Yale University - Morse & Stiles Colleges

New Haven, CT’s Morse College & Ezra Stiles Colleges are two of the twelve residential colleges at Yale University, built in 1961 and designed by architect Eero Saarinen, a master of American 20th Century architecture. The two buildings are adjacent to each other and similar in design. Morse College is named after Samuel Morse, a Yale graduate and inventor of Morse Code. Ezra Stiles College is named after Rev. Ezra Stiles, president of Yale from 1778-1795.

Morse & Stiles Colleges are eclectic structures built on an odd, angular site with many design features that are reminiscent of the Tuscan villages, most notably San Gimignano. In a modern attempt to capture the spirit of Gothic architecture, Saarinen eliminated all right angles from the living areas. Although controversial, the two buildings are considered by many architecture critics to be masterpieces of American architecture.

Grand Light was selected to completely restore and modify a large number of the original fixtures from the two schools, beginning with Morse College. These fixtures included multiple bronze sconces, bronze chandeliers, exterior poles and luminaires, library lights, and numerous massive bronze outdoor lighting fixtures. The fixtures were designed by Oliver Andrews, a well known and respected California sculptor, author and educator at UCLA. His designs, abstract in nature, where intended to be contemporary versions of what he considered “the sort of thing you’d find in an ancient castle”.

In addition to restoring, rewiring, refinishing and repairing the fixtures as needed, Grand Light will upgrade the lighting sources to energy efficient systems and provide a CFL dimming system for the large bronze dining hall fixtures.