Empower Wall Stations Recognized in 2025 IES Progress Report

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.

See what makes Empower award-winning.
Explore Empower Wall Stations

You Can Touch This: Meet the Empower Wall Stations

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.


Empower 0-10V: Simplicity and Strength

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).


Empower DMX: Easy, Intuitive Color Control

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.


Explore the Empower product line:

👉 Empower 0-10V Wall Station
👉 Empower DMX Wall Station
👉 Find your local rep

For more information about Empower, reach out to your Kirlin representative or contact us directly at info@kirlinlighting.com.


Hitsville Goes Through the Wall

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.

Kirlin Expands Declare Label Options Across Key Product Families

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.

Introducing the Strait Linear Slot Light

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.

5. IP66 Rated Housing & Natatorium-Specific Options

  • 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.

Three Cheers for Kirlin! Triple Wins at the 2024 IES Progress Report Awards

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.

Kirlin Lighting Introduces the Strait Secure Wall Slot: Combining Safety and Architectural Elegance

Kirlin Lighting is proud to announce the launch of the Strait Secure Wall Slot, a ligature- and vandal-resistant lighting solution designed to meet the highest standards of safety and architectural design. This new product is particularly suited for environments where both aesthetics and durability are paramount, such as behavioral health facilities, educational institutions, and other settings that require robust lighting.

Product Highlights

The Strait Secure Wall Slot is engineered to provide a seamless blend of functionality and design. Available in a range of lengths from 12″ to 48″, this fixture offers flexibility while maintaining a clean look. Three LED sources available are:

  • Static White Lighting: Offered in three color temperatures, providing options for various ambiance needs.
  • Tunable White: Supports circadian rhythms, enhancing the well-being of occupants.
  • RGBW Quad-Chip Color Changing: Allows for dynamic lighting, suitable for creating vibrant atmospheres or supporting color therapy.

Customization and Visualization

One of the standout features of the Strait Secure Wall Slot is its ability to be customized with scenic images. With over 100 images and patterns available, as well as the option for custom designs, including room numbers, this fixture can be tailored to suit the specific needs and design goals of any space. Additionally, Kirlin Lighting’s Scenic Configurator tool enables users to visualize their chosen designs before committing to a final image.

Designed for Challenging Environments

Safety and durability are at the core of the Strait Secure Wall Slot’s design. Concealed hardware ensures a sleek, architectural look while providing the necessary security features for high-risk environments. The wall slot version further enhances this clean design with no visible hardware on the top edge, contributing to a more refined appearance. Furthermore, this fixture is natatorium-rated, making it suitable for use in humid or wet conditions, expanding its application across various demanding environments.

Learn More

The Strait Secure Wall Slot is a testament to Kirlin Lighting’s commitment to delivering innovative and reliable lighting solutions that meet the evolving needs of today’s architectural and safety-focused markets. For more information on how the Strait Secure Wall Slot can enhance your projects, please visit our website.

Unveiling MRI RGBW Downlights with Color-Changing Technology

Kirlin Lighting, a leader in lighting solutions for healthcare applications, is excited to launch its new MRI-safe RGBW Downlights, an innovative product series designed to improve the MRI experience through mood-enhancing lighting. The new series promises to transform medical imaging suites with vibrant colors and high-quality illumination that can change dynamically while MRI scans are in progress.

The MRI RGBW Downlights feature Kirlin’s proprietary SmartLED MRI technology, which allows the lights to change colors seamlessly while ensuring compatibility with even the most powerful magnetic resonance scanners available today. This feature aims to improve patient comfort and reduce the anxiety often associated with MRI procedures. The technology employs RGBW quad-chip LEDs, enabling a wide spectrum of colors as well as pure, crisp whites.

“Kirlin continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in specialized lighting environments,” said Chris Brownell, CEO of Kirlin. “With our new MRI RGBW Downlights, we are providing healthcare facilities with the ability to create a more soothing atmosphere, which can play a critical role in patient care and diagnostic accuracy.”

The product line includes 15 different fixtures – round and square downlights, cylinders, and sconces – offering healthcare designers a versatile range of options. The lights can also be integrated with other color-changing products from the SmartLED MRI family, such as the MRL-2 slot and MCL Cove, to provide a comprehensive lighting solution that caters to the complex needs of MRI facilities.

Kirlin’s commitment to enhancing medical environments extends beyond functionality, incorporating aesthetic elements that support a positive patient experience.

For more information about Kirlin Lighting and its innovative lighting solutions, visit Kirlin’s website.

Declare-ing Our New Listings!

Kirlin Lighting, a leader in innovative lighting solutions, is proud to announce that it now has Declare labels for four of its distinguished product groups: Choice Downlights, Choice Cylinders, INFRALED PRO, and the Linear series (MRL, VRL, VWL, PRL). This significant achievement underscores Kirlin’s commitment to transparency and environmental responsibility in its manufacturing processes.

The Declare label, often referred to as the “nutrition label” for building products, provides a clear and informative look at the materials used in products. It is a vital tool for designers committed to selecting environmentally responsible and sustainable products for their projects.

Why This Matters

  • Transparency: Full disclosure of the materials in our fixtures, enabling informed choices that resonate with your environmental values.
  • Quality Assurance: The assurance that Kirlin fixtures not only meet rigorous sustainability criteria but are designed for longevity and minimal environmental impact.
  • Sustainable Innovation: Our modular, serviceable designs are complemented by environmental certification, making Kirlin a pioneer in sustainable lighting solutions.

By securing Declare labels, Kirlin Lighting not only boosts its product stewardship but also provides its clients with crucial information to make informed choices about the materials they incorporate into their projects.

Kirlin Lighting Unveils Ambient+, White Light + Narrow Band Color in One Luminaire

Kirlin Lighting, a leading Detroit-based manufacturer known for its innovative and high-quality lighting solutions, proudly announces the launch of Ambient+, a cutting-edge technology integrated into 11 fixture designs, set to redefine lighting versatility across various industries.

Ambient+ is not just another product launch; it’s a technology that blends functionality, versatility, and aesthetic appeal. Designed to serve the multifaceted needs of architectural spaces and healthcare environments, Ambient+ technology enables a single fixture to offer both static white and vibrant static color lighting, available in six narrow-band wavelengths. This dual functionality makes it a perfect fit for a wide range of applications, including architectural spaces, healthcare facilities, and environmentally sensitive areas.

Versatile Applications Across Industries

Ambient+ technology has been seamlessly integrated into various form factors within the Kirlin lineup, including downlights and cylinders. The technology’s adaptability shines in applications ranging from pharmaceutical laboratories, backstage theatrical areas, and vivariums to critical healthcare settings like ICUs and operating rooms, where lighting can play a crucial role in patient care.

Moreover, Ambient+ is engineered with environmental considerations, offering turtle-friendly lighting solutions that mitigate LED lighting’s impact on wildlife. Its utility extends to mass transit systems, behavioral health facilities, and other areas requiring specialized lighting solutions, underscoring Kirlin’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.

A Step Forward in Lighting Technology

“Ambient+ is the latest in a long line of lighting solutions Kirlin has brought to market to serve the needs of our customers.” says Chris Brownell, CEO. “Fundamentally it allows one fixture, one installation, to serve two very important — often life-saving — functions. The ability to optimize for visual acuity in static white mode, and then to optimize for safety, or for circadian support, or for environmental sensitivity in color mode, is an incredible tool that is now available to the entire lighting community. We cannot wait to see where this technology will lead us.”

To see all products that incorporate Ambient+ technology, check out our Products page.