Lighting the Way with Culture

Proof that culture is a competitive advantage.

By Luke Carothers 

HLB Lighting Design isn’t just illuminating spaces.  They’re redefining what a great workplace looks like. Earning the top spot in the 2025 Best Firms to Work For Architecture category, the firm has shown that culture is more than a value statement.  It’s a competitive advantage. 

Founded in 1968, HLB Lighting Design has grown into one of the most respected and influential lighting design firms in the country.  The firm maintains a national reach with studios in Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.  Still, despite their wide reach, the firm maintains a deeply collaborative culture across its offices. 

The firm’s expertise spans architectural lighting design, daylighting, and sustainable solutions.  Their team has left a mark on iconic civic, cultural, educational, and commercial spaces throughout the United States.  Their design philosophy is rooted in the belief that light isn’t just functional.  It’s transformative and able to shape how people experience and connect with spaces.  Technical mastery and creative vision have positioned the firm as a leader not only in design, but also in shaping the broader conversations about the role of design in the built environment. 

This vision also means that being a great place to work is built into the DNA of the firm.  At the heart of their culture is a long-standing commitment to collaboration and creativity.  Teams are encouraged to explore ideas, push boundaries, and contribute to projects in ways that showcase individual strengths while elevating collective results.  This open way of operating not only makes it a great place to work, but it also fuels the firm’s ability to deliver innovative lighting solutions across a wide range of project types. 

The firm’s leadership also stands out for its commitment to diversity and inclusion.  As a women-owned firm, HLB has long embraced perspectives that broaden design thinking and enrich workplace culture.  Their leadership team champions equity at every level, ensuring that voices are heard, respected, and valued. 

Another defining feature comes with their focus on professional development and mentorship. From structured programs that nurtue emerging talent to ongoing opportunities for growth, the firm ensures employees have a clear pathway to advance in their career. 

The firm fosters a culture of shared ownership and employee engagement, and team members are invited into conversations about strategy, directions, and decision-making.  This culture of empowerment is now a cornerstone of why so many employees see them as not just a workplace, but as a community. 

BFTWF stands out as such a meaningful and rigorous recognition because it’s grounded in employee feedback.  Firms are evaluated through a confidential employee survey that measures key areas such as leadership, culture, benefits, work-life balance, and overall satisfaction.  Being named the top firm in any category means employees are not just engaged, but are genuinely invested in their work. 

HLB’s approach to work-life balance and flexibility also played a key role in their recognition.  The firm doesn’t rely on one-size-fits-all policies.  They emphasize responsiveness to individual needs as a way of recognizing that sustainable performance comes from supporting people as whole professionals. 

Ultimately, HLB Lighting Design’s top ranking reflects a culture where employees feel heard, supported, and empowered.  It’s not just about strong benefits or smart policies.  It’s about consistency between what the firm values and how those values show up every day in leadership decisions, team dynamics, and long-term vision. 

For HLB, culture is not separate from the work.  It’s what fuels it.  The firm’s collaborative environment and commitment to design excellence are reflected in a portfolio that spans civic landmarks, cultural institutions, higher education campuses, and dynamic urban spaces.  Across the country, their projects demonstrate how thoughtful lighting design can transform the way people experience architecture. 

Their success offers a clear lesson for the broader AEC industry.  Firms that prioritize people create the conditions for stronger performance.  When employees are empowered to contribute ideas, pursue growth, and collaborate openly, the work improves.  Innovation becomes more natural.  Quality becomes more consistent. 

Being named the top firm in the BFTWF Architecture category is not just a recognition of a positive workplace.  It’s a validation that culture and performance are connected.  HLB Lighting Design has shown that investing in people does more than build morale.  It builds better projects, stronger teams, and long-term impact. 

Finishing at the top in BFTWF is more than a milestone for HLB Lighting Design.  It’s proof that when you invest deeply in your people, the results show up everywhere—in retention, morale, innovation, and the quality of your work. 

HLB’s recognition highlights what the best firms already understand.  Strong culture is not a perk.  It’s a competitive advantage.  It attracts top talent, strengthens collaboration, and builds the kind of momentum that carries firms forward year after year. 

And the door is wide open for others to follow.  The highest-rated firms in Zweig Group’s Employee Experience Survey this year will be named as our 2026 Best Firms to Work For.  That means the list is already taking shape.  The firms that choose to listen to their people, measure what matters, and commit to building better workplaces have an opportunity to stand alongside leaders like HLB next year. 

source https://zweiglist.com/lighting-the-way-2/