Papamichael Honored for Work with Lighting Society

Professor Konstantinos Papamichael, right, receives IES Presidential Award from the society’s outgoing president, Chip Israel.

The outgoing president of the Illuminating Engineering Society recently recognized UC Davis’ Konstantinos “Kosta” Papamichael for outstanding service and leadership, particularly his role in creating the society’s new publication, “Recommended Practice for Daylighting Buildings.”

“There was a need for this,” Papamichael said of the publication, which came out in September and is considered the authoritative reference guide for architects, engineers, and lighting designers.

“Fenestration (the design and disposition of windows and other exterior openings of a building) and daylight harvesting technologies have come so far, and daylighting should be the first step of the lighting design process in any building project, especially those focusing on energy efficiency and sustainability,” said Papamichael, chair of the IES Daylighting Committee.

He received the Presidential Award from Chip Israel at the society’s annual meeting.

Papamichael, a professor of environmental design, is one of the world’s foremost authorities on daylighting. As co-director of the California Lighting Technology Center, he has led the development of smart windows and skylights, daylight sensor breakthroughs, and advanced algorithms for electric lighting control systems and fenestration controls.

His work on daylight harvesting has resulted in three patents and past recognition from the IES for significant advancement in the art and science of lighting.