Prize(s) Winners in Ambient Lighting
Lighting Design/Product Company Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design
Lead Designers Francesca Bettridge
Other Designer's names Sang Yup Lee, Jiyoung Lee, Min Young Kim
Architecture Company Duda|Paine Architects
Interior Design Company Duda|Paine Architects
Client Hunt Companies
Photo Credits Patrick Coulie Photography
Completion Date March 17, 2023
Project Location El Paso, Texas
Entry DescriptionThe LEED certified WestStar Tower, the first high-rise constructed in El Paso in 40 years, enjoys a unique location on the US-Mexico border. An illuminated exterior “fin” begins at the lobby entrance, travels up one side, across the roof and down the other side. This architectural feature symbolizes the border – and the connection – between the two countries. A continuous linear fixture indirectly lights the interior of the fin within a terracotta cove surface, providing a consistent warm glow from any viewing angle.
The fin’s cove lighting becomes the entry wall illumination, then continues into the lobby, dissolving the boundary between inside and out. The white heart of the tower appears inserted at the lobby’s entrance. Wall-washed on all sides, this element establishes the interior ceiling plane.
A sandstone lobby wall, emphasized by a perimeter grazing slot, echoes the warm colors and natural textures of the surrounding desert landscape. Diffuse linear fixtures provide ambient illumination, while discreet accents are aimed at the sculpture. The same detail highlights the timber end wall of the elevator lobby.
At the base of the tower, the parking garage surface features color-changing lighting with DMX controls, used for holidays and special events. The lighting of the tower brings a new exuberance to the city skyline, celebrating El Paso’s growth and revitalization.
Company DescriptionCline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design (CBB) is dedicated to enhancing the grace, utility, and comfort of architectural spaces with light. The 17-person firm is certified as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) - locally by NY State and NY City, and nation-wide by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
CBB provides architectural lighting design services for buildings and sites of every type, size, and architectural style. This portfolio encompasses celebrated sites around the world.
