Lighting Expertise That Fits Your Workflow
Every team works differently. Whether you need a creative design collaborator, a self-sufficient subconsultant, or a trusted advisor who delivers measurable results for your building — Plumb Line Design integrates seamlessly into your process, delivering precision, clarity, and results.
Full Spectrum Lighting Design
Plumb Line Design provides comprehensive architectural lighting services — from initial concept through final commissioning. Every project follows our proven D5 process, which means nothing falls through the cracks and you always know what comes next.
What We Deliver
- Architectural lighting design (interior and exterior)
- Physics-based renderings using your actual project models and real .ies fixture data
- Lighting controls design and specification
- Emergency and egress lighting design
- Lighting circuit designation and circuiting coordination
- Construction documents (stamped by a licensed PE)
- Construction administration
- Lighting commissioning — functional testing and verification that programming and installation match design intent
- Daylighting analysis and motorized shade specification
PATHWAY 1
For Architects & Interior Designers
A Design Partner Who Thinks Like You
You've spent weeks — maybe months — developing a design concept. The materials are chosen, the palette is set, the spatial flow is intentional. The last thing you need is a lighting consultant who works in isolation and hands back something that doesn't fit.
That's not how we work.
Plumb Line Design functions as an extension of your design team. We sit in your reviews, study your intent, and translate your vision into technically precise lighting solutions that strengthen what you've already created. Not override it.
What That Looks Like in Practice
• We start by listening. Before we touch a fixture schedule, we need to understand your design narrative — the story you're telling with this space.
• We create physics-based renderings from your actual Revit or SketchUp model, using real manufacturer .ies data. You see exactly how the lighting will look in your space — not a generic representation, but your geometry, your materials, your finishes.
• We coordinate with your team throughout the process — not just at milestones. Lighting decisions don't happen in a vacuum, and neither do we.
• We handle the technical complexity (controls, dimming, color temperature, circuiting, code compliance) so you can focus on what you do best — designing beautiful spaces.
Why This Matters
Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in an architect's palette. It shapes perception, directs attention, creates emotion. But only when it's designed with the same intentionality as every other element of your project.
When you bring Plumb Line Design onto your team, you get a partner who understands that lighting isn't a technical afterthought — it's a design decision. And we treat it that way.
Renderings from Des Moines Skywalk project showing multiple design options. Reference Portfolio page for further information.
PATHWAY 2
For Engineering Firms
A Subconsultant, Not a Competitor
If you're an electrical engineering firm, you may be wondering: why would I bring in a lighting designer? Won't that step on our scope?
Fair question. Here's the honest answer: Plumb Line Design does not offer power distribution, low voltage systems, fire alarm, or any other electrical engineering services. We focus exclusively on lighting — design, controls, emergency, circuiting, and commissioning.
Think of it like this: most engineering firms wouldn't think twice about bringing in an AV/data consultant for a complex project. The AV consultant handles their specialty, delivers clean construction documents, and the electrical engineer integrates it into the overall system. Nobody's scope is threatened. Everybody's deliverable is better.
That's exactly how we work with lighting.
What You Get
• A complete, stamped lighting construction document set — plans, schedules, details, and specifications — ready for your team to coordinate into the overall drawing package
• Clean scope boundaries. We handle lighting design, controls, emergency/egress, and circuiting coordination. You maintain everything else: power, low voltage, fire alarm, telecom
• A single point of contact for all lighting-related construction administration
• Commissioning support — verification that the installation matches the design intent, so the owner gets exactly what was designed
• Flexibility — we can work as a named subconsultant on your team or as a separate direct contract with the owner or architect, depending on what the project requires
Why Engineering Firms Bring Us In
On projects where lighting is a critical design element — hospitality, high-end corporate, cultural, healthcare, etc. — having a dedicated lighting specialist on the team elevates the entire project. The architect gets better design collaboration. You get a cleaner, more complete electrical package. And the owner gets a space that actually looks and performs as intended.
There’s also a practical workforce reality: many engineering firms are struggling to find qualified electrical engineers, and the pipeline isn’t getting easier. Subcontracting the lighting scope to a dedicated specialist lets your firm take on more work without the overhead and difficulty of hiring additional staff. You expand your capacity, maintain quality, and keep your existing team focused on what they do best.
We’ve worked on projects from 3,000 SF office spaces to 1,000,000 SF industrial facilities and everything in between. We know how to deliver construction documents that integrate seamlessly with your workflow, meet your standards, and respect your timeline.
PATHWAY 3
For Building Owners & Facility Leaders
Lighting for People and Your Budget
You're making decisions that affect your building for decades — energy costs, maintenance budgets, occupant satisfaction, and sustainability goals. The lighting system touches all of these, and yet it's often specified without your direct input or a clear picture of what you're getting.
Plumb Line Design changes that. We work directly with building owners and facility leaders to ensure the lighting investment delivers measurable results — lower operating costs, improved occupant comfort and productivity, and a space that performs as intended from day one.
What Owners Get
• Lower long-term maintenance and energy costs — efficient fixture selection and smart controls that reduce operational burden
• Improved occupant satisfaction and productivity — studies show that well-designed lighting can boost employee productivity by 5–15%, with one analysis estimating gains worth over $6,500 per employee per year. Better light quality means better focus, fewer headaches, and measurable returns on your investment.
• Physics-based visualization so you can see exactly what you're getting before a single fixture is installed — no surprises, no guesswork
• Single point of accountability for the entire lighting scope — one team that owns design, documentation, and commissioning verification
Why This Matters for Your Organization
Lighting represents a significant portion of a building’s energy consumption and maintenance budget. Getting it right at the design stage — and verifying it through commissioning — means fewer change orders, lower operating costs, and a space that delivers on its promise to the people who use it every day.
We serve healthcare systems, universities, corporate campuses, and other organizations where lighting performance directly impacts the bottom line and occupant experience. Whether you’re building new or renovating existing facilities, we help you make confident lighting decisions backed by data, renderings, and engineering expertise.
The D5 Process: How Every Project Moves Forward
Discover
We learn about you, your project, and your goals. What's the design intent? Who uses the space? What are the constraints and opportunities? This phase is about listening.
Determine
We establish the lighting hierarchy, target light levels, applicable codes, and performance criteria. This is where technical strategy meets design intent.
Design
We ideate, coordinate, and iterate. Physics-based renderings help you see and evaluate options. We work with your team to refine the design until it's right.
Draft
We produce the construction documents — plans, schedules, details, control sequences, notes, and checklists. Everything your contractor needs to build it.
Deliver
We support the project through construction — reviewing submittals, answering RFIs, and commissioning the lighting and controls by verifying that the programming and installation match the design intent.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're an architect exploring a lighting concept, an engineering firm looking for a reliable subconsultant, or a building owner who wants lighting that performs for your people and your budget, we'd like to hear about your project.
