A library reading room is both a practical workplace and a cultural environment. In Yale’s Linonia & Brothers Reading Room, the challenge was to improve illumination without losing the familiar character of a beloved historic interior.
Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design restored original pendants and incorporated LED sources, concealed uplights, and task lighting. The scheme reduces glare while making the Gothic ceiling and tall windows more legible.
The most thoughtful technology often disappears into the experience it supports. Here, lighting makes reading easier and architecture more visible without demanding attention for itself. It is a quiet lesson in the value of restraint.
LIT Lighting Design Awards 2025 — Winner in Heritage Lighting Design
