That Wall is Lit

Lighting embedded in the walls or structural elements of a workplace environment can realize a variety of objectives that go far beyond the need for illumination and include defining space and wayfinding, creating mood or a heightened experience, and building brand and culture.

Lit walls in Okta's San Francisco Headquarters

Okta’s motto, Always On, is literally expressed through embedded LED lighting as a wayfinding feature along the walls throughout its 17-floor vertical campus. Okta, San Francisco. Photography © Sherman Takata.

The lobby at DraftKings' Boston headquarters.

The DraftsKings logo, boldly lit in the elevator lobby wall and reflected in the mirrored ceiling above, immediately calls out brand to begin the brand experience. DraftKings, Boston. Photography © Robert Benson.

Cafe space at the CNA Headquarters in Chicago.

The slanted CNA logo, interpreted as a pattern of slanted and crossed lines by the IA design team and expressed throughout the headquarters, is here lit and embedded in the ceiling. CNA Headquarters, Chicago. Photography © Tom Harris.

LED wall in a Barcelona Spain workplace

A bold statement on the wall expresses one aspect of this client’s cultural. Confidential Client, Barcelona. Photography © Jose F. Parreño.

The Red Hat Den - an escape for employees.

Lighting at the wall behind slated decorative elements creates mood at the Red Hat den.  Red Hat, Boston. Photography © Robert Benson.

An IA-designed elevator lobby in New York City.

Lit for interaction, an inviting diversion references local culture and inspires participation, while enhancing a wall. Confidential client, New York. Photography © Magda Biernat.

Mountainside Reception Area

Outlining angles and planes, lighting emphasizes the design dynamic and adds interest. Confidential Client, Mountainside, CA. Photography © Sherman Takata.

The atrium at McCormick's Headquarters

Flush mounted, linear LED lighting on the underside of cantilevered stairs is also a distinctive design feature. McCormick Headquarters, Hunt Valley, Maryland. Photography © Erich Laignel.


IA is a global firm of architects, designers, strategists, and specialists. We focus exclusively on environments through the lens of interior architecture—a radical idea in 1984, when IA was founded. We are highly connected agents of change, committed to creativity, innovation, growth, and community.



IA is a global firm of architects, designers, strategists, and specialists. We focus exclusively on environments through the lens of interior architecture—a radical idea in 1984, when IA was founded. We are highly connected agents of change, committed to creativity, innovation, growth, and community.



Seeing Red: Color and LightBy Gary Bouthillette | Senior Director of Lighting Design Light and color are critical to the human experience. Without light we would not see color (or …continued.

Read More

The Future of Jewelry RetailUnlocking Gen ZHumanX by IA Retail HumanX by IA Retail is a research initiative to transform retail design by understanding consumer needs and behaviors. Diving into …continued.

Read More

Evolution & Elevation:Insurance Industry Design For years, IA has partnered with an array of large insurance companies to create their workplaces, often a campus with full-service cafeteria, fitness center, and …continued.

Read More