About Light Boston

Many architecturally and historically significant public and private buildings, numerous monuments and parks, and lively streetscapes help define the City of Boston.  However, many downtown and neighborhood areas of the city lack urban legibility at night which diminishes residents’ and visitors’ enjoyment of the social and aesthetic quality of the city, creates safety concerns and inhibits economic vitality.

Light Boston is the leading organization in the city working to address this issue through imaginative, effective, and environmentally responsible exterior lighting.  Exterior lighting can be used as an effective urban planning tool to:

• Enhance social activity and economic growth by extending city life for residents and tourists into the evening and night
• Improve the aesthetics and urban legibility of the city
• Contribute to public safety
• Highlight and complement Boston’s unique urban environment

By advocating for illumination as a vital component of urban design, Light Boston seeks to encourage interest, understanding, and appreciation of the city's unique historic and cultural heritage. With responsible exterior illumination at the forefront of the city's consciousness, Light Boston believes positive impacts will follow.

Light Boston As Project Facilitator

In certain instances, Light Boston will facilitate the actual illumination of historic buildings and cultural sites. Please see "Our Projects" page for examples of buildings recently illuminated with Light Boston's direct assistance. In these cases, Light Boston has procured funding sources, lined up necessary professionals, and helped manage the lighting design and installation process. In addition to the sites identified in the Diamond Necklace Project, Light Boston is constantly looking for opportunities to assist in lighting historic and culturally significant sites in the City.

Light Boston As Advocate

To accomplish Light Boston's goals, it has become a strong advocate
for aesthetically pleasing exterior lighting in the City of Boston. These
efforts take many forms including acting as an advisor to the City of Boston and its numerous departments and foundations, and providing
counsel to community groups, site owners and private industries. Light Boston acts as a catalyst bringing lighting issues into urban planning forums and raising community awareness of the benefits of well designed exterior lighting. Improving nighttime environments benefits all of our residents and helps address safety concerns while increasing civic pride in local landmarks.

Light Boston is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, supported by public and private contributions.

Light Boston Information Services

Light Boston serves as an information source about exterior lighting in Boston.  For the benefit of its constituents, Light Boston maintains a referral list of the regions top lighting designers and contacts in the architectural profession and the lighting manufacturing and distributing industry.  Light Boston is constantly monitoring the world of lighting, especially innovative applications of exterior lighting in dense urban environments.  Please contact us, and we can either provide you with the information you need or connect you with the right professional.

Who we are:  Our People   |   Our Advisors   |   Our Partners

Light Boston was founded in 1996 by a small group of volunteers
recognizing the need for a citizen's advocacy group with respect
to responsible exterior lighting in the City of Boston. The Board is
comprised of civic leaders, urbanites, designers, environmental-
ists and lay people. Many Board members are active in managing Light Boston's projects.

Anne W. Witherby, Honary Chairman
Oliver C. Colburn, President
Beatrice W. Nessen, Treasurer
Herbert P. Gleason, Vice President and Clerk
Doreen Le May Madden

Carol Peterson
Former Director Operations, Tenacity, Inc. Former Project Manager (contractor) Fidelity Investments

Diane Georgopulos, FAIA
Work: Architect for Mass Housing. Active member of Boston Society of Architects.

Herbert P. Gleason, Esq.
Work: Lawyer. City of Boston: Former Corporation Counsel. City of Boston: Former Member Boston Park Commission. Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Former State Ethics Commissioner.

Thomas A. Kershaw
Work: Hampshire House Corporation, Owner. Freedom Trail Foundation, Chairman. Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Past Chairman. Boston Common Frog Pond Foundation, Past Chairman. National Restaurant Association, Past Chairman. Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Past President.

Henry Lee
Work: President, Friends of the Public Garden & Common. Adopt A Statue Program: Chairman. Boston Art Commission: Former Board Member. Old South Association: Board Member. Arnold Arboretum: Council Member. Massachusetts Historical Society: Former President

Doreen Le May Madden LC, CLC, IES
Work: Lux Lighting Design, Inc., President. Lighting Certified (LC) in 1997 by the National Council on Qualifications for Lighting Professionals, Certified Lighting Consultant (CLC) with the American Lighting Association in 1996, recipient of “Excellence in Lighting” awards from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), President IES-Boston: New England Section 2004-2006.

Franklin B. Mead
Work: Mead Consulting, Inc., Founding Principal; Beacon Hill Village, Founder and Co-Chair; Beacon Hill Seminars, Co-Founder and former Vice Chair; Beacon Hill Civic Association, President (1980-'82) and Chairman (1983-'85); Cambridge Street Community Development Corporation 1984-'95; Beacon Hill Architectural Commission, Member and Chair 1977-81; Boston First Night, Board Member 1979-'83, 1989-'92; Consul for Sweden for New England 1993-2004; Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts, Board Member 1994-2011.

Paul D. Mustone, LC
Work: Reflex Lighting Group, Inc., President and Founder 1980. Boston Society of Architects, South Boston Chamber of Commerce, Illuminating Society of America, Boston Convention Center Foundation Board.

Beatrice W. Nessen
Work: ICON architecture Inc, Senior Planner. Massachusetts Audubon Society Council Member. Garden of Peace: A Memorial to Victims of Homicide: Founder, Board Member; Friends of Public Garden: Board; Charles River Watershed Association: Advisory Council; Beacon Hill Seminars: Board; Mass. Art Commission: Board; Advisory Board for CRWA.

John Powell
Work:

Rosemarie E. Sansone
Work: Board of Directors of the Downtown Crossing Association, Chair. Former Boston City Counselor

Stanley M. Smith
Work: Retired. Historic Boston Incorporated. Board member the Boston Center for Jewish Heritage at the Vilna Shul.

Light Boston's Advisors are leaders in the community, sharing their
knowledge on the latest innovative lighting and providing technical
expertise. When developing lighting plans for new projects, their
advice on what is possible is invaluable. Many Advisors are looking
into the future and giving Light Boston that perspective of what
we can reach for in coming years.

Keith Yancey, LAM Partners, Inc.
John Powell, Light Time in Space
Jeffrey T. Berg, Parsons Brinkerhoff
Christopher Ripman, Ripman Lighting Consultants
Collaborative Lighting
Jeff Sladen, Sladen, Feinstein Integrated Lighting, Inc.

Our Partners

Light Boston's partners help in getting projects done. Companies such as Reflex Lighting and Osram Sylvania not only bring to the table their considerable knowledge, but frequently contribute product, thereby helping with financial constraints. Municipal agencies, and in particular the Department of Public Works and the Boston Redevelopment Authority, contribute their time and energy, making it possible to illuminate our historic buildings from many of the City's lamp posts!

Boston Department of Public Works
Boston Landmarks Commission
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Illuminating Engineering Society of New England
The National Trust for Historic Preservation
Nstar



Light Boston, PO Box 397, 66 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
617-523-1800
lightboston@lightboston.org