Switch Lighting & Design Brightens the Mercantile Library

Switch Lighting and Design is proud to have provided the lighting for the renovation of the historic Mercantile Library — the Cincinnati institution that celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2010.

The Mercantile Library is a classic wood-lined space that fills the 11th floor of the Mercantile Building in downtown Cincinnati.  The library has been a beloved Cincinnati fixture since 1835, when it was founded by group of civic-minded businessmen including future President William Henry Harrison. Harriet Beecher Stowe, Herman Melville, John Updike and Joyce Carol Oates are among the many luminaries who have spoken at the Mercantile.  Generations of Cincinnatians have studied, read and relaxed there.

When the library underwent a major renovation for its 175th anniversary, the members entrusted the lighting to Switch.  (Click here for Mercantile Library gallery images featuring lighting by Switch).

The challenges were significant, according to Mercantile director Albert Pyle.  “The Mercantile’s specific problems had to do with the very high ceilings, the wiring, and the furniture.  Because it’s so difficult to install task lighting here (those cool green shaded table lamps in other libraries), it was necessary to do the whole general lighting job with overhead lights.  Everything had to work with the Library’s industrial age aesthetic and monumental volume. Tricky, to say the least.”

Architect Joe Brashear of Brashear Bolton agrees: “The special challenge for us was to renovate the space without changing its character and ambiance,” he notes.  “The renovation included installation of modern information technology and audio-visual systems, and the construction of new book stacks, a presentation platform, and staff work stations.”

The Mercantile needed new lighting that was warm, bright, and efficient enough for the 21st century. The old schoolhouse globes had been hanging “probably since the 1920s,” according to Pyle.

Switch replaced the old globes with renowned lighting designer Vilhelm Wolhert’s Wolhert Pendant.  According to Louis Poulson Lighting, this hand-blown white opal glass pendant provides uniform general diffuse illumination.  The opening at the bottom of the glass produces direct light.  The quality of the glass ensures that the visual appearance of the Wolhert Pendant has an evenly lit surface.  “We recommended these lights because they were modern enough to indulge our commitment to modern lighting and traditional enough to maintain the classic feel of this historic library, says Switch Lighting & Design co-owner, Bertie Ray III.

In the stacks, bright and steady light was needed, with bulbs that could be left on all day without burning too much energy or generating too much heat.  Here Switch provided Zaneen’s Utah Suspended Lighting T5.  Sleek and modern, yet respectful to the historic surroundings, these clear anodized extruded aluminum fixtures gently illuminate the stacks and shelves, which house numerous literary treasures.  According to co-owner and lighting expert Drew Dearwester, “after living in the space for a while, I knew Zaneen’s Utah system would meet the need for controlled lighting and enhance the architectural features of this great place.”

The lights from Switch were an essential part of the redesign, says Pyle.

“The new globes are a better size, cleaner, and make it possible to change the bulbs without dismantling the light,” he notes. “The lighting in the stacks — sleek, self-effacing, and efficient — allows us for the first time to leave the lights on throughout the day, making the stacks part of the room.”

“Without having gotten the lighting right, nothing else would have worked correctly,” says Pyle. “The excellence of the fixtures is evident in the reaction of our members. Nobody says ‘What great lights!’  Everybody says ‘What a great space!’  It’s rather like the effect of the best jewelry.”

Adds architect Brashear:  “The Mercantile Library project was our first in working with Switch, but it will not be our last.  Drew and Bertie provided us with a very satisfying professional experience as they accommodated our every need from design through construction.  We look forward to the next opportunity to work with them.”
About Switch Lighting & Design

Located in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine, Switch is an integral part of the new shopping district: The Gateway Quarter.  Founded in the fall of 2009 by Drew Dearwester and Bertie Ray III, Switch is fast becoming Cincinnati’s premier source for modern architectural lighting and interior design services.  Much sought after by leading architects, developers and interior designers, Switch thrives on its “client first” philosophy.   For more information, please visit Switch in its modern retail showroom at 1207 Vine Street, Cincinnati, on the web at www.switchcollection.com, or via phone: .