Harvard University – Adams House – Russell Hall, Library, Commons, Westmorly Court
Project Description
Property History
Adams House is one of the twelve undergraduate residential Houses at Harvard University, located between Harvard Square and the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its name commemorates the services of the Adams family, including John Adams, the second president of the United States, and John Quincy Adams, the sixth president.
The residential halls of Adams House (Claverly, Randolph, Westmorly and Old Russell) were originally private “Gold Coast” dormitories built from 1893-1902 to provide luxurious accommodation for rich Harvard undergraduates. They, along with the white clapboarded Apthorp House (1760), one of the most distinguished Colonial residences of Cambridge—and now the faculty deans’ residence—predate the rest of Harvard’s Houses by several decades.
Project Scope
Grand Light restored a variety of historic light fixtures for the residential halls of Harvard University’s Adams House. A variety of interior and exterior fixtures were involved in the restoration, including wall sconces, chandeliers, pendants, torchieres, and lanterns. Grand Light sent a team on site to remove, pack, and transport the fixtures back to our restoration facility, where they could be thoroughly inspected and worked on.
Each fixture was disassembled, cleaned, lacquered, and rewired, while a number of them were fully refinished.
An assortment of candelabra wall sconces were restored and fabricated for various locations in the Adams House. Each fixture’s surface was cleaned and treated in order to conserve the original black finish, then multiple coats of protective lacquer were applied to maintain the quality for the foreseeable future. Several custom replicas of these sconces were produced to seamlessly accompany the restored originals.
Two large exterior torchieres were restored for the Westmorly Court as part of this job. The fixtures had their existing finishes stripped via media blasting and received a new black finish. One damaged decorative component required repair, and the existing clear glass diffusers were replaced with frosted seedy glass.
A number of intricately hand-crafted wooden fixtures were restored for Adams House, including a red painted chandelier and multiple types of face-carved ceiling lights. More so than metal fixtures, wooden luminaires need to be very delicately cleaned before applying a new finish/paint to avoid damaging the artistry or structural integrity. The original black and red finish on the chandelier was able to be conserved through cleaning and lacquering. The face-carved fixtures were carefully media blasted at a low PSI to strip them of their original finish before being hand painted in gold.
Six unique dragon wall sconces from a study nook were fully refurbished. The fixtures were carefully ultrasonically and hand cleaned in order to preserve the existing black and copper finish. The existing wiring and base sockets were replaced in order to meet modern UL standards.
Russell Hall’s gold staircase torchieres were also a part of this restoration. The nearly 9ft tall fixtures were media blasted to strip them of their original black and bronze finish. A new bronze finish was applied to all steel surfaces, then they were given a coat of protective lacquer. The amber mica diffusers were able to be conserved after thoroughly hand-cleaning them.
The library commons fixtures included multiple chandeliers and reading lights. The chandeliers were able to be cleaned and restored on site, while the reading lights were cleaned, lacquered, and rewired at our restoration facility.
A number of exterior wall lanterns were also restored for the job. Each fixture was media blasted and/or placed in our industrial burnoff oven to strip the fixture of its original finish, rust, and accumulated debris. Some required minor mechanical repairs and new glass diffusers, and each was refinished in black and rewired with UL listed products.
Services Performed
On-Site Packing, Crating, & Transportation
Grand Light frequently transports lighting fixtures using our own box trucks, flatbeds, and custom-built trailers that are designed specifically for safe transport. Our team packs all components with custom-built crates catered to each fixture in our factory. Each crate is packed and properly labeled with all necessary information per fixture type, including loose components, damages/deficiencies, and proper component placement/alignment.
Lighting Design & Engineering
Our process begins with reviewing existing documentation including sketches, architectural drawings, historical photographs, and an on-site inspection to gather the full scope of the project requirements. From there, Grand Light will develop a detailed proposal. As required Grand Light conducts research to assure the historical accuracy of all historic projects.
The creation of Custom Drawings, Modeling, Simulation, and Rendering is an important part of the process when it comes to the production of custom lighting. Whether it be a replication or modification of an existing lighting fixture, the client’s design, or a creation by Grand Light’s engineering team, our designs will serve as the blue print for our production process.
Our designs and subsequent mock-ups address the smallest of detail, allowing our clients to fully visualize the fixture before it goes into production, which reduces the possibility of error, and allows Grand Light to fulfill its commitment of delivering high quality lighting fixtures on schedule.
Material Fabrication
Grand Light has created custom lighting fixtures of every style and for every application. Our team of professional metal workers excel in Forming, Forging, Spinning, Stamping, and Hydroforming various materials such as Steel, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Brass, Bronze, and Copper.
Grand Light’s production process in machining and manufacturing custom lighting fixtures and components in both large and small quantities; from minor components to the complete fabrication of full sized lanterns or other custom lighting fixtures, our artisans can accommodate any client specification or deadline.
