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J. R. Clancy and Oasis Stage Werks Provide Rigging Solution for Utah State Capitol Chandelier
When the State of Utah undertook the most extensive and comprehensive reconstruction of its 1916 Capitol Building in the building's 92-year history, one of the state's priorities was the rigging for its 3,000-pound chandelier.
The stunning chandelier, an eye-catching point of focus in the building's rotunda dome, was carefully restored to its original Beaux Arts-style glory thanks to a donation of period light diffusers from the State of Arkansas. Re-hanging the renovated chandelier was only one of the challenges faced by Utah state capitol architect David Hart, however. Building managers wanted to be sure to be able to raise and lower the chandelier on a sturdy winch, to make it accessible for cleaning and maintenance on a regular basis. More important, however, was the concern that there be no possibility of the chandelier's rigging ever giving way, even if an earthquake - like the one predicted for Salt Lake City's future by geophysicists - should rock the building to its foundation.
To choose and install exactly the right winch for the job, the state of Utah selected Oasis Stage Werks, a Salt Lake City-based theatrical equipment dealer that provides lighting systems, consultation, theatrical equipment and supplies to clients throughout the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest. Oasis immediately called the manufacturer its staff trusted to provide the safest and most effective winch: J.R. Clancy.
Established in 1885, J. R. Clancy is the leading designer and manufacturer of theatrical stage equipment in the United States, with vast experience in architectural applications as well. Some of Clancy's most notable recent projects include motorized rigging for Sidney Harman Hall, the new theatre for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC (Diamond and Schmitt Architects); and winches for 43 individual acoustic reflectors positioned over the stage in the Strathmore Concert Hall in Montgomery County, MD (William Rawn Associates Architects, Inc.).
"Any time you're hanging weight over people's heads, it's important to have absolute faith in the equipment you've chosen for the job," said Tom Young, vice president of marketing for J. R. Clancy. "Not only is the Utah chandelier 3000lbs in weight, but the chain that runs between the chandelier and the dome ceiling is 1000lbs as well. We knew that a custom winch with redundant suspension would provide the right amount of security and safety - especially in a facility that could one day be affected by an earthquake."
The custom winch, designed and manufactured by Clancy, has a 7.5 horsepower, 460-volt motor with a capacity of 4,000 pounds. The 12" drum is four-and-a-half feet long, and it holds two 275-foot lengths of 3/8-inch Dyform cable. Two cables are used for redundancy, providing added security and stability.
"The winch had to be lifted with a crane to the dome level. It went into a side door in the dome, and the chain was motored to the upper dome level," said Spencer Brown, project manager for Oasis Stage Werks. "From the dome floor level to the rotunda floor, the distance is 157 feet."
Once installed, the chandelier became an instant focal point in the grand rotunda, illuminating the meticulously restored hand-painted murals along the rotunda's curved walls and the gleaming white staircase below. The renovated capitol building reopened on January 21, 2008, to wide acclaim from the media and visitors alike.
10th July 2008
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