Kirlin is proud to announce that our Empower Wall Stations have been selected for inclusion in the 2025 IES Progress Report. Each year, the Illuminating Engineering Society highlights products that represent significant advancements in the art and science of lighting — and Empower is now part of that list.
Designed for behavioral health and other high-abuse environments, Empower brings safe, intuitive lighting control to spaces where reliability matters most. Available in both 0-10V and DMX versions, the wall stations feature touch-sensitive dimming, on/off control, or preset scene selection — all within a ligature- and vandal-resistant design.
The recognition from IES reinforces Empower’s role in delivering practical solutions for specifiers and care teams alike. More than an award, it’s confirmation that Empower is raising the bar for how lighting can support safety, simplicity, and flexibility in healthcare.
“Empower was built to solve real challenges for clinicians and patients,” said Amanda Schaneman, Director of Marketing. “Being recognized by the IES Progress Report validates the impact this product will make in care environments across the country.”
About the IES Progress Report The annual IES Progress Report documents significant developments in the lighting industry, with submissions evaluated by a committee of industry experts. Products accepted into the report must demonstrate noteworthy progress or innovation in design, application, or technology.
Kirlin Lighting is proud to announce the launch of Empower Wall Stations, a new line of intuitive, ligature- and vandal-resistant lighting controls designed to enhance patient autonomy while simplifying design and installation for healthcare facilities.
Available in two versions—0-10V dimming and DMX scene control—Empower Wall Stations are ideal for behavioral health environments, therapy rooms, de-escalation spaces, and anywhere safe, standalone lighting control is needed.
The 0-10V version offers 1, 2, or 3 touch-sensitive buttons for on/off and continuous dimming from 100% down to 1%. With IK10 impact resistance, ligature- and vandal-resistance, and optional BioGard™ antimicrobial finish, it’s a durable, hygienic choice for behavioral health patient rooms and other high-demand areas.
Notably, this version requires no external relays, control systems, or remote gear, making it simple to specify and install. It’s also approved by the New York Office of Mental Health (NYOMH).
The DMX version brings powerful control to color-changing spaces. With a single zone and eight pre-programmed scenes, patients and clinicians can adjust the environment at the touch of a button. A sealed, one-piece faceplate and robust silkscreened icons make it both easy to clean and easy to use.
Ideal for therapy spaces, de-escalation rooms, sensory environments, and other areas where color can support healing and regulation, Empower DMX is also a fully standalone solution—no control system required.
Designed for Safety. Built for Empowerment.
Like all Kirlin behavioral health products, Empower Wall Stations are engineered for durability, safety, and ease of use. By combining high performance with thoughtful design, these new wall stations help healthcare facilities create more responsive, patient-centered environments — without the complexity of traditional lighting control systems.
Kirlin Lighting is proud to announce the newest addition to its trusted Hitsville family: the Hitsville Thru-the-Wall Nightlight—a thoughtfully engineered solution that delivers soft, low-level illumination to both sides of a wall with a single electrical drop.
Building on the success of the original Hitsville Nightlight and Task Light, the Thru-the-Wall model offers all the same durability, customization, and patient-centered performance—now in a configuration ideal for patient rooms with connected bathrooms or adjacent care spaces.
Clients love the flexibility and robust options in the Hitsville line, and we wanted to make installation even more efficient for real-world healthcare layouts. The thru-the-wall version does just that—without compromising on performance or safety.
Key Features Include:
Dual-Sided Lighting with One Electrical Drop: Save time and reduce installation costs with a shared backbox that supports two independently controlled nightlights.
Customizable on Both Sides: Choose static white or amber light, two light levels, optional occupancy sensors, photocells, or both, per side.
Built for Demanding Environments: IP66 rating, ligature- and vandal-resistance options, and antimicrobial BioGard finishes available.
Smart Construction: The adjustable nesting backbox and extension collar accommodate standard wall depths from 4-1/4″ to 8″.
