Pioneering lighting designer Mark Major steps down as Senior Partner of Speirs Major Light Architecture

After 40 years of continuous practice, Mark Major is stepping down from his role as Senior Partner at Speirs Major Light Architecture (SMLA). He will remain a consultant to the practice.

Mark co-founded Speirs and Major in London with the late Jonathan Speirs in 1996. He then formed a partnership with Keith Bradshaw in 2010 to develop the studio now known as Speirs Major Light Architecture.

Over his career, Mark has achieved international recognition as both a pioneer and a leading voice in lighting design. Identifying as a ‘Light Architect’, he has shaped the experience of some of the world’s most significant buildings and public spaces after dark, with work ranging from modest interventions to the masterplanning of large urban areas. He has collaborated with many respected architects, landscape architects, and artists around the globe.

His impact on the built environment is particularly evident in London, where he has created many landmark lighting projects, including the Millennium Dome, Royal Festival Hall, Golden Jubilee Bridges, Terminal 5 Heathrow, 30 St Mary Axe, and Battersea Power Station. He has also been responsible for the re-lighting of the interiors of both St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.

His influence on urban development extends to major masterplans for King’s Cross and the Broadgate Estate, as well as pioneering lighting planning guidance for the City of London. He was the Lighting Design Advisor to the Olympic Delivery Authority for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for London 2012.

Elsewhere in the UK, his work includes projects ranging from re-lighting the exterior of Coventry Cathedral and the interior of Norwich Cathedral to the Macallan Distillery in Speyside. International projects include Terminal 2 Beijing Airport, Manhattan West in New York, and the Barangaroo development in Sydney. Most recently, he directed the lighting of the new Melbourne Metro.

Through his leadership, Mark has been a passionate advocate for the sensitive use of light and darkness to enrich the experience of architecture and the public realm, helping to shape contemporary thinking in the field.

He has lectured extensively around the world, including the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, North and South America and Australia. He co-authored the best-selling ‘Made of Light – The Art of Light and Architecture’ and created ‘The Third Age of Light’ an educational VR project that looked at the future of urban lighting.

Mark’s generous sharing of knowledge through writing, education, and mentorship has significantly advanced the development and recognition of the lighting design profession, a commitment he will continue to pursue.

He remains a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and the International Association of Lighting Designers, and a Royal Designer for Industry.

Reflecting on his decision, Mark said:  “I am immensely grateful to have had such a rich and rewarding time over the last four decades, fuelled by my enduring passion for light and architecture, and the pleasure of working with so many truly great people. While once a designer always a designer, I recognise that it is a good time for me to step back from the day-to-day of lighting practice.”

Mark will formally step down on Friday 28th August. Senior Partner Keith Bradshaw will continue to guide the studio’s creative ethos and strategic direction, supported by Partners Clementine Fletcher-Smith and Carrie Donahue Bremner.