Industrial Lighting Adds Welcoming Look to Nonprofit’s NY Digs
With the cacophony of voices seeking help in the nonprofit world, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the asking. But when we learned about Charity: Water, a nonprofit organization in New York City that uses 100 percent of public donations to fund clean water projects across the globe, we couldn’t wait to pitch in.
Created in 2006 by Scott Harrison (read his incredible story here), Charity: Water moved into new digs on Manhattan this summer and worked with a variety of companies to outfit their space.
“This space was formerly a medical office and it was completely gutted in January 2015,” explains Jordan Hunter, office manager for Charity: Water. “We started the buildout with white walls and a raw concrete floor to give it an industrial look. Then we started moving in new furniture and added wallpaper and art.” The group worked with PLAN Design Group in New York City to visualize the space and make it work for the organization’s needs.
The old space had dim, fluorescent lighting which went out the door with the rest of the medical furniture. In its place, high-gloss porcelain enamel pendants, industrial wall sconces, and a rustic chandelier for the CEO’s office. And some fun stuff too of course!
“We wanted the space to be warm, welcoming, and calming,” Jordan says. “The red sconces with the Edison light bulbs look really cool and the ceiling fans bring extra style to the space and speak to the casual vibe we wanted.”
The Double Market Industrial Guard Sconces in Cherry Red are a focal point in the main area of the office. These rugged industrial wall lights are customized with a standard cast guard and clear glass. The space includes seven conference rooms, a think tank, an informal brainstorming room complete with bean bag chairs, and a quiet lounge that offers a comfortable spot for work.
The Wilcox Deep Bowl Chain Hung Pendant is the perfect addition to several of the conference rooms offering an elegant look without abandoning the warehouse feel. This vintage-inspired porcelain enamel shade is hand spun from steel and features a high-gloss finish.
“Our main colors are yellow, red, and black so we chose those finish colors for the pendant lights,” Jordan says. “We give multiple tours every day and we get tons of compliments on the lighting.”
In another work area, the Dino 2-Light Stem Mount Pendant offers supplemental lighting to the abundance of natural light in the space.
For the CEO’s office, the Maven Rope Chandelier was chosen for its earthy, natural look. Modeled after historic ring chandeliers, this fixture features jute rope detailing and the soft glow of Edison light bulbs.
“After seeing the light in the space, we knew the furniture needed rethinking,” Jordan says. “We took out the conference room table and added a couch and chairs to give it more of a living room feel. It looks really awesome there now and the design and feel for the space came from the chandelier.”
Now that they’re settled into their new space, the team can focus on the projects that help the 663 million people who don’t have access to clean water every day.
“People ask sometimes why we didn’t go more corporate with our space,” Jordan notes. “We want to tell our story in a space where it’s warm and inviting, and we’re able to bring our story out thanks to generous donors like Barn Light Electric.”
Photos courtesy of Charity: Water