With our automated lathes, stamping, and welding equipment aid in our ability to craft metal components to project specification with unparalleled design, quality, and durability. Our custom lighting team stands confidently behind their work with years of experience and dedication to quality craftsmanship.
Glass & Crystal Cleaning & Replication
Grand Light’s Crystal, Glass, & Acrylic Studio specializes in the cleaning, repair, fitting, custom fabrication, replacement and replication of crystal, glass, and acrylic components of varying types, sizes, and color.
Our extensive cleaning solutions include hand cleaning, abrasive, micro-abrasive, and ultrasonic cleaning technology. Our artisans utilize a proprietary cleaning solution before each component is rinsed and hand polished. We have extensive experience pinning and stringing crystal components on historic and custom lighting fixtures. Utilizing time proven techniques, our artisans install pinning wire, clips, and connecting rings on crystal components in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and designs.
Our specialists will identify and research any missing crystal or glass component on a historic lighting fixture and offer up a similar or exact grade, size, tint, color, and shape to maintain a fixtures historical integrity.
Grand Light offers a wide variety of custom, high quality architectural glass and acrylic diffusers, available in an array of styles, types, and sizes. Our high quality architectural diffusers are available by custom order and offer unique, one-of-a-kind pieces or replications of an existing design.
Cleaning Systems
Grand Light specializes in commercial luminaire cleaning services, including the utilization of state-of-the-art Ultrasonic, Micro-Abrasive, and Hydrosonic Molecular Impact System (HSMI) Cleaning Technologies. Using our engineered cleaning systems, our artisans are able to eliminate decades of accumulated debris from any lighting fixture or surface.
Grand Light’s Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaning Tanks provide high-frequency sound waves transmitted through liquid to scrub clean the surface of immersed parts. The high-frequency sound waves, typically 40 kHz, agitate the liquid solution of water or solvent, and cause the cavitation of solution molecules.
Our Micro-Abrasive process utilizes fine abrasive media to generate an accurate, precise, and controllable abrasive jet to target and remove material (on the micron level). Our system is so precise it can remove ink from a business card without damaging the card’s surface.
HSMI is Grand Light’s unique, proprietary system includes powerful continuous super high steam production up to 369 degrees Fahrenheit with an integrated wet vacuum system insuring residual moisture and debris extraction. Purified dry vapor steam and integrated vacuum system guarantees spot free crystals and fixture frames.
Surface Preparation
Grand Light specialists perform testing on each fixture to determine the optimal surface profile for powder coat, paint, metal oil, or hot/cold patina application. Our processes utilize a wide range of equipment including Pyrolysis, Burn-Off, Thermal, and Blast Cabinets to remove an existing finish and smooth or roughen a surface.
Our industrial Pyrolysis, Burn-Off, Thermal Ovens and Heaters offer high-temperature, controlled burns for removal or vaporization of finish or foreign material from metal surfaces. Any remaining ash is removed through our blast cabinet services.
Our industrial Media Blast Cabinets are generally used to remove existing material (finish, contaminants, rust, etc.) or smooth/roughen a surface, all without causing damage to the original profile and aesthetic elements. Each cabinet houses a large work area and adjustable turn table to easily maneuver fixture frames and components.
Finish Application & Top Coatings
As a part of the restoration process, our artisans explore the intricate details of preserving the historical integrity of lighting fixtures including color matching and sheen of the original finish. Custom lighting finishes are available in custom painted colors, sheen, and textures as well as custom patina colors on bronze, copper, and brass components.
Our artisans can match any color or finish utilizing a variety of processes involving Powder Coat, Spray, Hot or Cold Patina Custom Recipes and Color Blending an existing finish.
Grand Light exercises meticulous techniques that are unparalleled in the application of Protective Top Coatings including binders, rust, and UV resistant protective metal oils, waxes, and lacquers with various customized sheens and tints.
NRTL Testing & Listing
Utilizing only UL listed products, Grand Light’s OSHA NRTL Certified Manufacturer’s Testing and Listing Laboratory strives to ensure only the highest quality of standards go into finalizing each lighting fixture; from the rewiring of luminaires, to the installation of modern lamp technology, and the custom conversion of gas powered fixtures to electric.
Grand Light’s technicians inspect and document any electrical deficiencies on every lighting fixture prior to any electrical component replacement and rewiring. We also offer comprehensive retrofit kits for upgrading existing historic luminaire to take full advantage of modern induction lamping technology. Grand Light’s practice is to perform multiple UL tests on all electrical components and systems to ensure compliance with UL Standards for luminaires.
Project Accolades
The Harvard University Adams House received the Paul & Niki Tsongas Award at the 2026 Preservation Awards hosted by Preservation Massachusetts
