Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael John Smith.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was working with Richard Fitzgerald FAIA and was with him for five years. I was laid off from his office during the oil-slump and decided to found my own firm two hours after the notice. I started my practice in Houston, Texas as the first independent (not associated with a manufacturer) lighting consultant on the gulf coast in 1982. We started our practice lighting churches.
I found them the most gratifying because of the symmetry and ability to use dramatic lighting when appropriate. Our practice has grown from houses of worship into health care, a number of palaces in the Middle East, a Pied-à-Terre in Moscow, a lovely 10 acre garden in Monterrey, Mexico. They were grand and allowed me to be exposed to the finer things in life, allowing me to contribute to same.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, overall, I think its been pretty smooth. The hiccups were in the transitions from incandescent light to halogen, and from Halogen and HID sources to LEDs. Its almost a matter of waiting months or days. and a new product pops-up. We always test new lighting products, and we have gradually built our repertoire of lighting instruments.
We have found that a commitment to education has allowed us to remain on the cutting edge of lighting design. One of the most gratifying processes is aiming all the lights once the construction has been completed. If the project is residential, the owners literally see their possessions in a new light, and they have always been thrilled.
MJS LIGHT – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in anything associated with light. Light is the most powerful element of architecture. We can choose not to illuminate what we see as an error, and by the same token, we can illuminate the most powerful elements of a design.
I am proud of the compliments bestowed on us and our work. We have stuck with lighting design because it’s so gratifying. Light determines what we see and has an enormous effect on our mood and behavior. It is the thinnest magic wand, the most delicate and elegant toy with which we can play.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moments have been the two times we have been invited to a congregation’s dedication service for their church. One was at St. Mark’s Episcopal church in San Antonio, Texas, and the other was for St. Anne’s in Houston, Texas. The church was entered in darkness; it had been brought up to Vatican standards, and the sanctuary floor was extended. All of the walls were cleaned from the incense and smoke of candles from the decades of services. All of the lightings was brand new, and I spent an hour deciding the fade rate for the coming-on of the lights.
Deciding between a minute or ten seconds, I settled on thirty seconds. When I hit the scene button on the balcony, there was a hesitation from the congregation. They were concerned the lighting was not operating properly, but it went on up to the thirty second full and revealed all of the church’s improvements. The church burst into an applause that was most gratifying to the architects (Ray Bailey) and lighting consultant. The second was at St. Mark’s Episcopal church in San Antonio.
Julian Castro, the mayor at the time, spoke at the dedication service, and again the design team (Ford Powell & Carson Inc) received applause for their work when the lights came up. It’s not that often that moment like these occur, and they have remained with me throughout my lengthy career.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4156 Meyerwood Drive Houston, Texas 77025
- Website: mjslight.com
- Phone: 713-850-1488
- Email: see website contact form
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