Brown University - John Hay Library
At Brown University, the John Hay Library stands as a beacon of academic heritage, now illuminated by Crenshaw Lighting's custom brass LED fixtures. These historically inspired designs, developed in collaboration with Selldorf Architects, seamlessly blend modern efficiency with classic aesthetics, providing energy-efficient lighting that preserves the library's timeless elegance.
The custom fixtures at Brown University's John Hay Library offer superior durability and visual appeal, ensuring long-term value for institutional spaces. By incorporating historically inspired elements, they enhance the architectural integrity while delivering optimal illumination for scholars and visitors alike.
Custom Lighting
Brown University - John Hay Library
Crenshaw Lighting collaborated with the esteemed Selldorf Architects to transform the John Hay Library’s Main Reading Room at Brown University, crafting a sophisticated decorative lighting collection that reimagines its nearly century-old design with a contemporary classical flair. The centerpiece, a monumental custom reflector bowl pendant inspired by historic fixtures from the early 20th century—originally suspended by a pulley chain and counterweight system with cast acanthus leaf ornaments—features a heavy-gauge brass construction, a machined faux counterweight, half-round bead detailing around its large spun bowl, and a hand-applied dark oil-rubbed bronze patina, weighing nearly 200 pounds and equipped with solid-state LED to beautifully illuminate the coffered ceilings and provide ambient reading light. Complementing this are adjustable stack lights, also crafted from solid brass with a warm aged brass patina, delivering illumination via solid-state LED, and a sleek table lamp inspired by 1950s vintage design, completing a cohesive collection that enhances the room’s scholarly ambiance. Crenshaw is deeply honored to partner with Selldorf Architects, whose meticulous attention to detail has elevated this reading room into a space of enduring elegance and functionality.