LED lights brighten the Capitol

LED exterior lights illuminate the Missouri Capitol in this photo from January 2018.
LED exterior lights illuminate the Missouri Capitol in this photo from January 2018.

Several areas in the Capitol Building are now sporting LED lighting and more lights will be added over the next couple of months.

Kaiser Electric Company began the $646,000-project in August and is expected to complete it in late February, said Ryan Burns, director of communications for the Missouri Office of Administration. The project includes replacing hundreds of lights with cost-effective LED lights.

Dana Miller, chair of the Missouri State Capitol Commission, said based on the cost of electricity for the building, she expects the LED lights to pay off in the long-run.

"The old lights were consuming a tremendous amount of energy, and it was just crazy when we heard the electricians talk about the wattage that was used just in one bulb, so we wanted to go to LED lights because it's going to result in a huge cost savings," Miller said.

She said it will also save on staff time because the light bulbs will not need to be replaced as often.

The project includes replacing the existing bulbs in lighting fixtures in public areas, like the Rotunda and corridors, with LED lamps. Miller said this part of the project was approximately 95 percent complete as there were about a dozen lamps left to be upgraded.

"Before, if you walked through the hallways, it was really dark on the first and second floors because the walls are marble up to a point, so it was just really dim," Miller said. "It was like walking through a cave, and when they put the LED lights in, it brightened those hallways considerably up."

Miller said there were about 120 different types of light fixtures in the public areas, with 60 of them being historic replicas. More than 35 different types of LED replacement lamps were used in these light fixtures, leading to an estimated 66 percent reduction in lighting-related energy.

The historic-replica lighting fixtures in the Senate and House chambers, along with the two lounges and adjoining galleries in these areas, have been upgraded with LED lamps, too. The current central dimming systems in the chambers were also be replaced with LED compatible dimming systems that now include emergency lights.

Miller said she thought it was especially important to replace the lights in the lounges to protect the Benton Gallery. Some of the mercury vapor lights in the House Lounge emit substantial amounts of ultraviolet radiation, which could be damaging to the Thomas Hart Benton murals. The LED lights will eliminate the damaging rays.

The Rotunda chandelier will also have new induction and LED lamps, while the current interior dome spotlights will be replaced with LED spotlights. The current spotlights were used to highlight Frank Brangwyn's paintings on the eye of the dome, but the spotlights burned out easily, Miller said. She added the new LED lights won't burn out easily, and the public will be able to enjoy the paintings.

LED flood lights will soon replace the existing roof-mounted, high-pressure sodium dome flood lights. Miller said the new LEDs have to be programmed into a software so the lights can change colors.

"So, we could have a really white pure light or we could do a warm candescent looking light," she said. "They may even be able to do blue for law enforcement or maybe pink for breast cancer awareness. Those were our options, but I'm not sure what they are programming in. But I think it'll be neat because there will be some opportunities to observe some special awareness days."

She added the exterior dome lights would be partially upgraded for now as she anticipates more significant improvements to the dome later this year. The dome will be cleaned and repaired over the next couple of years. The remaining exterior lights would be upgraded after the dome restoration project.

Submersible incandescent flood lights in the Centaur Fountain will also contain LED lights. The fluorescent lights in the guard station, basement, storage rooms and mechanical spaces will have new LED lights.

The the existing light fixtures for the exterior recessed steps, walkway, exterior historic wall and carriage drive tunnel will be refurbished.

The project was expected to be completed this month, but there were some manufacturing delays when ordering the new bulbs and housings, Miller said.

Due to age, some of the historic light fixtures are fragile, and retrofitting them with LED lights was a challenge. Also, with some of the historic fixtures, an LED bulb is not currently compatible.

"Ten years ago, we couldn't have done this project with the historic accuracy we're looking for as far as colored temperature because back then, LEDs were very blue and cold, almost like a florescent type light. Now, advances in technology, we have those options, and they could replace the lights without compromising the beauty and historic nature of the fixture and the rooms," she said, adding the lights that were not replaced in this project could be replaced in the future as LED technology improves.

As improvements continue on the Capitol, Miller said they will keep looking for ways to upgrade the building while keeping with its history.

"(The LED lights) are just one piece of the larger puzzle as far as what to do with a historic building and fix it and make it 21st century friendly while preserving it," she said. "It's such a beautiful capitol and the inside is so amazing that we have to be sensitive to preserving its history."