Inspired by the intangibles: An interview with Salwa Osman

United States | Friday, March 8, 2024
Reading Time : 4:15 minutes

Below, Salwa Osman, WSP’s lighting team lead in Los Angeles, shares how the blend of art and science within the lighting discipline elevates both sustainability and wellbeing.

What brought you to lighting design?

I’ve always been intrigued by how a space can influence people’s lives and emotions, so I was drawn to architecture from an early age. My favorite childhood toys were LEGOs, and I was equally fond of physics and math; but it was during a graduate architecture program that I came across a lighting design course and had my light bulb moment — pun intended. All my passions converged within that pathway, as lighting design combines architecture, science, math and my affinity for design and composition.

What does high-performance design mean to you, and how does lighting contribute to sustainability?

Lighting is the second highest electrical consumer in commercial buildings, after heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and a large contributor to sustainability — good or bad. Good lighting can go much further than energy savings and efficiency. Responsible lighting strategies can include use of locally sourced products to reduce carbon footprint or sustainable materials and products where life-cycle decisions are carefully considered, all while occupants’ visual comfort and wellbeing are taken into account. In addition, designers can work with architects and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers to take advantage of daylighting in projects to achieve the best outcomes. High-performance design is when all these elements work together.

Salwa Osman

Vice President, Los Angeles Lighting Studio Lead

United States

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My favorite childhood toys were LEGOs, and I was equally fond of physics and math; but it was during a graduate architecture program that I came across a lighting design course and had my light bulb moment — pun intended.

Image courtesy of Costea Photography

College of the Desert Hilb Library. Architect: LPA Design Studio

An example of this synergy is a project we recently wrapped up for College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California. Housed in a monolithic building, the library was a dark environment, except for a few windows and a 36-foot-tall atrium. A key measure of success for the client was maintainability of all the new lighting systems, without lifts or ladders. This meant we had to specify the longest-life LED products out there. More than that, everything had to be within reach for staff. Reading areas, circulation desks and perimeters received tested solutions that balance harvested and artificial light, with controls fully integrated — all of which contributes to efficiency goals. This high-performance project came in nearly 30 percent below energy code and well under budget while also receiving a national illumination award.

How can lighting solutions enhance wellbeing?

Lighting contributes to both comfort and function. There is much research on how light, the main stimulus for the circadian clock, can impact our ability to maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle. Light levels, the intensity of light, its spectral distribution, the timing and duration of exposure to light can all disrupt our natural rhythms, thereby impacting health and wellbeing. We know what happens then: unsatisfying sleep, mood changes and more. Lighting design is especially important in healthcare environments, where patients need to prioritize healing and where disruption is common. Tunable lighting solutions that allow color and intensity control can mimic the natural daylight cycle, even without views to the outdoors, and thus improve wellbeing.

I think we can agree that lighting is often one of the most beautiful parts of a space, but what don’t people know about the discipline?

I don’t know if people grasp how much science goes into lighting design. Good lighting brings a space to life, stimulates imagination and can even cue people to travel in a particular direction. What’s interesting is that people typically notice sparkle, an accentuated object or element, like a wall or ceiling. What they may not understand is that their attention has been focused intentionally. A lighting designer will calculate and balance light levels, contrast and uniformity ratios, background and foreground, to achieve luminous compositions and create the visible sparkle — the desired feeling or impact within a space — to which people respond.

What unique expertise do you bring to WSP’s lighting team?

I bring an architecturally trained eye from my background in architecture, where I gained a deep understanding of form and function. In this role, I get to pair that knowledge with what I call the fourth dimension of physical space: lighting. WSP’s lighting team is very diverse, coalescing from backgrounds in theater, television, engineering and architecture. Each member of the team brings complementary expertise together into a collective that’s dedicated to beautiful spaces that perform at the highest level.

Image courtesy of Tom Bonner Photography

The central hub or “Public Square” at this medical office building capitalizes on natural light for patient and staff wellbeing, while employing sustainable daylight harvesting techniques throughout the day. Architect: SLAM Collaborative

IMAGE COURTESY OF Brad Nelson

Guests of this lake-side Edgewood Tahoe Resort lodge are immersed into the picturesque

surroundings, overlaid with warmth and comfort. Hospitality Design: HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates,

Architect: CCY Architects

What do you think makes a place, and where’s your favorite place?

The intangibles make a place. A memory, the feeling of comfort, how welcoming a space is. I also appreciate physical elements like connection to surroundings. To me, a place connected to site and neighborhood is vitally important, as is the activity you can do in the space.

My favorite place in this context is my own home. I’m a homebody and a creature of comfort. At home I have free rein to experiment with moods and design ideas, adding elements that bring the intangibles together to create a place.