Athena, Architectural Lighting Solution with iOS App Control, from Lutron, Wins Interior Design Best of Year Award for 2020

Coopersburg, PA (December 10, 2020) – Lutron Electronics the leader in architectural lighting controls and automated shading solutions, has received Interior Design magazine’s Best of Year (BoY) award for 2020 for Athena, a flexible, all-in-one solution that elevates everyday experiences with the magic of light.

Now in its 16th iteration, the annual BoY awards is one of the design industry’s most prestigious accolades, recognizing designers, architects and manufacturers from all over the world. Honored in the category of Technology, Athena marries best-in-class control, the world’s most advanced LED lighting technology (Ketra), and simple app-based setup in a solution that is equally optimal for new construction, retrofits, and evolving commercial spaces.

Designers have been quick to embrace how simple it is to design and use Athena, while achieving sophisticated lighting effects.

“When I saw the Athena app on my phone for the first time – and when my clients saw it – the ooh’s and ahh’s came pretty quickly,” said Andy Lang, President of Lang Lighting Design based in Dallas, TX. “I love the ease of the app. It’s very intuitive, and it’s easy to use – even for someone without experience. I think this will be a huge benefit to my client. As their facilities people takeover, they’ll be able to adjust as needed without any learning curve.”

Launched in June 2020, Athena has quickly become a well-adopted solution for its flexibility and retrofit-friendly nature. Likewise, as designers seek new ways to do more with less time and likely fewer staff, it’s become a way for design professionals to deliver maximum impact without maximum effort.

Lang continues, “We set four color scenes together, to correspond with the [four-button] keypad on the wall – two party scenes, a patriotic red-white-and-blue, and the green of the client’s logo color. We were all shocked at the Ketra light’s ability to match & replicate the color of logo so precisely. The vibe in the room was good, and the client was very happy.”

Key features of the Athena system include:

• Universal fixture-control capabilities – control all load types from a single product with no minimum load requirements – including Ketra, the world’s most advanced light source
• A right-sized processor for architectural spaces small and large
• Integrated shades to deliver a comprehensive lighting design
• Simple-to-use iOS app for real time programming and personalization
• Wireless – easy-to-change design with no need for rewiring

Athena was also recognized by Architectural Record as a Product of the Year in the Lighting category, and included in the Top 25 Products of 2020 by retrofit magazine.

“We are honored to be recognized by such esteemed industry voices,” said Olivier Perrigueur, Vice President and General Manager Commercial Business at Lutron. “For Athena to be singled out as an innovation in design technology, affirms Lutron’s commitment to develop products that give designers the tools to realize their visions.”

The Athena solution is now shipping in the U.S. and Canada.

To experience the magic of Athena, visit www.lutron.com/athena.

About Lutron Electronics (www.lutron.com)
Founded in 1961, Lutron Electronics is headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. From dimmers for the home, to lighting management systems for entire buildings, the company offers more than 15,000 energy-saving products, sold in more than 100 countries. In the US alone, Lutron products save an estimated 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion in utility costs per year. The company’s early inventions— including the first solid-state electronic dimmer invented by Lutron’s founder, Joel Spira—are now at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.