Tirschwell & Co. is a New York architectural lighting studio that designs light as part of the architecture, with work spanning residences, hospitality, galleries, cultural spaces, corporate interiors, and retail. Established in 1999, the firm has operated for more than 25 years. Restrepo Group | Tirschwell & Co. | New York, NY. The studio's public portfolio shows projects from Central Park West and East 72nd Street to Sona, Bar Boulud, James Cohan Gallery, and One Vanderbilt. (t-ld.com)
For architects, interior designers, and builders in NJ, CT, and NY who need technology to support the lighting concept rather than compete with it, Restrepo Innovations is an Elite Pro Crestron Dealer with an engineering and programming layer for coordinated AV, lighting control, and networks. Tirschwell & Co. remains the local lighting design lead. Restrepo remains the systems and standards partner. That separation is what makes the Group useful.
What Tirschwell & Co. executes
Tirschwell & Co. executes architectural lighting design, interior lighting design, exterior illumination, dimming coordination, and lighting applications for design teams that need the visual result and the technical path to agree. The firm works with architects, interior designers, owners, and builders. It serves both the city and projects farther afield through its New York and Los Angeles offices.
The studio starts with the room, architecture, and client's use of the space. Light reveals material, guides movement, supports hospitality operations, or gives art the right visual weight. The effect in the room is the point.
| Sector | Public portfolio examples | Design problem |
|---|---|---|
| City residential | Central Park West, East 72nd St, 740 Park | Make light precise in rooms where architecture and finishes carry the identity |
| Hospitality | Sona, Bar Boulud, Del Posto, Hotel Indigo Brooklyn | Hold atmosphere and service needs together through changing hours |
| Galleries and cultural | James Cohan, Brant Foundation, Venus over Manhattan | Support artwork and circulation without making the equipment the subject |
| Corporate and retail | One Vanderbilt, 885 Third Avenue, Oscar de la Renta | Give large spaces a clear visual order and usable working light |
Matthew Tirschwell built the practice around observation
Matthew Tirschwell is the firm's founder and principal designer. The team page states that he has more than 35 years of lighting design experience across hospitality, healthcare, retail, residential, and government work. He holds a BFA in Theatrical Production Arts from Ithaca College and a Master's in Architectural Lighting Design from Parsons - The New School.
His theatrical lighting and scenic design background informs the studio's attention to perception and timing. The firm's standard is plain: light's impact should take precedence over the visibility of the equipment. His commissions include the Sculpture Center with Maya Lin and David Hotson, the former World Trade Center Plaza, and residences associated with Peter Marino and Philippe Starck. His work has appeared in Architectural Digest, Interior Design, Elle Decor, The New York Times, and Architectural Record. (firm team page)
Matthew has taught lighting design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Utah State University, and Parsons School of Design. A lighting concept still has to survive drawings, coordination meetings, mock-ups, field conditions, and final aiming. A strong idea without that follow-through does not help the owner.
Why the firm builds before it renders
Tirschwell & Co. says it designs by building, not by rendering. The studio uses full-scale physical mock-ups to test the effect in real-world conditions before installation. That is a useful discipline for any project where wall color, stone, millwork, artwork, ceiling geometry, and viewing distance will change what the eye sees.
A drawing can show a fixture location. A mock-up shows whether the beam is too hard, a surface too bright, or art readable at the expected distance. Those decisions should happen while the team can still change the detail, not after every finish is installed.
That discipline helps technology coordination. Restrepo can work from the lighting intent and carry control, network, and AV requirements into a documented system. Each specialist stays in its lane, and the architect gets a cleaner handoff.
To coordinate lighting with AV, control, or networking, call 201.405.2022 before the walls close.
How Tirschwell & Co. fits the Restrepo Group
Tirschwell & Co. is the Restrepo Group's New York architectural lighting design and distribution partner. The firm leads lighting intent, fixture selection, visual studies, mock-ups, and design coordination in its territory. Restrepo Innovations brings engineering, network design, control programming, documentation, and long-term systems support when a project also includes AV, lighting control, motorized shading, or distributed audio.
The firms are peers. Tirschwell protects the architectural idea. Restrepo protects system behavior after handover. A Manhattan residence may need discreet lighting, shades, audio, and simple controls. A commercial project may need scene control, documented networks, and service access.
Michael Restrepo describes the relationship this way: Matt brings the lighting intent and the eye for the room. We bring the engineering and control layer that lets that intent hold up in daily use.
That is the peer relationship. The local specialist leads the local work. The Group adds another layer when the project crosses trades or markets.
Frequently asked questions
What does Tirschwell & Co. do?
Tirschwell & Co. is an architectural lighting design studio that works across residential, hospitality, gallery, cultural, corporate, and retail projects. Its services include lighting applications, interior and exterior illumination, design coordination, and physical mock-ups used to test the result before installation. The firm works with architects, designers, owners, and builders.
Who founded Tirschwell & Co.?
Matthew Tirschwell founded Tirschwell & Co., Inc. in 1999. The firm describes him as its founder and principal designer. He has more than 35 years of lighting design experience and studied theatrical production arts at Ithaca College before earning a master's degree in architectural lighting design from Parsons - The New School.
What New York projects has Tirschwell & Co. worked on?
The firm's public portfolio names Central Park West, East 72nd Street, 740 Park, Sona, Bar Boulud, Del Posto, James Cohan Gallery, Venus over Manhattan, 885 Third Avenue, and One Vanderbilt, among others. The spotlight names only work identified in the firm's portfolio.
Why does a lighting designer use a physical mock-up?
A physical mock-up lets the design team judge glare, beam spread, contrast, color, shadow, and the way light lands on actual materials before the full installation is complete. Tirschwell & Co. says it uses full-scale mock-ups because a drawing or rendering cannot reproduce every condition in the finished room. Testing early protects the design and the owner's budget.
How does Tirschwell & Co. work with Restrepo Innovations?
Tirschwell & Co. leads architectural lighting design in New York. Restrepo Innovations is a separate Group firm that can provide engineering, network design, AV coordination, and control programming for projects in NJ, CT, and NY. The member firms keep their own client relationships and scopes. The Group gives projects a peer network when systems need to work together.
Restrepo Group | Tirschwell & Co. | New York, NY is a working relationship between a lighting studio and an engineering-led systems firm. Visit t-ld.com to review the firm's work. Visit restrepoinnovations.com/group/ to see how the Group supports projects across its member territories.
For a project in NJ, CT, or NY where lighting needs to coordinate with AV, networking, shading, or control, call Restrepo Innovations at 201.405.2022 or email office@restrepoinnovations.com. The Group overview is at restrepoinnovations.com/group/.