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Carnegie Mellon alumni Jen Alexander (MFA, 2003), Brett Andersen (MFA, 1996), Michael Cummings (BFA, 1997), JR Krauza (BFA, 1998), and Chris Werner (BFA, 2004), all graduates of the School of Drama’s lighting design program, are not only making names for themselves in the field of lighting design, but they are doing it together. Alexander, Andersen, Cummings, Krauza and Werner all chose to begin their careers at New York’s Focus Lighting, Inc. with distinguished lighting designer Paul Gregory.

Though they focused on theatrical lighting at Carnegie Mellon, these alumni have easily translated their skills to Focus Lighting’s emphasis on architectural lighting. “Paul’s approach to lighting spaces is so similar to what we do in theatre,” said Alexander, “It’s about the stage pictures that are created in the space, but more importantly, it’s about the people who are in the space. Architecture is meaningless without the inhabitants it was created for. We have a real opportunity and an obligation to use the lighting in a space to not only highlight and enhance the architecture, but to make the people inside the space an integral part of the stage picture. Theatre has prepared us well to do that. No matter what the goal of the design is, the human element has to be a part of it.”

Cindy Limauro, Professor of Lighting Design at Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama, agrees. “Theatre training is good preparation for architectural lighting design because students study all areas of design (lighting, scenery, costumes, sound), they know how to create a strong visual point of view, they see the world from the outside in, they are taught to be critical thinkers and collaborators, and they have solid training in the craft and tools of lighting and technology,” she said. In fact, it was Limauro who first opened the door for these alumni to pursue careers in architectural lighting. Limauro and Gregory worked together when they were both starting out in the field and she was instrumental in recommending her students for employment at Focus Lighting.

The Focus Lighting alumni report that there are clear advantages to working with so many Carnegie Mellon graduates. “The common background gives us a step up on many other firms. We all think alike in many respects. We all come from different backgrounds, so we still have a diverse skill set to draw from, but we have a common tie that unites our thinking,” said Krauza. Andersen added, “Not only do we have a common frame of reference, we know what to expect from one another. We know the type of training we each have and can more easily rely on one another.”

At Focus Lighting, Carnegie Mellon graduates are well-known for their dedication and are leaders in this prestigious lighting firm. “Students leave Carnegie Mellon with a ‘can-do,’ ‘let’s get it done’ attitude, which fits perfectly with the way Focus Lighting runs,” said Andersen. “We don’t just do our jobs, we throw an awful lot of our energy, time and ideas into our projects,” added Alexander, “I think Carnegie Mellon chooses students with this kind of drive, so it’s natural that we should fit right in with the work ethic at Focus.”

Gregory adds “Carnegie Mellon graduates at Focus Lighting have contributed to impressive and acclaimed designs all over the world, such as Morimoto Restaurant (Philadelphia, PA), Tribeca Grand Hotel (New York, NY), Burj al Arab (United Arab Emirates), FAO Schwartz (New York, NY), Tourneau (Las Vegas, NV), and the Semiramis Hotel (Athens, Greece), to name a few.” Andersen and Krauza, with Gregory, received the prestigious 2003 Illuminating Society of North America (IESNA) Edwin Guth Award for their lighting design for the Mall at Millenia in Orlando, Florida, and Cummings received the 2002 Lumen Citation Award for his work on Town Restaurant in New York City.

For more information about Focus Lighting, Inc., visit www.focuslighting.com.