Anticipation Builds for the 2025 ArchLIGHT Summit
The 5th Annual ArchLIGHT Summit hasn’t even started yet, and your humble editor has already learned a lot—both during setup and at the WILD Welcome Party, which was absolutely packed. The energy is high, and tomorrow promises to be even better.
The exhibit space is sold out for the second year in a row, with all the major Dallas lighting reps participating. Pre-registration is also up—about 30% above 2024 levels—so the forecast points to a strong show.
A Smooth Move-In
The first booth I visited was US Outdoor Lighting, where Aaron Larmer praised how easy move-in was. “The ArchLIGHT folks made it very easy to move in. Coordination was very well done and well-orchestrated,” he said.
Sourcery’s New Badge System
Next, I met with Paul Boken at Sourcery, who explained their new badge system—a major upgrade from the frustrating experience we’ve all endured in the past. “For years, badge scanning has been a pain point,” Paul said. “Typically, when a specifier gets their badge scanned in a booth, the result is just being added to a newsletter. There’s no real value in the exchange.”
Sourcery’s system changes that. Now, when an exhibitor scans your badge, you immediately receive an email that says, “You met someone at ArchLIGHT Summit—thanks for visiting their booth.” The email also includes a link to all the products that exhibitor is showcasing, essentially creating a two-way online connection.
Not every exhibitor signed up, but Sourcery offered the system during show onboarding. Exhibitors paid about $140—roughly half the cost of a traditional scanner. The value is clear: the exhibitor gets a curated product page, and the attendee gets immediate access to relevant information. “It’s finally a two-way street,” Paul emphasized. So far, about 30% of exhibitors have opted in—an impressive start.
iGuzzini and a New LA Showroom
While walking the floor, I caught up with Fitz Fitzgerald of iGuzzini, who introduced me to Arby Lugue. Arby is preparing to open a new iGuzzini showroom in Los Angeles, now under construction and aiming for a soft opening in early 2026.
This private space will be designed for lighting professionals, featuring an immersive indoor lighting experience and an outdoor demonstration area. Located in a mid-century modern building in Culver City—very close to HLB Lighting Design—the showroom is poised to be a valuable addition to the Southern California lighting community.
LA Lighting: Made in America
I also had a refreshing visit with LA Lighting, where Robert Shapiro and Benjamin Buchanan proudly showcased their “Made in America” products.
They highlighted the first U.S.-made flat panel LED, which stands apart from imports in both quality and serviceability. Unlike typical throwaway fixtures, this one is designed for longevity—serviceable from the bottom, compatible with controls, tunable white, and emergency backup options. “It’s not disposable,” Benjamin explained. “If you need to change something, you don’t have to go above the ceiling or rip out a flange fixture.”
Next, they showed a turtle-friendly light. “Sea turtles are drawn to blue light and can be disoriented,” Benjamin said. “That’s why we engineered true amber LEDs with a 90° cut-off so all the light goes down. It’s efficient and safer.”
In addition to flat panels, LA Lighting also produces parabolic louvers. “People are tired of glaring panels that are an eyesore,” Robert noted. “With parabolic louvers, you can direct light exactly where you want it, avoiding spill and improving visual comfort in offices and other spaces.” I thought parabolic was dead, but LA Lighting has a nice louver business. Who knew?
Exterior Lighting: Meteor’s New Chapter
Later, I spoke with Hanson Chen, Sales Director at the MIT Group, who introduced products from their newly launched company, Exteria. Think of it as the outdoor-focused counterpart to Meteor, which is best known for indoor solutions. “It’s been a natural transition,” Hanson explained. “Meteor received repeated requests for outdoor solutions, especially color-changing. We decided it was time to dedicate resources, form a new engineering department, and take this step.”
Instead of pursuing M&A options, the team chose to build Exteria Lighting from the ground up, bringing together a young and energetic group focused on innovation.
Teaser: Real AI in Lighting?
One of the most intriguing teasers I heard is about a new track fixture with real AI—not the buzzword-filled “fake AI” we hear so much about.
The fixture will reportedly self-adjust to the colors of whatever product it highlights. Even better, it will incorporate TM-30 metrics. While it’s not here just yet, anticipation suggests it could make waves once officially launched.
What’s Next
With the setup behind us, ArchLIGHT Summit is already delivering fresh ideas and exciting announcements. Tomorrow, the show floor opens—and if today is any indication, it’s going to be one of the most engaging ArchLIGHT Summits yet.
Go Deeper: ArchLIGHT Summit 2025 Must-Attend Sessions as Attendee Registration Opens