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| Speirs + Major | |
|---|---|
| Name | Speirs + Major |
| Type | Private |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Jonathan Speirs; Mark Major |
| Headquarters | Glasgow; London |
| Key people | Jonathan Speirs; Mark Major; Gillian McColl; Kevin Fraser |
| Industry | Lighting design |
| Services | Architectural lighting design; urban lighting strategy; theatre lighting; consultancy |
| Notable projects | Lloyd's Register; The Shard; Tate Modern; Sydney Opera House; HSBC HQ |
Speirs + Major
Speirs + Major is an international lighting design practice founded in 1992 by Jonathan Speirs and Mark Major. The firm gained prominence through work on high-profile projects for clients such as Tate Modern, The Shard, Sydney Opera House, and Lloyd's Register, integrating lighting with architecture to influence perception of landmark buildings and public spaces. With offices in multiple cities, the practice has contributed to urban regeneration, cultural institutions, commercial developments, and transport infrastructure, collaborating with leading architects, artists, and institutions.
Founded in 1992 by Jonathan Speirs and Mark Major in Glasgow, the practice emerged during a period of urban renewal in United Kingdom cities and an expanding global interest in architectural lighting. Early commissions included projects with major architectural firms such as Foster + Partners and Richard Rogers-affiliated teams, which led to recognition in the Royal Institute of British Architects community. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the firm expanded its portfolio across Europe, Asia, and Australia, entering competitions and winning commissions alongside practices like Herzog & de Meuron, Zaha Hadid Architects, and Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Following Jonathan Speirs’s death in 2012, leadership continuity was maintained by senior designers and directors who sustained relationships with clients including Tate, National Theatre, and multinational corporations such as HSBC and Lloyd’s Register.
Speirs + Major’s portfolio encompasses museums, galleries, cultural venues, corporate headquarters, retail centers, transport hubs, and urban masterplans. Notable cultural projects include lighting schemes for Tate Modern and collaborations on the extension of Tate Britain, as well as installations at the National Theatre and interventions within the V&A museum context. The practice contributed to the exterior and public realm lighting of The Shard in London and worked on the lighting concept for the Sydney Opera House as part of anniversary events and projection-led initiatives. Corporate and commercial work spans projects for HSBC, Lloyd's Register, and centers designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Foster + Partners. Urban and infrastructure commissions include schemes for transport interchanges and civic squares in cities such as Edinburgh, Bristol, Melbourne, and Singapore, often executed with partners like Arup, AECOM, and Atkins. The practice has also produced temporary and festival lighting for events associated with Festival of Britain-style city celebrations and contemporary art festivals curated by institutions such as the Hayward Gallery.
Speirs + Major’s design philosophy emphasizes the relationship between light, material, and architectural form, prioritizing human experience within spaces created by architects like David Chipperfield and Renzo Piano. Their approach often combines discreet technical solutions—employing LED technology, bespoke luminaires, and lighting control systems—with narrative-driven concepts referencing local heritage, as seen in projects adjacent to Tower Bridge and historic precincts in Edinburgh. The practice uses techniques including grazing, wall-washing, accent lighting, and silhouette creation to model surfaces and volumes, while integrating daylight studies and electric light strategies for galleries similar to those at Tate Modern and V&A. They adopt simulation tools and photometric analysis developed alongside engineering firms such as Arup and software platforms used in the architectural profession, aligning illumination levels with conservation requirements in museums like Tate and performance criteria for venues such as the Royal Opera House. Energy efficiency and sustainable specification—leveraging standards promoted by organizations like the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers—are integral to their methodology.
The practice has collaborated with an array of architects, engineers, artists, and institutions. Architectural partners include Foster + Partners, Herzog & de Meuron, Zaha Hadid Architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, and David Chipperfield Architects. Engineering and consultancy allies include Arup, Atkins, AECOM, and specialist theatre consultants who support projects for entities such as the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company. Speirs + Major have worked with cultural institutions like Tate Modern, V&A, and British Museum on conservation-sensitive lighting, and with event organizers and arts programmers at venues such as the Southbank Centre and Hayward Gallery for festival and temporary commissions. Collaborations with manufacturers and lighting technology firms ensure bespoke luminaires and control systems for projects with partners including established suppliers associated with architectural lighting worldwide.
Speirs + Major and its principals have received numerous awards from professional bodies and industry publications. Honors have included accolades from the Royal Institute of British Architects, the International Association of Lighting Designers, and national design awards recognizing contributions to urban lighting and cultural projects. Projects have been featured in publications such as architectural monographs and periodicals celebrating work by firms like Foster + Partners and Herzog & de Meuron, and have been cited in academic and practice-led discussions on the role of light in heritage contexts, museum practice, and sustainable urban design.
Originally established in Glasgow and later expanding to London, the firm developed an international footprint through project-based operations and regional offices serving markets in Europe, Asia Pacific, and Australia. Project teams have delivered schemes in cities including London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, and Hong Kong, with frequent travel and collaboration between local architectural practices and the firm’s senior designers. The global presence has enabled long-term partnerships with multinational clients and participation in major international competitions and design forums.
Category:Lighting designers Category:Architectural lighting