IES Toronto: September 2025 Technical Luncheon

We are looking forward to seeing our section come together to share and celebrate lighting knowledge and advancement through in-person discussion.

We look forward to seeing you in person!

• The IES technical luncheon is more than just a place where we congregate and network, it’s an open invitation to anyone who’s interested in learning first-hand, staying informed and connecting with real people. I love how the program is versatile and thoughtfully arranged. Some topics are intense and insightful, and some shines on their own way, making it interesting to return every month. I look forward to continuing the conversation with the lighting community.” – Ion Luh, Lighting Designer IALD/Senior Associate | Consullux Lighting Consultants, A Division of Crossey Engineering Ltd./Salas O’Brien Company

• “It was wonderful to attend the IES luncheon in person. I forgot how great it is to be in the company of our very special lighting community. Looking forward to resuming in-person attendance in the future, so glad we’re back!” – Deborah Gottesman, Principal | Gottesman Associates

• “I am new to this lighting community, having completed the FOL course in early 2023. As an experienced interior designer, I am keen to continue learning about the science, technologies, and resources in the lighting world. Attending the IES luncheons in person gives me the chance to connect with lighting professionals, enhancing collaboration opportunities. I look forward to seeing what is next…” – Julie Lang, Senior Interior Designer | Salter Pilon Architecture Inc.

• “Lighting science, technology and design seem to be evolving at an exponential pace. I welcome the monthly IES Technical Luncheons as a window to look through the eyes of the presenters on a new topic or aspect of lighting that may have changed from when I last looked at it or adds new depths of understanding on the impact of lighting on human health and vision and the challenges of designing for that in a changing marketplace and the building codes that govern it. The luncheons are a great opportunity to network and talk to others involved in a wide variety of roles in the lighting field.” 

Andrew Gledhill, P.Eng., CEM, CMVP, CBCP, LEED AP, Principal | Stardel Ltd”

In-person Fee: $50.00 (IES Members) / $75.00 (Non-Members) / $25 Emerging Professional (EP)

Register at the week of the Luncheon: $80.00.

Part 1: Al and Lighting Foundations – Health, Standards & Design Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is redefining how we design and deliver healthy lighting environments. This foundational session introduces building professionals to the transformative role of Al in lighting­focusing on health outcomes, industry standards, and intelligent design integration.

Participants will explore how Al-driven lighting systems are being used to enhance human performance and circadian health by dynamically adjusting spectral qualities in real-time. The session will clarify how these technologies align with WELL Building Standards and IES recommendations, and provide practical examples of integrating Al into Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows for early-stage planning and simulation. 

Learning Objectives

1.Identify the emerging role of Al in lighting systems, particularly in relation to health, performance, and adaptive environments. (Knowledge)

2.Recognize the growing role of Al in adaptive, health-focused lighting environments

3.Describe how Al-enabled lighting supports circadian health by adjusting spectrum, intensity, and timing in response to users and environmental cues. (Comprehension)

4.Understand how Al-enabled lighting supports circadian health and performance

5.Explain how Al-integrated systems align with WELL Building Standards (e.g., melanopic EDI, daylight access) and IES RP-46-15. (Comprehension)

6.Learn how to apply WELL and IES lighting standards within Al-integrated systems

7.Illustrate how Al tools integrate with BIM workflows to simulate and visualize biologically effective lighting early in the design process. (Application)

8.See how Al and BIM combine to enable biologically intelligent lighting design

This presentation will be approved for 1.0x IES CEUs and 1.0x AIA LU-HSWs

Sarah Morgan is the Founder and CEO of Nano-Lit Technologies, a company at the forefront of human­centric lighting innovation. Her work aligns deeply with the lluminating Engineering Society, the International Commission on Illumination and the WELL Building Standard’s vision for light as a critical determinant of health and well-being. By leveraging quantum dot technology, Sarah has pioneered lighting solutions that support circadian health, visual comfort, and cognitive performance, ensuring that built environments are designed to optimize human potential.

Sarah’s expertise spans scientific research, design, and innovation, with a strong focus on how light influences biological rhythms, sleep quality, and overall wellness, skills learnt during her time consulting for AkzoNobel and Mercedes on the development of quantum dots for programmable paint. Her work through the Nano-Lit Circadian Rhythm Research Consortium has seen collaborations at different scales with Northwestern, Weill-Cornell, Stanford, UCLA, Yale and Cambridge Universities, who have contributed to a growing body of research supporting circadian-effective lighting strategies, many of which are reflected in WELL v2· s lighting standards.

Nano-Lit’ s work has also extended to space exploration, where Sarah has consulted for the Canadian Space Agency, NASA, Blue Origin, Lockheed-Martin and Bombardier, applying standard setting lighting principles to environments with extreme circadian challenges. Her expertise in biologically aligned lighting systems informs solutions that not only meet lighting guidelines but also push the boundaries of what· s possible in human-centered design.

Beyond her contributions to research and technology, Sarah is an advocate for lighting· s role in health and well-being. She has been recognized by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) for her advancements in understanding light’s impact on human physiology. Her work underscores the importance of lighting and her technology was used by the International Well Building Institute to set the global lighting standards for WELL v2.

As a circadian health advocate, Sarah is committed to bridging the gap between lighting science and real-world implementation. She believes that healthy lighting is fundamental to occupant well-being, and she continues to explore how emerging standards can drive innovation and adoption of best practices in circadian and human-centric lighting.

Register HERE