Oregon Supreme Court Building
Project Description
Property History
The Oregon Supreme Court Building, home to the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, and the Oregon Judicial Department, is located in the state capitol complex in Salem and Oregon’s oldest state government building. The three story structure was constructed in 1914 and currently houses the state’s law library, and once housed the Oregon State Library. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.
The Oregon Judicial Department began building renovations in November 2019 to preserve and protect the historic structure and improve safety, function, efficiency, and access for years to come. The project includes earthquake reinforcement with base isolation technology and upgrades to heating, cooling, electrical, technology, plumbing systems, and accessibility to meet modern standards.
Project Scope
As part of a renovation of the Oregon Supreme Court Building, Grand Light was contracted for the restoration and replication of an assortment of historic light fixtures. The luminaires restored and reproduced for this job included pendants, wall sconces, ceiling lights, and torchieres.
Each of the brass fixtures was partially disassembled and cleaned via low-pressure media blasting, ultrasonic cleaning, and hand-cleaning to preserve the original antique brass finish. Repairs to the finish were made in localized areas when necessary and blended with the original finish. The restored surfaces were then treated with multiple coats of lacquer or metal wax to protect their finishes. The original opal and etched glass diffusers were largely able to be restored and conserved through ultrasonic and hand-cleaning. Where glass was missing or damaged beyond repair, we fabricated custom etched glass replicas or provided similar-in-kind diffusers. Each fixture’s electrical components were fully replaced and rewired with UL listed products and tested to UL 1598 standards.
In addition to the restoration, a number of replication pendants, ceiling fixtures, and wall sconces were fabricated for the court building. Each replica was assembled using a combination of custom fabricated and stock components. We utilized lost wax casting to produce highly accurate and detailed replications of the parts. Custom opal and etched glass diffusers were made for the replica fixtures, seamlessly matching them with the existing.
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 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.
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.
Replication Casting
Our metalsmiths can fabricate a variety of materials by hand forging or producing components utilizing the Lost-Wax and Sand Casting Processes. Our custom cast metal fixtures offer complex design, quality, and durability.
The Lost-Wax process consists of utilizing existing components replicate intricate detailing, shape, and size through the combination of custom molds, wax patterns, and ceramic shells. This process offers great precision and can replicate components ranging from tiny parts and entire frame castings.
Sand casting is a manufacturing process in which molten metal is poured into a sand mold containing a hollow cavity of the desired shape. After a period of time, the casting cools and solidifies. The sand is then broken away and shaken out.
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
Nationwide Lighting Restoration, Award-Winning Results
Through the dedication, hard work, skills, and capabilities of our entire project teams – including our clients, artisans, engineers, technicians, and Grand Light staff – our projects have been consistently recognized by leading design, construction, and architectural organizations.
Project Accolades
The Oregon Supreme Court Building received the 2023 DeMuro Award for excellence in preservation, reuse, and revitalization from Restore Oregon
