The Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award for Interior Lighting Design is one of the Illumination Awards presented each year by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). The Guth award honors the memory of the eponymous entrepreneur who acquired in his lifetime 147 patents related to the improvement of interior lighting. The award itself, “recognizes exceptional interior lighting projects that balance the functional illumination of space with the artistic application of light to enhance the occupant’s experience.”
Judging criteria
The judging criteria for the Guth Award are divided into three categories—Problem, Concept, and Solution—as well a discretionary bonus for unusual excellence. Judges first evaluate the project based on the complexity of the problem at hand, including the “multiplicity, variety, [and] difficulty of visual tasks; energy limitations; [and] stylistic and structural requirements.”
Next the project concepts are evaluated, including [architectural lighting design|lighting design] concept, [lighting controls] concept, architectural integration, and originality of the approach.
Finally, the implemented solutions are evaluated on a number of levels, including energy performance and environmental responsibility, visual comfort, achievement of performance criteria, whether the project was within its budget, and ease of maintenance.