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.