The lighting design for this library renovation marries the need for highly functional and modern lighting with a nuanced aesthetic appropriate for the architect’s vision of this historic New England building and the flanking “jewel box” volume additions. The view from the exterior is inviting and set apart from other buildings on the campus while being mindful of glare and overall brightness, adhering to Dark Sky principles. A combination of curving grids of downlights, linear lights, task lights, and decorative pendants is all intentionally placed without cluttering views or distracting from the use of the space. The new “jewel box” volumes on either side of the historic library glow from within with curving arrays of downlights and decorative glowing pendant lights. The movable library stacks at the core of the library are lit with functional pendant-mounted lensed and louvered linear lights that provide important vertical light levels. The heart of the library is the atrium with its large oculus and curved plaster wall, which is evenly lit with a series of adjustable track lights mounted in a ring at one of the floor plates, allowing it to serve as a central, glowing presence on the upper floors. Around this central feature are rows of bookshelves warmly illuminated to draw visitors more deeply into the space. Multiple levels of control are built into the lighting and A/V system to allow users to tailor the space to their individual needs.

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