Celebration of Light: Restoration of Chicago Cultural Center's Tiffany Dome

Chicago, IL (December 22, 2009) — Chicago public television station WTTW (Channel 11) will air the first television broadcast of a new documentary, “Celebration of Light: Restoration of the Chicago Cultural Center’s Tiffany Dome,” on January 3, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.

“Celebration of Light” chronicles the history of the world’s largest Louis Comfort Tiffany art glass dome and its recent restoration. The exquisite dome caps the largest of two rotundas in the splendid Beaux Arts building, fittingly known as the “People’s Palace” when it opened in 1897 as Chicago’s first permanent public library.

The documentary features the designers, artists and craftspeople who were involved in restoring the dome (including Wight & Company, Holabird & Root, Botti Studio of Architectural Arts Inc., the Kokomo Opalescent Glass Co., Restoric LLC, and Historic Surfaces). It shows in painstaking detail how they were able to realize the intent of its original designer, Jacob A. Holzer, Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company’s chief mosaicist.

The vision and commitment of the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Department of General Services were instrumental to the project’s success. The renovation included repairing and/or replacing more than 30,000 pieces of jewel-like glass and restoring the dome’s cast iron framework to its original finish. The restored dome, which has an estimated value of $35 million, features a new exterior translucent skylight that, true to Holzer’s vision, once again allows natural light into Preston Bradley Hall to showcase the dazzling beauty of the stained glass.

“We are proud to have played a part in enabling Chicagoans and visitors from around the world to experience the magnificence of this architectural treasure,” said Mark Wight, chairman and chief executive officer of Wight & Company. “It was painstaking work, but this project was a labor of love. We thank Art Andros and Thomas Vukovich at the Department of General Services for allowing us the opportunity to be involved with this project.”

The Chicago Cultural Center is the city’s architectural showplace for the lively and visual arts and is the largest free public programming venue of any major city in the United States. It offers more than 700 free programs each year and welcomes nearly 840,000 visitors annually, many of whom come to see and photograph the Tiffany dome.

“This has been such a beautiful and enjoyable project for us to work on," said Malachi A. Leopold, producer and director. “Rarely does one have the opportunity to take part in documenting something of great historical significance, particularly an architectural legend such as the Tiffany dome. I commend the Department of Cultural Affairs for their dedication in seeing the project through to fruition and Wight & Company for recognizing the importance of capturing this event as it unfolded. It has set a remarkable precedent for preserving Chicago’s rich architectural history through documentary film.”

The documentary was produced by Wight & Company and Left Brain/Right Brain Productions.

You can view the documentary below.


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