LIGHTFAIR® International (LFI®) — the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference—will create a global stage showcasing the future of lighting solutions and knowledge May 3-7 at New York’s Javits Center (Pre-Conference LIGHTFAIR Institute®: May 3-4; Trade Show & Conference: May 5-7).

The 2015 Conference presents a comprehensive curriculum of lighting and design education featuring top thought-leaders in more than 78 course offerings to complement and extend the LFI trade show experience, which promises product launches and the newest technologies from the industry’s leading manufacturers.

Conference courses will span the lighting and design spectrum, from Lighting Basics to Daylighting to Advanced Lighting Control Systems. The two-day LIGHTFAIR Institute® provides in-depth courses on a variety of relevant topics.

More than 500 exhibitors will populate the expanded trade show floor, including more than 90 first-time exhibitors. Expanded categories include alternative energy including solar power, software, exterior and roadway, digital signage, healthcare and hospitality. World-renowned keynote and impact speakers offer their unique perspectives on lighting and design: Shuji Nakamura, Ph.D., 2014 Nobel Prize Winner in Physics; inventor Chuck Hoberman, president and founder of Hoberman Associates; iconic lighting designer Howard Brandston, founding partner of the Brandston Partnership; and Mark Rea, Ph.D., director of the Lighting Research Center.

The new LFI Controls & Connectivity Forum will take place on Wednesday, May 6 and it will cover current and near-future research with case studies that showcase best practices for the present and future. This educational experience includes five 90-minute seminars led by subject matter experts. Topics covered are lighting and shading controls, zero net energy, building automation, Industrial Internet of Things convergence, intelligent and integrated buildings, sensory networks, digital addressability, wireless technology, software and more.

In-demand shorter-length educational offerings will also make their debut at LFI 2015. Attendees can add 60-minute sessions and 30-minute Power Lunches to enhance their learning experience at LIGHTFAIR. Preceding and setting the stage for the trade show opening, the prestigious LFI Innovation Awards® will highlight the industry’s most innovative products and designs introduced during the last 12 months. The presentation takes place on May 5 beginning at 8:30 a.m., and the LFI trade show floor will open at 10 a.m.

The “Reception & Celebration of the International Year of Light (IYL)” at LFI will take place on May 5. LIGHTFAIR International is a Gold Sponsor of the International Year of Light.

On May 6, attendees will join Barbara Horton, FIALD (2015 IALD President) and Paul Mercier, MS, LC, IALD, IES (2015 IES President) for networking and coffee at "Rise and Shine with Design."

“Women in Lighting: An Open Dialogue” on May 7 will explore the challenges for women in lighting and discuss options for creating a culture of opportunity for all genders within our industry.

A full schedule of events will take place from May 3-7 including speaker presentations, industry updates, exhibitor presentations and giveaways. Information about all LFI 2015 networking events can be found at http://www.lightfair.com/lightfair/V40/index.cvn?id=10319.

All LIGHTFAIR International 2015 events take place at the Javits Center located at 655 W 34th Street, New York, NY 10001.

For LIGHTFAIR International 2015, the Pre-Conference program will take place from Sunday, May 3 – Monday, May 4, 2015 and the LFI Trade Show and Conference will run from Tuesday, May 5 – Thursday, May 7, 2015. For more information about LIGHTFAIR International, please visit WWW.LIGHTFAIR.COM.

LIGHTFAIR® International is the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference and is sponsored by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). The event is produced and managed by AMC, Inc.