Relighting Pennsylvania's
Capitol Dome
As part of its commission by The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of General Services to design fire and life safety improvements to the main State Capitol Building, BRINJAC ENGINEERING, Inc. (BRINJAC) developed a solution to improve interior and exterior lighting while reducing energy costs.

A study revealed that the interior and exterior of the central dome at the main rotunda along with the exterior of the smaller north and south domes, the center west portico, and three flags could all be lighted at an annual energy cost of $7,000 less than what it previously took to light only the center dome. The savings came not only from advances in lighting technology, but also in the proper selection of lighting hardware.

The overall construction cost for the electrical upgrade was approximately $1.2 million. The additional new lighting hardware and associated labor constituted about 3% of the total project cost. Although not originally in the scope of work, the lighting upgrades will provide the most visible and lasting legacy of this project in the eyes of the community.

The lighting design won both an International Illumination Design Awards Sectional and Regional Award of Merit.
Photos copyright Don Pearse
Photographers, Inc. 1999