Studio West has been recognized with a Light Justice NOW Honor of Excellence for Second Line in the Sky, honoring the project’s meaningful contribution to the greater New Orleans community and its considerate approach to strengthening the neighborhood following the tragic events of January 1, 2025. Developed through a community-driven, collective effort, the project transformed 21 buildings along Bourbon Street into a temporary lighting installation and memorial.

Inspired by New Orleans’ tradition of the second line, the project brings together tradition, art, and community to honor those who lost their lives while creating a visible expression of solidarity and resilience. Through light, Second Line in the Sky helped chart a path forward centered on collective healing, community, and renewed investment in the neighborhood.

Light Justice NOW recognizes exceptional achievement in lighting design and implementation that positively benefits communities and their occupants, with an emphasis on meaningful stakeholder engagement and responsiveness. Second Line in the Sky reflects these principles through its collaborative approach and use of lighting as a tool for collective action, healing, and community engagement in a place where safety had been deeply threatened. For such a unique and dynamic project, Studio West is immensely grateful for this recognition from a program that is grounded in acknowledging the role of professionals in the field as stewards of community and positive impact.

Timed with Studio West’s recognition at this year’s IES Lighting Conference, the studio’s work was also highlighted in the lighting publications LD+A, in its piece, “A Quarter for Your Thoughts” as well as Designing Lighting (dl), which featured this year’s Light Justice award nominees in their September 2026 issue (pg 60-63) alongside Lam Partners, Buro Happold, DLR Group among other talented designers.