Richmond Old City Hall

Custom Historical Replication Project

Located in Richmond, Virginia
Fixtures & Poles by Spring City

Restoration is a combination of knowledge, research, skill, and practical application. This mix is what makes Spring City unique and is why we were contracted to provide lighting restoration for the Richmond Old City Hall building. Completed in 1894, and designed by Elijah E. Myers, the goal of the project was to refurbish the poles while meeting AASHTO requirements with the new luminaries.

All eight poles were shipped to Spring City where the restoration started. The first step was to recreate the lost details in the pole based on a combination of the actual pole itself along with historical pictures. Many of the intricate decorative details were lost over time. Once all the pole detailing was documented, the Spring City team used 3D modeling to recreate both the pole decorative adornments and the matching luminaire.

After the many coats of paint and the old remaining solder details were removed, the original poles acted as a blank canvas ready for restoration.

One final issue needed to be resolved. The combination of the age of the poles and weight of the luminaires meant that the original poles were not structurally sound to meet today's standards. Spring City, in order to rectify the issue, reinforced the original poles with a new steel pole through the center. This practical solution allowed for the original charm of the pole design to exceed structural weight requirements needed for the luminaires.

The Richmond Old City Hall project truly showcases Spring City's ability to recreate, problem solve, and provide a custom solution that not only is historically accurate, but meets today's standard in strength and modern technology.