Global architecture and design firm HLW has appointed Fantina Barrera as the incoming director for Spark Studio Lighting, the firm’s architectural lighting team. Trained in Mexico, Malaysia, and Germany, Barrera brings over a decade of experience lighting hospitality, residential, office and public projects, with work spanning North America, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean.
“She brings a wealth of experience that complements and adds new depth and capabilities to our portfolio. Her passion for design, attention to detail, and commitment to clients’ needs are setting the stage for future growth and development of Spark Studio Lighting Design as a significant player in the New York lighting design community,” said Scott Herrick, AIA, partner and current managing director of Spark. “We look forward to her energy and enthusiasm building on the foundation of our award-winning design work.”
Most recently, Barrera rose from senior designer to associate principal at Reveal Design Group, managing lighting projects from concept through commissioning. She was responsible for overseeing the team and handled business development alongside collaborators including Meyer Davis, Rockwell Group, Gensler, AvroKO and Sasha Bikoff.
In earlier roles at HLB Lighting, ICrave and OVI she developed lighting concepts for Mercado Little Spain, Marquee Nightclub Singapore, and Sushi Samba Riyadh, among many others. Barrera has also worked on notable projects such as the renovation of the Waldorf Astoria Boca Raton Resort Club, Al Wasl Plaza at the World Expo in the UAE, and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. She began her career in Mexico as co-founder and lighting designer of Alykäs Barrera & Barrera, her family’s practice, where she deepened her passion for the built environment.
Barrera holds a Master of Fine Arts in architectural lighting design, cum laude, from Hochschule Wismar in Germany and a B.A. with Honours in Industrial/Product Design from the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí in Mexico. She also completed a Continuing Education Diploma in building lighting systems at Parsons School of Design.
