Prize(s) Winners in Cultural Building Lighting Design / Heritage Lighting Design
Lighting Design/Product Company Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design
Lead Designers Francesca Bettridge
Other Designer's names Michael Hennes, Nira Wattanachote
Architecture Company Beyer Blinder Belle Architects
Client Bronx Community College
Photo Credits Elizabeth Leidel Photography, courtesy of Meteor Lighting; Beyer Blinder Belle Architects
Other Credits Meteor Lighting; Lutron Electronics
Completion Date September 30, 2023
Project Location The Bronx, New York, USA
Entry DescriptionGould Memorial Library, a National Historic Landmark designed by McKim, Mead & White, is inspired by Rome’s Pantheon. Inside, the domed rotunda was originally skylit. A plaster ceiling added underneath, illuminated by high-pressure sodium pendants, resulted in a low CRI and warm CCT that made everything look yellow.
The redesigned lighting is code compliant, dimmable, and highlights the historic architecture. Brighter LEDs with a high CRI sufficiently illuminate the 77’ high space.
AGI studies and mock-ups confirmed our design concept was viable. We designed a custom frosted diffuser that floats under the LED source, removing glare and refracting light onto the plaster ceiling to create the illusion of the original skylight. A new dimming system adds flexibility for day and night events.
New pendant fixtures are hung from the catwalk above the plaster ceiling at the center of each ceiling opening, then dropped below the ceiling to prevent overheating, halving energy use. Drivers are remotely located to aid maintenance.
Before renovation, HID floodlights darkened the balcony sculptures and cast decorative elements in gray. The new lighting reveals the floor pattern’s colors and the veins of the magnificent marble columns.
The lighting design makes the architecture truly visible. The historic domed space, sculptures, and architectural details that were lost are now rediscovered.
Company DescriptionCline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design (CBB) is dedicated to enhancing the grace, utility, and comfort of architectural spaces with light. The 17-person firm is certified as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) - locally by NY State and NY City, and nation-wide by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
CBB provides architectural lighting design services for buildings and sites of every type, size, and architectural style. This portfolio encompasses celebrated sites around the world.
