Briton Hadden Memorial Building / Yale Daily News Historic Lighting Restoration
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The Briton Hadden Memorial, also known as the Yale Daily News building, is a part of the monumental gothic streetscape of York Street, which includes the western facades of the Branford and Saybrook College complex, Jonathan Edwards College, the University Theater and the gothic exterior of Davenport Collage. The building was constructed with the funds of 272 friends and admirers of the late Briton Haden, a Yale graduate, former chairman of the Yale Daily News and co-founder and editor of Time magazine. The building was designed by architects Lewis Greenlead Adams & Thurlow Merrill Prentice.

The historic lighting fixtures being restored include a large 12-light boardroom chandelier, two wall sconces located in the corridor, and an exterior fixture located above the main entrance. Following a close inspection of the fixtures on-site, Grand Light supervised the removal of the fixtures and transported them back to the shop.

The specific scope of work varies per fixture. All fixtures will be rewired and tested in accordance with UL standards, and the original finishes will be cleaned and preserved. Damaged glass will be replicated or replaced as needed.

Upon arriving at Grand Light's shop, the large boardroom chandelier, interior sconces and cast bronze outdoor fixture were carefully dissembled, inspected and documented before work began. The large chandelier, which had a thick coating of dirt and grime, was then thoroughly hand cleaned and detailed with a special cleaning solution exposing a copper and steel frame with its original nickel plated finish in excellent condition. This finish was then given a incralac protective coating to preserve the finish. The chandler was rewired, tested and UL labled. Four cracked amber seeded glass panels were slumped and re-leaded. Other glass cylinders were repaired as needed.

An exterior fixture located above the main entrance was rewired using a compact fluorescent with electronic ballast in a water-tight enclosure inside the fixture back box. The outer bronze frame was cleaned, preserving the original finish. A new galvanized back box was fabricated, replacing the corroded original.

Two sconces consisting of a 1-light and a two-light fixture from the interior of the building were restored. Both sconces originally had star shaped components atatched to arms extending from the backplate of the fixtures. Two of these had been lost and needed to be replicated. Both fixtures were sandblasted to remove the original paint, and then repainted before an incralac protective coating was applied. Both fixtures were rewired with 32 watt compact fluorescent lamps, and new frosted glass cylinders were provided. Due to space limitations, the electronic ballasts were remotely located in the J boxes provided by the contractor.

Upon completion the fixtures were inspected and hipot tested. To make sure the chandelier was protected during reinstallation, a wooden frame was constructed to hold the chandelier in a hanging state. The fixture, along with two wall sconces and exterior lighting fixture were then carefully packed for transportation and then delievered to the job site by Grand Light's team.

Architect:
John Apicella, AIA
Studio ABK
New Haven, CT
(203) 777-2121

Lighting Consultant:
Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design, Inc
New York, NY
(212) 741-3280

Contractor:
C & H Electric
Waterbury, CT
(203) 754-3231

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Architect:
Stephen Kieran
KieranTimberlake
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 922-6600

Electrical Contractor:
Ducci Electrical Contractors, Inc
Torrington, CT
(860) 489-9267

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