Design Versatility: Available in obround or rectangular faceplates with standard, custom, and recommended finish colors.
Like all Hitsville fixtures, the Thru-the-Wall Nightlight is manufactured at Kirlin’s Detroit headquarters and backed by a 5-year warranty.
Whether illuminating a patient room and its bathroom or two adjacent spaces, the Hitsville Thru-the-Wall offers a smart, streamlined solution with the flexibility specifiers trust.
Explore the full Hitsville family and learn more about the Thru-the-Wall Nightlight here.
Choice Downlights, Choice Surface Fixtures, Linears, and INFRALED PRO now offer enhanced material transparency for sustainability-focused projects.
As sustainability and wellness continue to play a critical role in building design, Kirlin is proud to expand its commitment to material transparency. We’re pleased to announce that several of our most popular product lines now offer Declare Red List Approved options, making it easier for lighting specifiers to meet goals aligned with the Living Building Challenge (LBC), LEED, WELL, and other building certification programs.
The following product families are now available with Declare Red List Approved options:
Choice Downlights
Choice Surface Fixtures
Linears, including MRL, Strait, and Strait Secure ceiling and wall slot fixtures
When Red List Approved materials are required, simply specify option code-RLA during ordering. This triggers Kirlin’s process to revise key components to those that meet Declare Red List Approved criteria.
What Is a Declare Label?
The Declare label—sometimes referred to as a “nutrition label for building products”—is issued by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and discloses a product’s ingredients and materials down to 100 parts per million. Products can earn one of three status levels:
Declared – full disclosure of ingredients, but may include Red List materials
Red List Approved – full disclosure with compliance through third-party verification or temporary exceptions
LBC Red List Free – full disclosure and free of all Red List ingredients
Kirlin’s Choice Downlights, Choice Surface, and Linears with the -RLA option are now labeled Red List Approved, helping projects align with material transparency and avoidance of chemicals of concern.
Additionally, INFRALED PRO — Kirlin’s motorized, recessed exam light — carries a Declare label at the “Declared” level, supporting transparency even in high-performance, specialty healthcare lighting applications.
These updates reflect Kirlin’s broader sustainability strategy, which includes using recycled and recyclable materials, designing for serviceability and upgradeability, and minimizing waste throughout the product lifecycle. Our goal is to support the design and construction of healthier, safer spaces—without sacrificing performance or quality.
For more information on Kirlin’s sustainability efforts, check out our sustainability page.
The future of healthcare lighting design is here. Kirlin is hosting a Spring Webinar Series focused on cutting-edge lighting solutions for hospitals, women’s healthcare facilities, neurodivergent-friendly environments, and behavioral health spaces.
Each 30-minute session includes expert insights, the latest research in healthcare lighting, a look at Kirlin’s innovative products—including upcoming releases—and a live Q&A.
Join us for one or all four sessions, available at two convenient time slots: 🕦 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM ET 🕞 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET
March 4 – Hospitality in the Hospital: Elevating Patient Comfort with Lighting
Designing hospital lighting requires more than just meeting functional requirements—it’s about enhancing patient comfort while maintaining infection control and efficiency.
💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔ Balancing aesthetics, safety, and performance in healthcare lighting design ✔ Tunable White, Ambient+, and Color-Changing LED technologies for patient-centric spaces ✔ Selecting easy-to-maintain, high-performance lighting for hospitals and critical care environments
March 6 – Tailored Lighting for Women’s Healthcare Environments
Lighting impacts patient outcomes and staff performance in women’s healthcare spaces, from Labor & Delivery rooms to NICUs. This session covers how specialized lighting solutions enhance comfort, functionality, and care.
💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔ How lighting supports patient-centered care in Labor & Delivery rooms ✔ Designing NICU lighting for newborns, families, and caregivers ✔ Addressing ergonomic lighting needs for female healthcare professionals
March 11 – Lighting for Neurodivergence: Creating Inclusive Spaces
Lighting plays a crucial role in neurodivergent-friendly design, impacting sensory perception, focus, and emotional well-being. Learn how adaptive lighting strategies create calming, comfortable environments.
💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔ Why neurodivergent-inclusive lighting design matters ✔ How color temperature, brightness, and flicker affect neurodivergent individuals ✔ Strategies to reduce overstimulation in hospitals, schools, and public spaces
March 13 – Putting the Patient in Control in Behavioral Health Spaces
Behavioral health lighting solutions should promote calmness, safety, and autonomy. This webinar explores human-centric lighting and vandal-resistant controls that empower patients.
💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔ Using LED lighting to create adaptable, soothing environments ✔ Ligature-resistant lighting controls to balance safety and autonomy ✔ Designing behavioral health spaces with patient-centric lighting solutions
Stay Ahead of Trends – Learn about the latest healthcare lighting advancements.
Discover New Products – Get a sneak peek at upcoming Kirlin innovations.
Get Expert Insights – Hear from industry leaders on best practices for lighting in healthcare.
Sign up today to secure your spot! Whether you’re focused on hospital lighting solutions, behavioral health design, or neurodivergent-friendly lighting, this webinar series is for you.
As we reflect on 2024, we’re proud to share the milestones that have defined a big and exciting year for Kirlin. From groundbreaking product launches to industry accolades, this year has been one of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration.
Product Launches: 30 New Solutions for Your Projects
This year, we introduced 30 new products to our catalog, designed to meet the evolving needs of lighting specifiers:
11 Ambient+ Fixtures: Combining static white lighting with vibrant static color, these fixtures offer six narrow-band wavelengths to create dynamic environments, perfect for healthcare and architectural spaces.
15 SmartLED MRI Color-Changing Fixtures: New RGBW color-changing downlights, cylinders, and sconces enhance the MRI lighting family, offering the ability to change colors during scans and integrate seamlessly with existing products.
2 Strait Secure Wall Slots: Designed for behavioral health and other robust applications, these ligature- and vandal-resistant fixtures offer static white or RGBW color-changing options and can feature scenic patterns or images, matching the Strait Secure Slots family.
2 Strait Slots: Versatile linear fixtures offering static white, tunable white, and RGBW color-changing options with direct distribution and asymmetric capabilities, delivering up to 1500 lumens per foot in static white.
New Tools for Seamless Specification
We launched 3 new configurators on the Kirlin website to streamline the specification process:
MRI Configurator: Ensures all necessary components for remote-driver MRI systems are specified for a turnkey solution.
BABAA One-Pager: A quick guide to specifying products compliant with the Build America, Buy America Act.
Sustainability One-Pager: Highlighting Kirlin’s commitment to eco-friendly practices and materials.
Leadership and Team Growth
In February, we welcomed Logan Gerhard as President, bringing his extensive industry experience to guide Kirlin into an exciting future of innovation and customer focus.
Color Coordination and 2025 Preview
We expanded our custom color lineup, introducing options that perfectly coordinate with Scenic pattern images. And this is just the beginning—new colors are already in the works for 2025!
As we close out 2024, we want to thank you for your continued support and collaboration. Together, we’ve made this year one to remember, and we’re excited to share what’s next in 2025. Stay tuned for even more innovations, tools, and inspiration from Kirlin!
We are proud to announce that the Strait Secure Ceiling and Wall Slots have been honored with the 2024 Product Innovation Award (PIA) from Architectural Products!
This recognition highlights the cutting-edge design and functionality of Strait Secure, a lighting solution tailored for behavioral health environments, where safety and patient well-being are paramount.
Why Strait Secure Stands Out
The Strait Secure product family sets a new benchmark in behavioral health lighting by seamlessly combining high performance, aesthetics, and safety. Its innovative features include:
High-Performance Lighting: The ceiling-mounted version delivers up to 1200 lumens per foot in static white, making it ideal for spaces that demand bright, even illumination.
