SMILEY BRANCH LIBRARY
Denver, Colorado

Smiley Branch Library is one of 30 remaining Carnegie Libraries in Colorado. During the pandemic and into 2021, a great deal of work went into Smiley’s renovation with careful attention paid to updating the space while maintaining the 102-year-old building’s charm. AE Design provided lighting and electrical engineering design, along with technology services. With this round of enhancements, the building uses significantly less energy, while emitting a clean warm white light from interior to exterior and highlighting original historic architectural features. 

The goal was to maintain the charm and character of this turn of the century red brick library, while also updating with modern amenities, finishes, and technology throughout. Sustainable solutions included updating all lighting to LED sources, adding dimming and advanced lighting controls, and utilizing full cutoff luminaires to highlight original brick exterior walls while mitigating light trespass into the night sky.

The main exterior entry welcomes guests with a new, custom-designed LED sconce in the original historic style of the building. The proportion and stylistic features of the luminaire replicate the original, based on historic drawings. New area lighting replaces existing flood lights for security and to add depth to the façade and highlight its form, new low-profile LED uplights were placed under each window dormer. On the interior, the entry vestibule and stair are punctuated by a retrofitted pendant, keeping with the original lighting intent and in the main level reading room, fluorescent lighting was replaced with energy-efficient indirect linear LED lighting, carefully aimed to highlight the charming barrel-vaulted ceilings. Throughout the main level, suspended linear fluorescent luminaires were replaced with adjustable LED monopoints to provide localized lighting at task areas and help open up the space and views while in the lower-level Community Room, low-glare LED troffers were selected for general lighting and are supplemented with concealed perimeter cove lighting. The coves add a layer of functional, flexible light which allows for increased range during activities from yoga to art classes and virtual learning. A distributed control system was installed with dimming and preset capabilities.

Client: StudioTrope Design Collective
Photography Credit: Viewfinder Photography Colorado
Lighting Design & Controls, Electrical Engineering Design, Technology Services