LIGHTFAIR® International will open April 24 at the San Diego Convention Center in the 27th staging of the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference.  Thousands of professionals from around the world will experience and explore light and technology in a new language in the Pre-Conference LIGHTFAIR Institute® (April 24 – 25) and Trade Show & Conference (April 26 – 28).

More than 600 exhibitors will present the lighting and design community’s latest innovations and newest concepts from the industry’s leading manufacturers.  Expanded product categories featured at LFI 2016 include controls, decorative, alternative energy including solar power, software, exterior and roadway, digital signage, IoT, intelligent buildings, healthcare and hospitality.

The trade show will open at its new starting time of 9 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The Thursday opening will continue at 9 a.m.  Preceding and setting the stage for the trade show opening, the prestigious LFI Innovation Awards® on April 26 from 8-9 a.m. will highlight the industry’s most innovative products and designs introduced during the last 12 months.

The 2016 Conference presents a comprehensive curriculum of lighting and design education featuring top thought-leaders with 83 course offerings.  Courses range from 30 minutes to 2 days in length and span a wide spectrum of topics from basic lighting to outdoor lighting to intelligent lighting and many more.

All-new additions to the 2016 Conference are the one-day IoT & Smart Lighting Forum, a Light & Health track, three days of 60-Minute Sessions, a 90-minute off-site tour of the historical San Diego Trolley Station and simultaneous Spanish translation for eight Seminars.  These new features further expand the range of relevant topics while adding to the extensive array of subject areas.

The new LFI IoT & Smart Lighting Forum is a one-day series of six 60-Minute Sessions designed to explore the impact of Internet of Things (IoT) and how it relates to smart lighting.  It strives to address both the potential and challenges of IoT and whether smart lighting truly extends beyond using connectivity for energy efficiency and maintenance.  The Forum is sponsored by ENLIGHTED, INC., Booth 5315, and it will begin with a breakfast presentation by their CEO, Joe Costello.

Globally acclaimed keynotes will share their vision for the future: Daniel Stromborg, Firmwide Product Design Practice Area Leader at Gensler, “The Power of Design from Macro to Micro” and Bjarke Ingels, founding partner of BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, “Social Infrastructure.”  Legends of Lighting Impact Speaker James Carpenter of James Carpenter Design Associates Inc. will speak on “The Substance of Light in the Public Realm."

New events in The HUB Lounge bring together different groups of attendees to provide unique networking opportunities. Events include: “Happy Hour in The HUB” on April 26, “Community Connections: Architects, Designers & Lighting Designers Meet & Greet” on April 27 and the “Meet the Speakers Reception” on April 27.  The HUB, is located in the Sails Pavilion in the Upper Level of the San Diego Convention Center (Booth 7029) and is sponsored by MINEBEA CO., LTD. (Booth 7017).

The New Exhibitor Pavilion in Ground Level, Hall A will be a gathering place for viewing the latest innovations from first-time exhibitors while enjoying refreshments.  There will be a special event each day during the trade show: “New Exhibitor Lounge Social” on April 26, “Sweet Treats” on April 27 and “Morning Mingle” on April 28.

All LIGHTFAIR International 2016 events take place at the San Diego Convention Center located at 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.

For LIGHTFAIR International 2016, the Pre-Conference program will take place from Sunday, April 24 – Monday, April 25, 2016 and the LFI Trade Show and Conference will run from Tuesday, April 26 – Thursday, April 28, 2016.  For more information about LIGHTFAIR International, please visit LIGHTFAIR.COM.

About LIGHTFAIR International

LIGHTFAIR® International is the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference and is sponsored by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).  The event is produced and managed by AmericasMart® Atlanta.  For more information, please visit LIGHTFAIR.COM.  Join the #LFI2016 conversation on Facebook, Twitter @lightfair, Instagram @lightfair_international, LinkedIn and YouTube.