Boosting the trade-fair experience: the Light + Building programme of events in 2024

Image courtesy of Messe Frankfurt Exhbition GmbH. Photogapher: Pietro Sutera.

See future-oriented innovations, hold face-to-face talks and make serendipitous discoveries. All are essential factors for a successful trade-fair participation. But what would a visit to the fair be without an attractive programme of events? From 3rd to 8th March 2024, Light + Building offers all participants a host of extra benefits in the form of expert lectures, themed guided tours, practical seminars and inspiring special shows. The plan for the highlights of the world’s leading international trade fair for lighting and building-services technology has now been finalised.

Light + Building, the leading international trade fair for lighting and building-services technology in Frankfurt am Main from 3rd to 8th March 2024, is set to be the meeting place for manufacturers from the fields of lighting, electrical technology, home and building automation and connected safety and security technology. All are looking forward to presenting solutions for the sustainable, safe, secure and convenient use of houses and buildings. For architects, interior architects, designers, planners and engineers, as well as for artisans, the trade and industry, Light + Building is the foremost innovation show for the world of buildings. “The primary focus is on the exhibitors’ innovations and visiting their exhibition stands. A host of extra benefits are generated by our programme of events, which turns visiting the fair into a special kind of experience”, says Light + Building Director Johannes Möller. Moreover, he says, “Even at this early stage, we can offer an overview of the main highlights.”

The meeting places for knowledge transfer, interaction and inspiration are the thematically oriented Building Plaza and Design Plaza.

Design Plaza: lighting, architecture and design

For six days, everything at the Design Plaza will revolve around lighting, architecture and design. A highlight at the beginning of the fair is the presentation of the ‘Design Plus Awards powered by Light + Building’ in cooperation with the German Design Council, which is also staging expert talks focusing on design and brand development. Additionally, the Design Plaza is the starting place for themed guided tours of the fair during which internationally renowned architects and experts stop at the stands of selected exhibitors to discuss individual aspects. The guided tours are being organised by a variety of cooperation partners, including World Architects. Incidentally, the Hessian Chamber of Architects offers training points for participation in their guided tours.

The focus at the Design Plaza is on lighting and associated topics when the Lighting Section of the German Electro and Digital Industry Association (ZVEI) takes to the stage and brings together lighting experts for discussions and lectures revolving around sustainability, efficiency and digitalisation. Agreements have also been reached with other cooperation partners including Architonic, the international platform for high-quality design products, materials, architectural projects and information, which will arrange a number of events. For the first time, the IALD – International Association of Lighting Designers – will also be contributing to the Design Plaza and providing a day of high-grade content on the stage.

‘Women in Lighting’ celebrates its fifth anniversary at the fair on 8 March – International Women’s Day – and will spotlight a variety of projects, milestones and objectives of women in the lighting sector.

Another highlight to be found at the Design Plaza and in the immediate vicinity is the designer team of Stilbüro bora.herke.palmisano. In lectures, the team’s trend experts will offer insights into social influences and developments that could impact on the design of luminaires in the 2024/25 season. An accompanying trend presentation will show how these factors are reflected in specific colours, materials and shapes.

Building Plaza: the energy transition, sustainable construction and connected safety and security technology

Energy-efficient construction and modernisation is the focus of the Energy Consultants’ Conference at Light + Building and participating architects can collect training points awarded by the Hessian Chamber of Architects. Training points are also given for participation in the Energy Transition Construction Congress, which is being held for the first time at Light + Building on 6 and 7 March 2024, within the framework of the Building Plaza. Sponsored by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, this event forges a link between research and practice and offers everyone involved in the energy transition insights into the latest research into sustainable energy supplies for buildings. The research projects concerned relate to five main themes: buildings, urban districts, monitoring, digitalisation and connectivity. The two-day congress programme includes lectures, panel talks and guided tours of the fair.

REHVA, the Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations, will also take part in the Building Plaza. The organization is committed to improving health, comfort and energy efficiency in buildings and communities.

The focus of events at the Building Plaza is on the efficient use of energy, sustainability and safety in houses and buildings. One day will be dedicated to the subject of connected safety and security. Digitalization, networking and AI (Artificial Intelligence) are creating new opportunities but also new challenges. Cyber security is no less important in this case as in the case of access control or video surveillance.

Congress of the IES – Illuminating Engineering Society

For the first time, the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) invites to a two-day congress on the occasion of Light + Building. Its 5,830 members in almost 60 countries include engineers, architects, designers, contractors, retailers, utilities, manufacturers, educators, students and scientists. Their goal is to improve the illuminated environment. The IES seeks to do this by bringing lighting experts together and implementing measures that benefit the public. This includes publishing and maintaining the Lighting Library®, which contains over 100 standards and is approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Focus on the installation trade

Also new at Light + Building: the first specialist forum for the installation trade, which is being organised in cooperation with ‘de – das elektrohandwerk’ trade magazine and will focus on practical themes with special reference to the industry’s latest innovations.

The ‘Workshop Street’ is oriented towards the needs of the installation trade and experiencing and trying out specific fields of interest.

Other hotspots

Light + Building is characterised by a wide range of additional highlights and there will be a special area for young people sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Information about registration will be available soon.

Full details about the highlights at Light + Building can be found at: www.light-building.com/events