RDG Planning & Design is the recipient of SIX lighting design awards presented at the 2010 Illuminating Engineering Society’s (IES) banquet in Minneapolis / St. Paul on April 13, 2010. IES Illumination Awards (formerly the International Illumination Design Awards) provides a unique opportunity for public recognition of the professionalism, ingenuity, and originality in lighting design based upon the individual merit of each entry judged against specific criteria.

RDG has projects winning in three separate categories listed below.
Of the six projects recognized at the sectional level, five of them have also won Regional Awards of Merit for design(**)
CATEGORY 1: EDWIN F. GUTH MEMORIAL AWARD FOR INTERIOR LIGHTING DESIGN includes:
– CEDARHURST CENTER FOR THE ARTS- MT. VERNON, ILLINOIS is an architecturally stunning addition to a 1970’s era art museum housing late 19th and early 20th century American paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. The addition utilizes specialty lighting in new gallery space, a performance hall and large open atrium lobbies and exhibit areas.
** ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL at CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY- OMAHA, NEBRASKA utilizes a new lighting design to improve on inefficient fixtures and poor lighting conditions. New custom lighting fixtures were created to both lower the electric bill of the cathedral as well as highlight the newly restored ceiling painting and architectural grandeur of the space.
CATEGRORY 2: PAUL WATERBURY AWARD FOR OUTDOOR LIGHTING DESIGN includes:

** FIRST NATIONAL BANK – METRO CROSSING – COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA showcases a dramatic element of a sweeping glass facade slicing through this traditional bank building. The architect, graphic artist and lighting designer worked in concert to design and illuminate a large graphic mural on the glass which was reminiscent of the prairie grass landscape which once covered this area of Iowa.

** PARAGON PRAIRIE TOWER ILLUMINATION- URBANDALE, IOWA stands as a large cylindrical tower faced with glass mosaic tiles, creating a new iconic landmark for this historic smokestack and silo district of central Iowa. The lighting concept enhances the tower and celebrates its owner’s legacy by illuminating it so that it can be enjoyed at night from miles around. Additional lighting at the top of the tower inside a blue acrylic “attic” further enhanced the visibility of the tower.

** BAYLISS PARK ILLUMINATION – COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA highlights the restoration of this historic community square and fountain in Council Bluffs and enhances a new public art installation, reminiscent of the original fountain and all its grandeur. LED lighting is carefully integrated into the fountain nozzle design and provides a remarkable color changing “show” in sequence with the water jet effects to entertain all ages.
CATEGORY 3: THE OSRAM SYLVANIA ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AWARD includes:

** AIA IOWA OFFICE – DES MOINES, IOWA is a great example of integrated, energy efficient lighting, utilizing very minimally invasive fixture styles, minimal lamp types and simple, automated controls to lessen energy consumption. The energy efficient lighting design works to assist with the LEED Gold Certification of the project currently under review.
The Lighting Studio at RDG specializes in enhancing environments through lighting design and attention to the visual and technical requirements of a project. Through careful selection of optical systems, fixture placements and lamp sources, each design is individually specified to blend the aesthetic and technological goals set forth at the beginning of each project. We create lighting systems that enhance and compliment the surrounding landscape and architecture both functionally and aesthetically.