The Lighting Design Alliance
The Lighting Design Alliance is a Long Beach, California-based architectural lighting design firm founded in 1992, providing full-service lighting and control system design for enterprise clients in casinos, hotels, entertainment, and civic infrastructure. Since July 2025 it has operated as a subsidiary of Salas O'Brien.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersLong Beach, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Lighting Design Alliance does
The Lighting Design Alliance (LDA), founded in 1992 by Chip Israel and headquartered in Long Beach, California, is a full-service architectural lighting design firm serving enterprise clients across the built environment. The firm designs and specifies complete lighting and control systems for projects ranging from concept development through documented installation support, with capabilities spanning custom fixture design, complex illumination calculations, daylighting analysis, life cycle cost studies, and integration of standard manufacturer products. Its technology stack is built on industry-standard architectural and simulation tools — AutoCAD, Revit, AGI, and Adobe Creative Suite — with no disclosed proprietary software, AI models, or data products; differentiation is rooted in human creative talent drawn from architectural, interior design, and theatrical lighting backgrounds.
LDA generates revenue through project-based professional services engagements billed to enterprise owners, developers, architects, and property operators. The go-to-market motion is direct enterprise field sales, with deal flow driven by referral networks within architectural firms, brand reputation (337 industry awards and ~7,851 completed projects), and leadership visibility through the IES and IALD. Customer concentration sits primarily in Casino & Gaming and Hotels & Resorts (Las Vegas Sands, MGM, Galaxy, Choctaw, sbe, Chimelong), with secondary exposure to commercial, institutional, civic/transportation, and entertainment segments. Geographic reach is global, with completed or active projects across the U.S., China, Macau, Korea, Qatar, Taiwan, and India.
In July 2025, LDA joined Salas O'Brien, a 92-office multidisciplinary engineering platform, transitioning the firm from independent founder ownership to a subsidiary operating under the legal name Salas O'Brien Lighting Design Alliance, LLC. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 range; revenue is not publicly disclosed. The combination is intended to expand LDA's design reach and cross-sell capabilities within Salas O'Brien's engineering client base while preserving the LDA brand, leadership, and project team.
The Lighting Design Alliance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Lighting Design Alliance
- Legal name
- Lighting Design Alliance, LLC
- Website
- https://lightingdesignalliance.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Lighting Design Alliance is a Long Beach, California-based architectural lighting design firm founded in 1992, providing full-service lighting and control system design for enterprise clients in casinos, hotels, entertainment, and civic infrastructure. Since July 2025 it has operated as a subsidiary of Salas O'Brien.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Lighting Design Alliance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Lighting Design Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lighting Design Services (BPAHAKAJ)
Keywords
Where The Lighting Design Alliance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Long Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Lighting Design Alliance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Lighting Design Services: Professional services revenue from architectural lighting design consulting, from concept development through installation support and documentation. Project-based engagements with architects, developers, and property owners.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The Lighting Design Alliance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lighting Design Alliance is a full-service architectural lighting design firm that designs and specifies complete lighting and control systems from concept development through installation. Its services include custom fixture design, complex illumination calculations, daylighting analysis, life cycle analysis, and cost comparative studies for architects, developers, and property owners across casinos, hotels, commercial, institutional, and entertainment projects globally.
Product overview
Lighting Design Alliance is a full-service architectural lighting design firm offering comprehensive lighting design services from concept through installation. The firm provides design and specification of complete lighting and control systems, custom fixture design, and advanced analysis services including complex illumination calculations, daylighting analysis, and life cycle analysis. Their portfolio spans multiple market sectors including casino, civic, commercial, entertainment, hotels & resorts, institutional, landscape, mixed use, residential, restaurant, retail, spa, and transportation. The company operates as a single design studio and was acquired by Salas O'Brien in 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Lighting Design Services
- Lighting Control Systems Design
- Custom Fixture Design
- Illumination Calculations & Analysis
Quantifiable outcome
- 30+ year track record with many clients for over 20 years
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Lighting Design Alliance
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Lighting Design Alliance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Lighting Design Alliance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Salas O'BriencoreLighting Design Alliance officially joined Salas O'Brien in July 2025. Salas O'Brien is a multidisciplinary engineering and technical services firm with 85 offices across the US and 7 in Canada. The merger brings together two respected names in the built environment, expanding LDA's design reach while maintaining the same team and passion.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Lighting Design Alliance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Buro Happold: International engineering consultancy with an established lighting design group serving similar hospitality, civic, and entertainment sectors as part of integrated engineering offerings.
- Arup Lighting: Lighting design practice within global engineering giant Arup; overlaps on large-scale architectural and infrastructure projects but competes from within a much broader multidisciplinary portfolio.
- WSP: Global professional services firm with a lighting design capability embedded within its buildings practice, competing for lighting scope on large integrated projects.
Direct peers
- Fisher Marantz Stone: New York-based architectural lighting design firm with comparable portfolio in museums, civic, hospitality, and entertainment — a long-standing direct competitor in the US specialty lighting design market.
- Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design: Established US architectural lighting design firm serving hospitality, cultural, and commercial sectors with a similar project-based, award-driven practice model directly comparable to LDA.
- Available Light: Specialty architectural lighting design firm with comparable expertise in museums, performance venues, and high-end commercial interiors — competes for similar projects and talent.
- Schuler Shook: Architectural and theatrical lighting design consultancy with overlapping service scope and similar client base in performing arts, museums, and public architecture.
- Tillotson Design Associates: Architectural lighting design firm with parallel focus on museums, galleries, and high-end commercial projects, frequently recognized alongside LDA in IES and IALD award programs.
- Lumen Architecture: Independent architectural lighting design firm with comparable service offerings across commercial, hospitality, and cultural sectors, competing for similar project types.
Others
- Salas O'Brien: Multidisciplinary engineering and technical services firm that acquired LDA in July 2025; now the parent platform providing MEP integration and cross-sell opportunities for LDA's lighting practice.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Lighting Design Alliance social profiles
Digital presenceThe Lighting Design Alliance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Lighting Design Alliance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The Lighting Design Alliance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Lighting Design Alliance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Lighting Design Alliance
What does The Lighting Design Alliance do?
Lighting Design Alliance is a full-service architectural lighting design firm that designs and specifies complete lighting and control systems from concept development through installation. Its services include custom fixture design, complex illumination calculations, daylighting analysis, life cycle analysis, and cost comparative studies for architects, developers, and property owners across casinos, hotels, commercial, institutional, and entertainment projects globally.
Is The Lighting Design Alliance a public or private company?
The Lighting Design Alliance is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Lighting Design Alliance founded?
The Lighting Design Alliance was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Lighting Design Alliance based?
The Lighting Design Alliance is headquartered in Long Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Lighting Design Alliance make money?
One revenue line is on record: lighting Design Services.
Who are The Lighting Design Alliance's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Buro Happold, Arup Lighting and WSP. Direct peers are Fisher Marantz Stone, Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design, Available Light, Schuler Shook, Tillotson Design Associates and Lumen Architecture. Salas O'Brien is listed as an others.
Does The Lighting Design Alliance have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Lighting Design Alliance.
What industry is The Lighting Design Alliance in?
The Lighting Design Alliance's product category is Architectural Lighting Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAJ, Lighting Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54141.