What Hartranft Lighting Design does

Hartranft Lighting Design (legal entity Hartranft Lighting Studios, LLC) is a women-owned independent architectural lighting design consultancy founded in 2013 by Andrea Hartranft and headquartered in Charlotte, NC. The firm delivers end-to-end lighting and controls design services — conceptual lighting design, control system design and programming support, custom fixture design, lighting documentation and specifications, illuminance and energy calculations, daylight analysis, human factors design, visualization (computer and hand renderings), aiming and focusing, mock-ups, and sustainability integration — for commercial, institutional, municipal, hospitality, transportation, religious, retail, cultural, healthcare, and high-end residential projects across the United States. Its client base includes Bank of America, Booz Allen Hamilton, Boston Dynamics, Vanderbilt University, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hilton, James B. Beam Companies, and Hubbell Lighting.

The firm operates a project-based professional services model, with fees set per engagement rather than through disclosed pricing; client acquisition is direct, driven by relationships with architects, developers, building owners, and general contractors, supplemented by an award-winning portfolio, industry association leadership (IALD Presidency held by Andrea Hartranft 2024-2025; IESNYC Presidency held by Shoshanna Segal), and WBE certification that supports set-aside institutional work. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, deployed across 10 US offices (Boston, NYC, Washington DC, Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Nashville, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Richmond). The leadership bench comprises four Principals — Andrea Hartranft, Paula Ziegenbein, Diane McNabb Rodriguez, and Shoshanna Segal — each recruited from independent practice or major industry roles (notably Paula Ziegenbein from OSRAM SYLVANIA). The team holds 150+ years of collective experience and has completed 2,000+ projects, with recurring recognition from IES (regional and national sections), IALD, LIT Design Awards, EdisonReport, and ENR Magazine.

Strategically, Hartranft has pursued a deliberate roll-up model: the October 2023 acquisition of Gilmore Lighting Design (founded 1997) added the Washington DC market and senior talent (Debra Gilmore, Rob Smith), and the firm continues to recruit senior designers who previously owned their own practices. The technology stack is conventional for architectural lighting — physical mock-ups, daylight and energy modeling, hand and digital renderings, control system programming — with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, proprietary platform, or software products. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Hartranft Lighting Design

Legal name

Hartranft Lighting Studios, LLC

Website

https://hartranftlighting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hartranft Lighting Design is a women-owned independent architectural lighting design consultancy, founded 2013, that delivers lighting and controls design services across commercial, institutional, transportation, and cultural sectors from 10 US offices, serving clients such as Bank of America, Boston Dynamics, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lighting Design Services: Professional services revenue generated from providing comprehensive lighting and controls design services to commercial, institutional, and municipal clients. Services include conceptual design, control systems, custom fixtures, documentation, and specifications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hartranft Lighting Design (doing business as Hartranft Lighting Studios) is a women-owned independent lighting design firm that provides professional lighting and controls design services for built environments. Offerings span conceptual lighting design, control system design and programming support, custom fixture design, lighting documentation and specifications, daylight analysis, illuminance and energy calculations, human factors design, visualization renderings, mock-ups, and sustainability integration for commercial, institutional, municipal, and select residential projects.

Product overview

Hartranft Lighting Design (doing business as Hartranft Lighting Studios) is a women-owned independent lighting design firm providing professional lighting design services rather than a product-based company. The company offers a comprehensive suite of lighting design services including conceptual lighting design, control system design and programming support, custom fixture design, lighting documentation and specifications, lighting energy calculations, daylight analysis, human factors considerations, visualization services, product development, aiming and focusing, mock-ups, and sustainability services. The firm was founded in 2013 and serves commercial, institutional, municipal, and residential markets across 10 office locations in the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lighting and Controls Design Services End-to-end professional lighting design services covering conceptual lighting design, control system design and programming support, custom fixture design, lighting documentation and specifications, daylight analysis, illuminance and energy calculations, human factors design, visualization, mock-ups, aiming/focusing, product development, and sustainability integration for architects, developers, building owners, and institutions in commercial, municipal, institutional, and select residential markets.
• Conceptual Lighting Design Visionary concept development using light as a medium of artistic expression to shape environments for commercial, institutional, and municipal clients.
• Control System Design & Programming Support Design and programming support for sophisticated lighting control systems that orchestrate dynamic lighting environments for architects, building owners, and developers.
• Custom Fixture Design Bespoke lighting fixture design that combines form and function, tailored to unique project requirements and aesthetic vision for architects, interior designers, and project owners.
• Lighting Documentation & Specifications Technical specifications and construction documentation that ensure flawless execution of lighting designs across commercial, institutional, and municipal projects.
• Sustainability & Lighting Energy Services Integration of eco-conscious practices and energy-consumption assessments into lighting solutions to minimize environmental impact, support LEED and WELL building standards, and reduce operational costs.
• Daylight Analysis Daylight analysis using advanced tools and methodologies to optimize natural light utilization, enhance occupant comfort, and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.
• Human Factors Lighting Design

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ projects completed across 10 offices nationwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature13 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Gilmore Lighting DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2023Hartranft Lighting Design acquired Gilmore Lighting Design, a firm founded in 1997 by Debra Gilmore. The acquisition expanded Hartranft's client reach, capabilities, and resources. Debra Gilmore joined as Design and Business Development Collaborator, and Robert Smith joined as Senior Lighting Designer. The acquisition was announced October 25, 2023.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fisher Marantz Stone: Established New York-based architectural lighting design firm with similar project profile spanning cultural, civic, commercial, and hospitality work. Comparable in service offering (conceptual design through construction administration) and target client base of architects and developers.
• One Lux Studio: New York-based independent lighting design firm offering similar conceptual design, daylighting, and controls services to architects and developers. Overlapping client base and project types in commercial and cultural markets.
• Available Light: Independent architectural lighting design firm serving commercial, cultural, and institutional markets with similar service offering from conceptual design through construction administration. Comparable size and boutique studio model.
• Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design: NYC-headquartered independent lighting design consultancy with comparable size and award-winning portfolio across corporate, cultural, transportation, and institutional projects. Directly comparable service offerings and client types to Hartranft.
• Tillotson Design Associates: Independent architectural lighting design firm with comparable focus on museums, civic, and cultural projects. Similar designer-led boutique model and project-based service structure.
• Pivotal Lighting Design: Independent lighting design consultancy with comparable focus on commercial, hospitality, and institutional projects. Similar designer-led structure and project-based service delivery model.
• Lighting Design Alliance: Long-established independent lighting design firm with comparable comprehensive service offerings from conceptual design through custom fixture design. Overlaps with Hartranft in commercial, hospitality, and transportation sectors.
• Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design: Multi-office independent lighting design firm with similar geographic distribution and project portfolio across commercial, civic, and transportation markets. Comparable in service breadth and reputation-driven business model.

Broad incumbents

• Arup Lighting: Lighting design practice within global engineering consultancy Arup, offering comparable lighting design services as part of broader MEP/engineering portfolio. Competes for the same marquee commercial, transportation, and cultural projects but with broader firm backing.
• Buro Happold Lighting: Lighting design practice within international engineering consultancy Buro Happold. Offers overlapping architectural lighting design capabilities as part of integrated engineering services, competing for larger institutional and commercial projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hldlighting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hartranft-lighting-design
• Instagraminstagram.com/hartranftlightingstudios
• Xx.com/DesignHartranft

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hartranft Lighting Design