellow lighting designers, interior designers, architects, engineers, students, facility managers, building owners, and others in related fields for LEDucation 8 to get the inside scoop on the latest technology.
The show also hosted eight, specially targeted one-hour educational sessions covering topics in healthcare lighting, controls, budget management with LED projects, lighting design, codes and compliance, and more. All of the sessions were specifically designed to offer a versatile selection of beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses with the introduction of a new architectural lighting presentation focused on the Interior Designer followed by a special docent guided tour of the LEDucation Expo show floor. Best of all, in the spirit of sharing knowledge with those who were not able to attend, the presentations are available for viewing online at the show’s Web site: www.LEDucation.org.
Sponsored by the Designers Lighting Forum of NY (DLFNY), LEDucation 8 covered a record 29,400 net square feet and spotlighted 220 exhibitors, including a record-breaking 64 first-time exhibiting companies and at least 8 manufacturers headquartered outside the United States. As of press time, more than 50 percent of the LEDucation 8 exhibitors have pre-registered to exhibit at LEDucation 9 in 2015.
“LEDucation 8 was a great way to get in touch with lighting designers and specifiers,” notes Jeremy Ludyjan, director/product development for Bulbrite, which exhibits at the show. “Although we were showcasing our latest series of LEDs, the true value was being able to get feedback from the people who are designing the installation and placement of lighting solutions day to day. I am also glad the show is now two days because it gave many more people the opportunity to attend the event,” he adds.
Lighting industry members can remain connected to LEDucation all year long through social media (Facebook and Twitter). Videos captured during the show will be uploaded to YouTube in coming months.
SIDEBAR
About the DLFNY
The Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY) is committed to exploring and presenting the power of lighting in design. Founded in 1934, the DLFNY is a not-for-profit organization, led by a volunteer board of managers and sustained by member dues and the generous support of corporate sponsors. The group’s goal is to provide designers, architects, manufacturers, and their representatives, contractors, educators, and students with the opportunity to meet and experience the wonder of lighting in New York City and beyond. The DLFNY also supports formal lighting education through contributions to local universities and design schools, as well as national funds.
