George Sexton

George S. Sexton, III is an American designer, specializing in the areas of lighting design, museum design and museum planning services.

Life Sexton studied at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University from 1966, where he received his Bachelor of Architecture Degree in 1971. Upon graduation, Sexton began his work in architectural lighting design through his employment at Claude Engle, Lighting Consultant in Washington, DC. He continued his work in the field of lighting design by taking a position at the National Gallery of Art both designing and lighting exhibits. This early professional experience working in DC museums coupled with his modernist training as an architect have been the foundations of his approach to lighting and museum design. Further shaping experiences include working as Acting Keeper of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich, England, as well as the Head of the Design and Installation Department for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco at both the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor.

In 1980, Sexton opened his own lighting and museum design firm, George Sexton Associates, based in Washington, DC, with satellite offices in Norwich, England and New York City.

Connection to Claude Engle Trained in architecture at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, George Sexton found himself - after graduation, amid a recession in the early 1970s — seeking employment beyond architecture firms and found a position with lighting designer Claude Engle. Assigned to the east wing extension for the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., which Engle was working on at the time, was what set Sexton on a course of museum work that has been the cornerstone of his professional lighting career.

Lighting philosophy As referenced in an interview of George Sexton, "Design-wise, it's about listening to the client. In terms of lighting, we are of the school that you shouldn't notice our work; it should be transparent. ... Daylight is very important to the visitor's experience. Architects and lighting designers have a great comfort level in working with daylight. It is something that can be managed in a way that is consistent with museums, but when making that choice, there is a cost of controlling daylight that needs to be considered. ... Regarding technology impacting museum lighting, there's a whole area of lighting controls, particularly as they relate to conservation and energy issues. Interactive media as well. We need to be clever as designers and consider these other sources (i.e., the whole range of media generated light) as part of the lighting solution."

A|L Light & Architecture Commendable Achievement in Architectural Lighting, 2009

Star-Spangled Banner Exhibit, National Museum of American History, Washington DC IIDA Section Guth Illumination Design Award, 2009

Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC IIDA Guth Illumination Design Award, 2008

National Association of Realtors Headquarters, Washington DC U.S. Green Building Council LEED Award, Silver Rating, 2005 Citation for Sustainable Design Award – Committee on the Environment Boston Society of Architects/AIA and Committee on the Environment of the AIA New York Chapter (in collaboration with Gund Partnership), 2004

Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington DC International Illumination Design Awards – Waterbury Capital Section Award, 2005

Louis Vuitton, Roppongi Hills, Japan GE Edison Award of Merit, 2004]

Cleveland Museum of Art Building Restoration, Cleveland Ohio Cleveland Restoration Society and Preservation Resource Center of Northeastern Ohio - Technical Achievement in Preservation Award (in collaboration with Vitetta), 2003

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth Texas IIDA Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award of Excellence, 2003 IALD International Association of Lighting Designers Award of Merit, 2003 IIDA Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award of Excellence for Interior Lighting Design, 2003 IIDA Capitol Section Illumination Design Award, 2003 IIDA Capitol Section Illumination Design Award of Merit – International Level, 2003

Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Wisconsin IIDA Paul Waterbury Award of Excellence for Outdoor Lighting Design GE Edison Award of Excellence, 2002 IIDA Capitol Section Illumination Design Award, 2002

Herz Jesu Kirche (Heart of Jesus Church), Munich Germany IIDA Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award of Excellence for Interior Lighting Design, 2002 IIDA Capitol Section Illumination Design Award, 2002 IALD International Association of Lighting Designers Award of Merit, 2001 GE Edison Award of Excellence, 2000

Denver Art Museum, Denver Colorado IESNA International Illumination Design Award of Merit, 1999

Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum—McIntire Room, Wilmington Delaware IESNA Capital Section Illumination Design Award, 1998