Meet Laura Ashley
Hello! I'm Laura Ashley, Owner, Founder and Designer of Silaw Lighting Design, LLC, a small boutique lighting design company based in Southeastern Virginia. Silaw means "light" in Ilocano, which is the Philippine dialect my family speaks. The name is meaningful - a tribute to my family and my passion for lighting.
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I'm excited to share my story with you of how I landed in this unique industry of lighting.
My Story
Laura Ashley was born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA. When she was six years old, she began taking piano lessons, and at the age of seven, she began learning the violin. One day, Laura's mom found an article in the newspaper about auditions for a new Virginia Youth Symphony Orchestra (VYSO), under the direction of Robert Ian Winstin. Auditioning wasn't as bad as she thought, but having walked into it wearing a Laura Ashley dress and the conductor belting out "LAAAAAAAA" because her initials are L.A.A.A., she wasn't sure what to think! However, that one audition changed her life forever. Every summer VYSO traveled the world performing concert tours and getting wrapped in cultural experiences. The ancient and modern architecture is what really caught Laura's eye.
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Fast forward to her college years, Laura Ashley knew she wanted to combine her passion for music with architecture. But how? She was accepted into the Pennsylvania State University, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Architectural Engineering, with a focus on Building Electrical Systems Design and Architectural Lighting Design. You're probably wondering where music plays into all of this? Laura always believed music is an art allowing the musician to tell a story - an expression of who she is. Like music, lighting is another form of art, where as the designer, she gets to exercise her creative juices to produce a beautifully lit space.
Professional Experience
With lighting design and building electrical systems design experience, Laura Ashley has worked on numerous successful projects, including LEED & WELL projects, with design firms from across the United States. She also has a strong working relationship with lighting agencies and design teams locally and nationwide. Laura Ashley is also highly involved with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) nationally and locally, i.e. IES Tidewater. She has served as President, Vice President, Emerging Professionals Chair, and District 3 Vice Chair,
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(*) Project designed and completed at another company.
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Health + Science
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Regeneron Landmark Campus Site Lighting, Tarrytown, NY*
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA*
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Quest Diagnostics, Clifton, NJ*
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Allegheny Health Network Wexford Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA*
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Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA*
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VCU New Kent Emergency Department, New Kent County, VA*
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Northwell Health Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY*
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CNMC Inventa Sports Medicine, Silver Spring, MD*
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Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, DC*
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Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital Emergency Department, Kitchen & Servery Expansion & Renovation, Lancaster, PA*
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Shattuck Hospital Replacement Building, Boston, MA*
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Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Tacoma, WA*
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Mixed-Use
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515 West 18th Street, New York, NY*
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950 South Capitol, Washington, DC*
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664 Pacific, Brooklyn, NY*
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1900 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA*
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Strathmore Square Building 3A & 3B, North Bethesda, MD*
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Residential
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515 West 18th Street, New York, NY*
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Waterline Square, New York, NY*
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950 South Capitol, Washington, DC*
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50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY*
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470 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY*
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664 Pacific, Brooklyn, NY*
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CitizenM Hotel Boston, Boston, NY*
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Workplace
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WSP Arlington Office, Arlington, VA*
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LMI Tenant Renovations, McLean, VA*
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Regeneron Landmark Campus Site Lighting, Tarrytown, NY*
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General Dynamics, Falls Church, VA*
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1180 Peachtree Lobby Renovation, Atlanta, GA*
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Informa 605 3rd Avenue, New York, NY*
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KIMC Office Space Remodel. Arlington, VA*
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Amazon B20 COE, Seattle, WA*
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SCOR 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY*
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Gates Medical Research Institute Renovation, Cambridge, MA*
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555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC*
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Pierce Jewett, PLLC, Richmond, VA
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Retail
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515 West 18th Street, New York, NY*
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Tysons Galleria Redevelopment, McLean, VA*
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Academic
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Cornell University, Ithaca, NY*
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216 Massachusetts Avenue, Northeastern University, Boston, MA (WELL project)*
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555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC*
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Arizona State University Los Angeles Herald Examiner Building, Los Angeles, CA*
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Civic + Cultural
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Route 34 Underpass Beautification, New Haven, CT*
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South Sound 911 Public Safety Communications Center, Tacoma, WA*
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General Services Administration Facility, Madawaska, ME*
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First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach, VA
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Westmoreland State Park, Montross, VA
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Christ & St. Luke's Church, Norfolk, VA
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Hospitality
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89 Guest Concert Hall, Boston, MA*
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Arizona State University Los Angeles Herald Examiner Building, Los Angeles, CA*
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Sports + Recreation
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Wells Fargo Center (Phase 4E), Philadelphia, PA*
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Old Dominion University eSports Room Lighting, Norfolk, VA
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Red Bulls Training Facility, Morristown, NJ*
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Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, NV*
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We're always looking for new and exciting opportunities!
Let's connect.
Phone
757-932-5931
