David Laffitte has been a senior architect at Reynolds Smith & Hills for five years.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I am primarily an architect for commercial projects and I also do lighting design on my projects and others as requested.”
HOW DID YOU GET INTO
LIGHTING DESIGN?
“It was almost by accident. In 1982, my wife and I moved to Boston so she could study photography. I was unable to find a job as an architect, but I found a job as a lighting designer with a firm, William Lam & Associates, that only hired architects to do lighting design. I practiced as a full-time lighting designer for two years. After that, we returned to Jacksonville and I resumed a full-time practice in architecture, but I did lighting design in addition to architecture.” He became a certified lighting designer in 1996.
COLLEGE
He has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Florida.
AFTER COLLEGE
Other than his stint in Boston, he has always worked in Jacksonville. He started with Clements, Rumpel & Associates, moved to KBJ Architects and joined Reynolds Smith & Hills in 1997.
MOST RECENT CLIENTS?
He designed the lighting for a number of ADT Security Services, Inc. call centers and the neon lights on the Acosta Bridge. “That was actually a lot of fun. I am doing the lighting for our own building that is under construction in Southside and I’ve designed the lighting for the new Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art across the street from Hemming Plaza.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT DESIGNING LIGHTING FOR COMMERCIAL SPACES?
“As an architect I feel I am responsible for the entire design of the space so I don’t like to turn that [lighting] over to someone else; I like to do the lighting myself. It becomes another tool to use in designing. If you do the lighting on a building you designed, you can use the lighting to support that architecture. One can reinforce the other. You can design the architecture to make it easier to light.”
CHALLENGES OF
DESIGNING LIGHTING IN A COMMERCIAL SPACE?
Laffitte said because technology changes so quickly, it takes a while to reach the point where new technology is reliable enough to be used in commercial spaces. He said a big difference between commercial and residential lighting is the need for energy conservation in commercial spaces because the lights are on all the time. “You also have higher light levels and you have to hire someone to maintain the lighting.”
INCANDESCENT VERSES FLUORESCENT
“Incandescent lighting allows you to get to smaller spots, it adds sparkle and focuses attention on objects with spotlights. It makes everything look good. You can also dim the lighting, so that’s why you see that type of lighting in restaurants. Fluorescent lighting doesn’t give you much chance for accenting. It is good for general lighting and it’s efficient.”
WHY DOES SOMEONE NEED A LIGHTING DESIGNER?
“Lighting designers are brought in when there is a need to provide something that is more integrated with the architecture or to achieve some dramatic effect. Most lighting designers have backgrounds in architecture or theater.”
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT?
“I think it is very positive for the city. I think it is very positive that there is more residential in and around downtown. It would also be tremendously valuable for the city to provide more support to the restoration in Springfield. It would be a tremendous asset to downtown in its redevelopment efforts.”
BIRTHPLACE
Quincy, Fla.
RESIDES
On Pottsburg Creek, south of Beach Boulevard.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS?
He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Illuminating Engineering Society.
FAMILY
He has been married to Kathleen McKenzie, director of education at Lutheran Social Services, for 21 years.
HOBBIES
Gardening.
FAVORITES
“Bonnie and Clyde” is a movie he would recommend. “It was not my favorite, but it impressed me when it came out.” A book he would recommend is “My Life and Times,” by James Thurber. When relaxing at home, he hopes to catch an episode of “Fawlty Towers” on PBS. When traveling, he enjoys New York City. His favorite dining spot is Taste of Thai on University Boulevard.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis