Grand Light Begins Modification of Exterior Bronze Lighting Fixtures from Springfield City Hall
New Haven, CT – Grand Light has begun the process of restoring & modifying fourteen historic bronze lighting fixtures from the exterior of the City Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The fixtures being modified include eight bronze exterior wall sconces, and six exterior bronze street lights. The fixtures come from City Hall which opened in 1913 and is part of a trio of Greek revival buildings commonly referred to as the “Springfield Municipal Group.”
The modification includes the replacement of lamps, ballasts, sockets, mounting hardware and wiring. All components will be UL listed, and tested in accordance with UL standards. In addition, broken glass panels will be replaced with antique glass that will match the original.
Following a close examination of the fixtures in Grand Light’s shop, concept drawings were prepared for the lamp-ballast retrofit kits. These drawings specified the lamps, sockets, and ballasts to be used during the mock-up phase of the project. Original components will re-used or modified when possible.
The approval drawings call for a 50W Metal Halide 120v Electronic Ballast to be placed in a 6″x5″x3″ watertight aluminum ballast enclosure mounted in the existing bracket of the eight exterior wall sconces. The assembly will include the existing brass pipe and fixture base fitter, as well as a new Medium Base Socket with a custom bracket, and a 50W Metal Halide Lamp.
The six street light fixtures will include a 70W Metal Halide 120v Electronic Ballast to be placed in a 6″x5″x3″ watertight aluminum ballast enclosure mounted in the lower frames of the fixtures. The assemblies will include the existing fixture base fitter, as well as a new Medium Base Socket with a custom bracket, and a 70W Metal Halide Lamp.
Mock-ups were made of the retro-fit kits for both the pole mounted fixtures and wall mounted fixtures. During these mock-ups it was determined that the large glass panels in the post tops were originally cut short in both length and with. This allowed water to easily enter the interior of the fixtures from the vertical slots surrounding the lower edge of the upper portion of the post tops and to flow down the poles interior shaft.
Grand Light’s artisans were able to locate sheets of fusible hand rolled glass to match the historic glass from the fixtures. This glass will be cut into panels and installed in both the post-mounted fixtures and wall sconces as a final step of the project.
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About Grand Light:
Grand Light, located in New Haven, CT since 1929, is an experienced restorer of historic lighting fixtures and a manufacturer of custom lighting fixtures. We have restored, replicated and manufactured custom lighting fixtures at every scale. Past projects include work for clients such as Yale University, Minute Man National Historical Park, the Shubert Theater, the New Haven Museum and the Otesaga Resort Hotel.
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