The lighting design inspiration came from the various simple globes present in all of the antique historical chandeliers. In the Visitors Center, the historical chandeliers were retrofitted with LED lamps and small diameter accent lights with custom wood collars to further hide their presence and add a necessary layer of light.

In response to the challenges provided by the floating stairs, various optics with different orientations and in concealed locations, were carefully calibrated to create a seamless glow on the existing Marble walls to create a glowing volume and assure adequate foot-candle levels for safety. Continuous linear handrail lighting emphasizes the rich bronze railing surface while three simple globes, married with a linear wall grazer, punctuate the green marble walls at each elevator wall landing. Custom chandeliers appear to provide all the ambient light in the Research Center and Workrooms. The forms, while simple: bronze rings and glass globes - are a nod to the original, historical fixtures but with onboard 2700K LED chips and integral drivers. The quantities, diameters of the rings, and number of globes vary depending on the scale and ceiling height of each room.

In the Reading Rooms, concealed uplight within the chandelier rings illuminates the ceiling, lessening the required, visual brightness of the luminous globes while achieving 25fc ambient light on all task surfaces. Energy usage is further reduced with individual table lamps. Critical perimeter lighting, concealed in the mezzanine stair railing and the edge beams, adds warmth and focus on the book collection.

Gottesman Hall, also known as New York Public Library’s Treasures Room, was renovated by re-using the existing track system and retrofit LED track lights. A minimum of 2 foot-candles for general illumination was applied to allow visual focal points on exhibition objects with internal case lighting.

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