Therapeutic and Circadian Lighting Options: Equipped with RGBW color-changing technology, Strait Secure supports color therapy for behavioral health applications. Additionally, the tunable white option aids in maintaining natural circadian rhythms, a critical aspect of patient care in spaces with limited natural light.
Customizable Wall-Mounted Versatility: The wall-mounted fixture enhances wayfinding and ambiance with options for patterns, scenic imagery, or room numbers, offering both functionality and a more inviting atmosphere.
Robust Safety and Durability: Concealed tamper-proof fasteners ensure both security and a sleek architectural look, while all components are designed for easy face access, minimizing disruption during maintenance.
Leading the Industry
Strait Secure was designed with a deep understanding of the challenges in behavioral health settings, making it a first-of-its-kind solution in this category. Its blend of therapeutic benefits, safety features, and robust performance makes it the go-to lighting solution for behavioral health facilities.
Thank You!
We extend our gratitude to Architectural Products for recognizing the innovation and impact of the Strait Secure product family. We’re also thankful to our partners and clients for trusting us to light spaces where comfort and healing are priorities.
Explore Strait Secure
Learn more about the award-winning Strait Secure Ceiling and Wall Slots and how they can enhance your next project:
Kirlin Lighting is proud to announce that its Chairman, Jana Kirlin Brownell, has been named as the 2024 inductee into the IES Michigan Lighting Hall of Fame. This honor, presented at the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Detroit Section’s annual awards gala, recognizes Jana’s extraordinary contributions to the lighting industry and her leadership at Kirlin, a leading manufacturer of sophisticated lighting products and systems for 129 years. Joining as a Product Manager in 1986, Jana was named President and CEO in 1997 and has led Kirlin to new heights during her impressive tenure with the company.
IES Detroit Vice President Michelle Prew, who presented Jana with the award, shared her admiration for Jana’s career and contributions in her introduction: “Tonight, it is both a privilege and a pleasure to introduce and honor someone who has not only redefined leadership but also exemplified what it means to commit to excellence in both industry and community. As we celebrate Jana, we recognize not only her exceptional career but her unwavering commitment to enhancing lives through light, her advocacy for Detroit’s vitality, and her legacy of service to those around her.”
Jana, reflecting on her career during her acceptance speech, said: “I should not be here; I had planned to become the creator of a global women’s healthcare delivery system to help women and their families preserve a life of vitality and good health. But, when my father was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in 1986, I returned to Michigan to join Kirlin and continue his legacy of innovation, quality, reliability, and dedication. […] In ways I’d never envisioned, Kirlin Lighting was fulfilling my personal and professional desire to enhance health and well-being on a global scale. I’ve been challenged by the rapid pace of innovation and rewarded by the impact our lighting has had in both architectural and healthcare markets.”
Jana also celebrated the contributions of those in the lighting industry, saying: “Thank you all for what you, the lighting industry, does for our world of 8 billion people. You are illuminating their lives. Your work is noble and impactful.”
This achievement underscores Kirlin Lighting’s legacy of groundbreaking innovations in architectural and healthcare lighting, including the award-winning INFRALED PRO series, recognized as “The Coolest Thing Made in Michigan” in 2023.
Learn more about Kirlin Lighting’s legacy of excellence here.
Kirlin Lighting is proud to introduce the Strait Linear Slot Light, a versatile addition to our Strait Product Family designed to meet diverse lighting needs with unparalleled flexibility and durability. Available in lengths from 2 to 12 feet, the Strait Linear Slot Light offers multiple lighting options, including Static White, Tunable White, and RGBW. This innovation is perfect for a wide range of environments, from healthcare facilities to natatoriums.
Why Choose the Strait Linear Slot Light?
1. Dynamic Lighting Choices for Every Space
Static White: Ideal for crisp, clear illumination in spaces that demand consistent lighting quality.
