DarkSky DC Testifies on the New Lighting Plan for Union Station
Union Station—one of Washington, DC’s most iconic landmarks—is undergoing a major lighting redesign that will shape how the building looks and feels at night for decades. In December 2025, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) reviewed the proposed Union Station lighting plan, and DarkSky DC made its voice heard. Board President Jim Dougherty and Chapter Member Lee Mayer testified before the Commission, urging decision-makers to ensure the project aligns with responsible lighting practices that will protect the night sky while preserving the station’s historic character.
During their testimony, DarkSky DC emphasized why lighting design matters—not just for aesthetics, but for public health, environmental protection, and sustainability. Poorly designed lighting can create excessive glare, waste energy, disrupt ecosystems, and erase views of the night sky. DarkSky lighting principles offer a better path forward by calling for light only where it’s needed, fully shielded fixtures that direct light downward, restrained brightness levels, and warm-white tones that minimize harm to people and wildlife.
DarkSky DC’s recommendations for Union Station include collaborating closely with local environmental and community groups, installing fully shielded downward-facing fixtures in outdoor public areas, reducing overall brightness levels that could resemble daytime conditions, and specifying warm-white LEDs throughout the project. The testimony also raised concerns about the proposal’s comparisons to luminance levels at the Capitol Building and the White House, noting that these claims appear inconsistent with empirical measurements conducted by our Chapter.
The December testimony represents an important step in ensuring that responsible lighting principles are part of the final design. Advocacy works—and with continued public engagement, we can help make Union Station’s new lighting both functional and beautiful while protecting DC’s shared nighttime environment.
Please find links to the two DarkSky DC testimonials below:
