Dallas Market Center to Debut ArchLIGHT Summit for Lighting Industry Next Fall

October 9, 2020

A new commercial and architectural lighting trade show and conference will launch at Dallas Market Center in fall 2021. Designed for lighting designers and specifiers, interior designers and architects, the inaugural ArchLIGHT Summit will take place Sept. 21-22 at Dallas Trade Mart. This on-campus venue is already home to the permanent marketplace for the semi-annual Lightovation, the largest residential lighting show in North America, scheduled to run Jan. 7-10, 2021. 

“Listening to thought leaders for design and the built environment, we recognized that there is an opportunity to fill a void by creating a different sort of lighting event that simply works better,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Starting from square one, we are building a new kind of live event delivering the best products for interactive experiences, exceptional knowledge and an engaged community to help all stakeholders thrive.”

Developed by Dallas Market Center to create an array of lighting resources in one place, ArchLIGHT Summit will feature hundreds of commercial lighting brands, and a full slate of accredited educational and hands-on experiential sessions facilitated by design and lighting industry leaders.

Event participants will have access to the permanent showrooms of residential and commercial crossover brands that participate in Lightovation. The two-day event will also include engaging displays and learning labs, receptions and tours within the permanent lighting showrooms participating in the show. 

According to Dallas Market Center officials, ArchLIGHT Summit will be driven by three progressive values:

1.     Only The Best. The event will present the most important and exciting lighting products available in North America. 

2.     Boldly Inclusive. Show organizers will work hand-in-hand with industry thought leaders to create an inclusive event involving a diverse group of people, programming and outreach to all levels in the industry.

3.     Radically Playful. The event will create in-person experiences and dialogue not available online or at other events: think hands-on product interaction and forward-thinking seminars and sessions.

The show launch will broaden DMC’s architectural lighting offerings by including non-residential brands in addition to those that cross over between residential and commercial markets already present on the campus. This potential for growth, along with a robust local specification community, prompted the development of the show, according to DMC officials.

The ArchLIGHT Summit will be collocated with Dallas Design Week and will provide additional CEU and networking opportunities for attendees of both events. Meanwhile, event organizers are working with an advisory board of industry leaders to shape the new event and its educational programming. 


Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.