In our 20 years of business, we’ve worked on some incredible properties. But being chosen as the integrators for a UNESCO World Heritage site—a Frank Lloyd Wright property, mind you—is something we’ll never forget.
In 2024, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation decided to upgrade Taliesin West’s lighting systems. Built in 1937 in Scottsdale, Taliesin West was the architect’s winter home and was considered his personal design “laboratory.” After almost a century of use, the house’s lighting system had degraded and was difficult to control. It needed an upgrade.
So the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation turned to Lutron’s intelligent Ketra lighting and selected Wipliance to configure and install the new system. Now, two years after the project was completed, we finally gathered friends and colleagues for An Evening at Taliesin West to enjoy the iconic property and new lighting experience.
Prepping for the Party
Because we had programmed the Lutron system with custom lighting scenes, setting up Taliesin West for the event was as easy as pressing a button. Taliesin West’s property manager, Bruce, simply had to hit the “Event,” button, and done! The mood was set.
The Taliesin West Experience
At 5:30 on March 5th, 2026, our Evening at Taliesin West began. Guests were invited to walk through the striking landscape and campus, from Wright’s drafting studio to the cabaret theater, and into the famous garden room.
Frank Lloyd Wright had always intended for Taliesin West to have a warm, campfire-like glow throughout it. That’s been a challenge to recreate today, as many modern LED lights appear too harsh or bright. But Ketra’s sophisticated color control technology restored the space with the warm lighting effect that Wright intended.
One standout feature was the handcrafted pendant lights, restored with Ketra. Set to a burnt-orange hue, the Ketra bulbs made the lampshades ‘pop’ in a way they hadn’t in decades. After sunset, we all gathered in the garden room for Ketra lighting demonstrations of curated ‘light recipes’ that adjust the atmosphere instantly.
Outdoors, Ketra lights added a dash of fun colors to the landscape, creating a palpable energy for the party.
Snapshots from the Evening
What a location. Under the lights in such a beautiful setting, we couldn’t help but think Taliesin West would make the perfect venue for a wedding or business event.
Everyone at Wipliance is immensely proud of this project, and we’re so happy to have shared it with all who attended our event or read this article. And if you’re in Scottsdale or visiting soon? Be sure to check out Taliesin West, a local UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of our favorite projects.
