Rumors abound regarding the large light fixtures in Thorne Hall.
"I heard they cost some ridiculous amount of money, like two million dollars," said DJ Hatch '11.
While Hatch's estimate may be rather high, it has long been rumored that the lights cost at least one million dollars.
How much did they really cost? According to Associate Director of Major Maintenance Programs Michael Veilleux, the real figure is "around several hundred thousand, I'm guessing."
Changing colors and pulsating, the lights seem primarily aesthetic, but according to Associate Director of Dining Services and Executive Chef Kenneth Cardone, the programmable LED system is "very energy efficient and virtually maintenance-free." The lights, which are constructed from rice paper sandwiched between textured glass, were installed in 1999 as part of the renovation and expansion of Thorne Hall.
Commissioned by a building committee, which was formed in 1997, the lights were a response to the need for "something to complement the expansive volume of the room," said Cardone.
Accordingly, the committee chose lights, which can be programmed to reflect different ambiances. The morning calls for gentler transitions, while intensity picks up throughout the day. The changes in color and speed finally reach their climax at Super Snack.
Contrary to popular belief, the lights do not stay on all night, or all day for that matter. In fact, Cardone said that on particularly sunny days the lights are shut off entirely.
Although Veilleux describes the lighting as "particularly more expensive than a standard system," the cost can be justified by the fact that the lights can be programmed to do "just about anything."