Easy-to-Customize Industrial Lighting on Tap at New Brewery
When the owners of a new brewery in North Charleston, South Carolina, started developing the concept for their business, they turned the clock back 300 years for inspiration. Working with The Middleton Group, a local architecture studio, the design for the new building was created from the concept of the common house.
“In colonial times, the common house was considered the town hall and acted as a focal point in the community,” says Laura Middleton, principal with The Middleton Group. “It’s where all the town’s people could gather for communal meals, to discuss local issues, conduct religious worship, and engage in town business.”
It’s safe to say that our forefathers would heartily approve of Commonhouse Aleworks. A wood-clad building houses the taproom and bar in the front while the full production brewery resides in a larger, metal structure to the rear. Laura notes that the owners wished to mix the industrial nature of the brewery with a communal feel of a common house.
“A well-designed common house draws people in and encourages them to stay and socialize by making the large gathering spaces feel intimate and functional,” she explains. “We utilized a mixture of warm woods, metals, and most importantly, connection points between spaces.”
As the team searched for lighting for the taproom, they wanted a polished, industrial look with plenty of finish choices, appropriate scale, and LED options. Being able to customize the fixtures to complement other elements in the space ensured they could get the exact look they were seeking.
“Barn-style lighting is the perfect mix of the industrial feel of the brewery while paying homage to the barns used as common house structures through the years,” Laura notes. The team chose the Dino LED Pendant Light in Raw Copper for over the taproom bar. They customized these handcrafted pendants with 14″ shades and standard black cords.
“Since the taproom has such an open feel, we wanted a light that would feel warm and inviting,” Laura says. “The scale and beautiful finish of the Dino Pendants are just right for the space. The warm copper also coordinates perfectly with the custom oyster shell bar top.”
For the main taproom space, the designers chose The Original™ Warehouse LED Pendant. These pendant lights are customized with generous 20″ shades, a Galvanized finish, and black cotton cords. The team opted for a warm 2700K color temperature for the overhead lights.
“We like the shape and finish of these lights which are mounted higher than the bar pendants,” Laura explains. “They give a more rustic feel and provide a cohesion point for all the lights with the galvanized finishes throughout the brewery. The 2700K color temperature is soft, comfortable, intimate, and makes the beer look better!”
On the exterior of the buildings, more LED lighting brightens the façade and draws attention to the signage. The Emblem LED Sign Lights are customized with 10″ shades, a powder coat Black finish, and G36 gooseneck arms. These American-made sign lights also feature a decorative backing plate cover and a swivel knuckle for precise positioning of the shade.
“We needed a light that would set the tone for the rest of the space while providing the needed level of lighting for the exterior signs,” Laura notes. “Because of the ability to customize the finish, arm, and shade, we were able to extend the arm of the lights to create an even more visible focal point to the brewery’s signage.”
The design team worked with their local lighting rep, Victoria Fehr with The Schneider Company, to specify and purchase all of their Barn Light Electric fixtures.
“We are very happy with the way the different finishes, scales, and shapes of shades work together,” Laura says. “This creates the style we wanted while providing a cohesive look throughout the space.”
Photos courtesy of The Middleton Group
