Obituary: Lighting Design Pioneer Howard Brandston, 87

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Howard Brandston, lighting-design pioneer, educator, and luminary, passed away yesterday in his home at the age of 87.

Brandston was best known for his transformative interior and exterior lighting design, which he personally referred to as “emotional architecture.” He pioneered new lighting design techniques such as the use of theatrical and theatrical effects to augment given scenes and environments.

Brandston’s work was cited by numerous educational, technological, and youth-oriented organizations, such as the Illuminating Engineering Society, the International Association of Lighting Designers, and the Regional Alliance for Historic Preservation. His pioneering work defined the field of interior and exterior lighting and inspired generations of designers to follow suit.

The list of projects to which Brandston’s lighting design applied is as diverse as it is expansive. Among his more celebrated works was his lighting design for the New York Stock Exchange, Washington’s National Air and Space Museum, the Monterey Aquarium, the Cunard Line’s Queen Mary II, and, more recently, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. His work earned him lifetime achievement honors from those who recognized his contributions.

Brandston was also the founder of The Lighting Research Center, which is the world’s leading institution in lighting research and education. He is remembered as a teacher who shared his wisdom and insights with generations of lighting-design students, inspiring them to strive for excellence.

Brandston will be remembered for his passion for lighting and his years of devoted service to the industry, as well as for providing a platform for the celebration of previously underappreciated artistry. His legacy continues with each project and student that his work has inspired. He will be dearly missed.