Yale University – Stephen A. Schwarzman Center
Project Description
Property History
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Center at Yale University is a new student commons and public events space that will serve as a central hub dedicated to cultural programming and student life at the heart of the campus. The Schwarzman Center project renovated the historic Commons Dining Hall and three floors of the adjacent Memorial Hall. Both limestone Beaux-Arts style buildings were designed and built to commemorate the university’s 1901 bicentennial, with the Commons designed by the architectural firm Carrère and Hastings (New York Public Library, Henry Clay Frick House) while Memorial Hall was designed by architect Henry Bacon (Lincoln Memorial).
The reimagined 88,300-square-foot complex was be designed to draw together students and faculty from all of Yale’s institutions and, with the help of state-of-the-art technology, enable virtual engagement with the outside world in a dynamic way never done before at Yale.
Project Scope
Grand Light specialists designed and fabricated numerous custom and replicated lighting fixtures, including massive stairwell chandeliers, wall sconces, pendant, and ceiling lights. In addition to the fabrication of these custom lights, the project required the restoration of numerous historic lights including massive chandeliers, wall sconces, pendant, and ceiling lights.
Multiple massive hanging staircase chandeliers were designed and fabricated for this job, one being over 23 feet tall and another stretching 45 feet. Each fixture was constructed from steel and fitted with opal white globe diffusers.
Another custom piece designed and manufactured for this job included multiple 11 foot diameter ring chandeliers with 12 lamps each. This fixture was fabricated in steel, finished in polished brass, and received custom glass shades. Numerous metal shaded pendants were made to accompany the chandeliers in “The Underground” of Schwarzman Center.
A number of historic replicas were produced for this job as well, having replication molds created using the original fixture components. These fixtures were made in brass and finished in dark bronze.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Click here to read about the restoration work we did on this project
Featured Products
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.
Preserving The Past With Intelligent Lighting Solutions
Grand Light has over a decade of experience modifying existing lighting systems with energy efficient LED retrofit kits for a variety of clients including government, religious, educational and cultural institutions, architects, electrical contractors, and designers. We pride ourselves on preserving the historic integrity of a fixture, while upgrading an existing lighting system with brighter, more efficient lighting.
Hosting History – Project Progress Review
Included as a part of Grand Light’s services, our in-factory customer consultation and review meetings are available for all historic lighting and custom lighting projects. These extensive meetings assist our clients in reviewing ideas, designs, mock-ups, and in-progress work while evaluating existing scope, schedule, specifications, and special provisions.
Evaluation Report, Removal, & Storage For Ivy League School
Grand Light recently examined, documented, removed, and stored the existing historic lighting fixtures from a prominent Ivy League School. Check out a sample of our Historic Lighting Evaluation Report and contact us for an on-site visit and fixture survey.
