Jim Thorpe Office Building
Project Description
Property History
The Jim Thorpe Office Building was built in 1938 on Lincoln Avenue in Oklahoma City, OK. In 2022, House Representative Mark McBride authored a bill to fund a 3-year long, $70 million renovation project for the historic office building. The project began in 2023 and consists of three major components: the exterior of the site, the core and common spaces, and the tenant spaces of the building. Grand Light has restored all the historic lighting fixtures of the building, including exterior standing lamps, suspension lights, ceiling pendants, wall lights, elevator signs, and a court sign, some dating back to the 1930s.
Project Scope
Several large aluminum standing lights around the building’s exterior required refinishing, mechanical repairs, newly fabricated Fresnel lenses, and complete electrical upgrades. After chemical cleaning, each fixture received an acid etch treatment and hand-burnished finish to achieve a softer, historically appropriate appearance. Cracked aluminum flaps were carefully welded and blended to restore structural integrity. New Fresnel lenses were modeled using full-scale 3D printed mock-ups prior to fabrication and installation. The fixtures were then rewired with new jelly jar assemblies and four outdoor-rated LED fixtures.
Grand Light also restored a 16′ stainless steel suspension fixture located within the building interior. The exterior surfaces were hand cleaned and polished using a stainless steel restoration compound to conserve the original finish, while the interior framework received localized repairs and refinishing with silver paint. The fixture was fully rewired across three circuits and in three segments and updated with new flexible LED wall washers.
A series of aluminum hanging bowl fixtures were also restored as part of the project. To preserve the original mirror-polished finish, each fixture underwent ultrasonic and hand cleaning treatments. The electrical systems were reconfigured and rewired with LED-compatible screw-in sockets while maintaining the historic appearance of the fixtures.
The court clerk sign was also restored during the project. Its stainless steel frame was cleaned and polished, and mechanical modifications were made to accommodate updated electrical components. The fixture was retrofitted with a new LED panel and remote driver. The original “COURT” diffusers were replaced with new frosted glass panels featuring black vinyl lettering reading “DIRECTORY.”
Four historic elevator level indicators required refurbishment as part of the renovation effort. Each piece was ultrasonically cleaned and hand polished to revive the stainless steel finish. The original glass was carefully cut into individual panels, and copper foil was applied to prevent light leakage.
Multiple integrated exterior wall fixtures were also refurbished, with restoration efforts focused primarily on the stainless steel frames and glass diffusers. The frames were thoroughly cleaned and selectively refinished with silver paint where needed before receiving a UV-resistant lacquer coating for long-term outdoor protection. After cleaning, the diffusers were fitted with a Solyx reeded film on the exterior surface to recreate a more historically appropriate ribbed appearance while enhancing light diffusion.
Services Performed
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 Fabrication
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.
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.
LED Energy-Efficient Systems
Our Energy-Efficient LED Advantage Systems update the lighting element, wiring, and components to significantly increase the lighting quality of an area while minimizing total energy consumption and reducing maintenance costs. When incandescent lamps are upgraded to an LED system, the result is a room that is up to (3) times brighter, savings up to 80% in annual(recurring) energy costs, and extended operational lifespan.
Improvements can also be achieved through the implementation of photometric testing, intelligent controllers, photocells, motion detectors, and light lifts. All of these, often in combination, can significantly reduce operating costs and provide long term return on investment.
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 Updates
The LED Advantage: Retrofit Solutions – Luminaire Specific Retrofit Kits Designed for Oklahoma City’s Jim Thorpe Building
Grand Light restored the light fixtures at the Jim Thorpe Building in Oklahoma City and upgraded their lighting system with custom LED retrofit kits.
Major Renovation in Oklahoma – A Multi-Technique Approach to Historic Lighting Restoration
Grand Light shares an update on a major restoration project for the Jim Thorpe Memorial Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
