A light emitting diode (LED) lighting unit including power supply housing accommodating a power supply and an LED array housing defining an internal compartment and a lens sealing the internal compartment. An LED array and an LED control circuit are mounted on a printed circuit board, which is accommodated within the compartment. The rear surface of the LED array housing includes a heat transfer element. At least one of the LED array and power supply housings has a chimney extending therethrough from a front to rear surface. The rear surface of the LED array housing is spaced from the front surface of the power supply housing to define and airflow space therebetween. During operation of the LED lighting unit, air flows into the airflow space and toward a central axis of the LED lighting unit before flowing out through the chimney to facilitate removing heat from the LED lighting unit.