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).
Completed in 2021, the reimagined 88,300-square-foot complex is 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 removed and restored 100+ historic lighting fixtures, including large, hand forged iron chandeliers, wall sconces, pendants, and ceiling lights. In addition to the historic lighting restorations, the project required the fabrication of numerous custom lights including massive stairwell chandeliers, wall sconces, pendant, and ceiling lights.
The standout restorations from this job were a number of large ring chandeliers, finished in black and gold. These giant forged iron chandeliers each had a height of over 10 feet tall, a huge forged iron ring spanning 7 feet in diameter, and weighed 1,125 pounds. Each chandelier was thoroughly inspected and documented of all components finish, mechanical, and electrical conditions. The fixtures were disassembled and cleaned by hand and through soda-blasting. The fixtures were refinished in a black metal oil with gold painted accents. Additionally, the chandeliers were each retrofitted with a new LED system. Grand Light engineers designed and fabricated a comprehensive energy-efficient LED retrofitting solution, utilizing a combination of dedicated LED retrofit kits and screw-in LEDs. The retrofit features 35 feet of LED tape lights in its interior, a dimmable LED driver, as well as up-lighting. The new system increased total light output, added dimmable controls and adjustable color settings, and decreased annual energy costs.
Additionally, numerous decorative wall sconces were brought in for restoration. Each was disassembled and media blasted to remove the original deteriorated finish. Damaged or missing decorative and mechanical components were repaired and replicated, including crests and decorative leaves. The fixture was fully refinished in black and gold and received a protective top coat.
A crystal chandelier restored for this job was disassembled, stripped of its original black painted finish, and had its brass and silver components cleaned and conserved with a lacquer coat. The existing crystals were ultrasonically cleaned and hand-polished, while any missing pieces were replaced with similar-in-kind crystal.
The cast brass and bronze wall sconces and ceiling fixtures were thoroughly cleaned to conserve the original dark bronze finish. Patina repairs were applied to localized areas of deterioration, and each received a protective lacquer.
Each restored fixture was fully rewired with UL listed components and tested in accordance with UL 1598 standards.
Services Performed
On-Site Disassembly, Assembly, & Testing
Our restoration artisans are trained to safely remove and disassemble fixtures and components, labeling and photographing fixture components in sequence of its removal and as a section. Work areas are left in the same condition it was found prior to leaving the site.
For documentation our technicians inspect and note any electrical deficiencies on every lighting fixture prior to any electrical component replacement and rewiring, to ensure the fixtures can be wired in accordance with UL listed products, UL standard 1598 and hi-pot tested, with UL label (LED retrofit kits utilize manufacturers listing).
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.
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.
Crystal Cleaning & 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.
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.
Click here to read about the custom work we did on this project
Featured Products
Media
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.
Project Accolades
Yale University’s Schwarzman Center received the 2023 Palladio Award for Restoration & Renovation at Traditional Building’s 22nd annual Palladio Awards.