Tunable White: Adjust color temperatures to support circadian rhythm.
RGBW Lighting: For projects that require vibrant, customizable colors, the RGBW model features quad-chip LEDs, providing a full-spectrum experience controlled effortlessly via DMX.
2. Superior Lumen Output
Delivering up to 1200 lumens per foot, the Static White model ensures bright, consistent illumination, making it perfect for spaces that require high-intensity lighting.
3. Asymmetric Distribution Option for Targeted Lighting
The optional asymmetric distribution is perfect for healthcare settings, offering targeted task lighting that ensures patient comfort while providing clinicians with focused illumination.
4. Unmatched Design Flexibility
The Strait Linear Slot Light is available in customizable lengths from 2 to 12 feet, allowing seamless integration with any design vision.
With an IP66 rating, the Strait is built to withstand demanding environments such as ICUs, Cath Labs, and natatoriums, ensuring reliable performance in even the most challenging settings.
6. BioGard™ Antimicrobial White Finish
Our exclusive BioGard™ antimicrobial coating is designed with hygiene in mind, making the Strait Linear Slot Light ideal for healthcare facilities, food preparation areas, and other environments where cleanliness is paramount.
7. Declare Listed for Sustainable Design
Embrace eco-friendly practices with the Strait Linear Slot Light, which is Declare listed, reflecting our commitment to sustainability and transparency in manufacturing.
Illuminate Your Space with the Strait Linear Slot Light
Whether your project demands dynamic lighting solutions, superior lumen output, or robust design features like IP66-rated housings, the Strait Linear Slot Light is engineered to deliver. Explore the versatility and durability of the Strait today and discover how it can enhance your next project.
We’re absolutely thrilled to share some exciting news! Kirlin Lighting has scored a hat-trick at the 2024 IES Progress Report Awards, taking home not one, not two, but three awards! Our team is over the moon, and we can’t wait to tell you all about our winning fixtures.
Meet the Stars of 2024
Each of these fixtures brings something special to the table, pushing the envelope on what’s possible in lighting.
Strait Secure Ceiling and Wall Slots
Say hello to the Strait Secure Ceiling and Wall Slots! These fixtures are tough cookies, designed for the demanding world of behavioral health. Available in various lengths up to 6’, they’re as secure as they come with concealed tamperproof fasteners. And with options for static white, tunable white, and RGBW color changing, they’re not just safe—they’re versatile, too. Whether you want static white, color-changing, or even scenic images or patterns, these slots have got you covered, and their dimming to 1% or even 0.1% lets you set the perfect mood.
Ambient+
Imagine a light that can do double duty—that’s our Ambient+ technology! One moment, it’s providing crisp, static white light, and the next, it’s bathing the space in vibrant color. Whether you’re lighting up turtle-friendly coasts or including green lighting in an operating room, Ambient+ has six static, narrow wavelength color options to choose from. Available in downlights and cylinders, these fixtures are ready to shine in healthcare, architectural, and even behavioral health settings.
MRI RGBW Downlights
Our MRI RGBW Downlights are the latest showstoppers in Kirlin’s SmartLED family. With 15 sleek designs—think round, square, downlights, cylinders, and sconces—these fixtures bring a splash of color to MRI rooms. Thanks to RGBW quad-chip technology, you can paint the room in dynamic, vibrant hues that can change even during the scan or crisp whites for cleaning and other tasks. With easy plug-and-play RJ45 connections and our pre-programmed DMX controller, setup is a breeze. Pair them with our MRL-2 Slot and MCL Cove fixtures for a fully immersive lighting experience that turns every MRI into an event!
Lighting Up the Future
We’re so grateful for this recognition and excited to keep innovating. Here’s to lighting up the world, one fixture at a time! If you’re interested in previous years’ awards, check out last year’s news article, which highlights our previous four years’ worth of awards.
