This winter, the LRS Design Lab brought one of our most innovative and creative design projects to life, right in the heart of our community: a custom, interactive light sculpture installation for the Portland Winter Light Festival!

Our team’s sculpture – fondly titled “Hi-Diddly-Ho Neighborino” – features large, curving translucent screens that create four distinct interaction spaces linked through a central circulation path. The innovative lighting design creates a two-way projection effect on the screens, making visitors’ silhouettes visible from both sides. It invites engagement between those passing through the inside of the sculpture and those circulating around the perimeter, as shadows interact with shadows. This effect, inspired by the works of artists Olafur Eliasson and James Turrell, creates opportunities for playful interactions: a quick game of shadow rock-paper-scissors, a silhouette high five, or a group of excited kids running to see whose shadow is on the other side.

“A Light for Tomorrow” – this year’s festival theme – was integral to the design of “Hi-Diddly-Ho Neighborino.” We used this theme as an opportunity to explore the future of our industry and the world around us.

Artificial Intelligence as a Design Tool

New technology was introduced from the project’s conception, where we used Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in an office-wide design charrette, inviting staff to practice feeding prompts to an AI design support tool, honing input to shape different types of output and spark fun, quickfire idea-generation.

The Future of Construction – Integrated Design Process and Prefabrication

We forged an early partnership with Mortenson and HL Stearns, working together on a series of on-site mock-ups and materials tests to develop and refine the interactive shadow effect. This integrated design process allowed us to explore the idea of prefabrication for the installation. With EC Electric, our team came up with a durable, easy-to-assemble prefabricated design that enjoyed Pioneer Courthouse Square’s 200,000+ festival visitors.

Interaction through Design

“Hi-Diddly-Ho Neighborino” is more than a silly name. It hints at the true concept of our installation: design as a tool for spontaneous social interaction. Good design has the power to bring people together, encourage social interaction, and support our communities. In this instance, we used light as a design tool that allows individuals to have positive interactions with their neighbors. Moving forward, this idea of interaction can also be brought into our other work.

If you missed “Hi-Diddly-Ho Neighborino” at the festival this year, check out the photo carousel below! Our collaborators for this exciting installation included Mortenson, HL Stearns, EC Electric, JH Kelly, and UFP Industries.

What is the LRS Design Lab?

The LRS Design Lab is a pioneering group at the forefront of LRS Architects’ advancing technology and practical innovation strides. Their mission is to keep LRS ahead of emerging design technology, and to cultivate our culture of innovation, empowering and supporting our design teams to explore new territory. LRS Design Lab’s impacts are not confined within our walls; they bring our clients and the communities where we work new ways to participate in the design process and interact with the ideas and concepts that will one day become built spaces. The design world transforms at a rapid pace, with constant technological advances, evolving social and cultural values, and global economic shifts significantly reshaping our environment and, with it, the design profession. To keep up with this tide of change, contemporary tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), computational design, and robotic fabrication are becoming mainstream in daily life and in many professions. Recognizing this transformative shift, the LRS Design Lab is continuously exploring innovative approaches to integrate these paradigm-shifting advancements into LRS’ design culture and daily operations. In 2025, stay tuned for more exciting updates about the LRS’ Design Lab and their continued work to chart LRS’ path to the future.