Illuminationworks served as lighting designer for the renovation of the historic Fayette County Courthouse in Lexington, Kentucky, transforming the 1899 building into a mixed-use centre with offices, event space, and a food & beverage outlet. Following historic preservation guidelines, our lighting played a key role in the restoration of the spectacular domed rotunda, which had not been visible to the public in over 60 years. Incredibly, the beautifully detailed room had served as an enclosure for the building’s HVAC systems since the 1960's. Lighting is used to reinforce classical architecture and an existing ‘star pattern’ of incandescent points was updated with LED sources to emphasise the curvature of the dome. Other areas of the building were redesigned in a respectfully contrasting and contemporary style that is heightened with integrated lighting details. Modest lighting effects were applied to the façade and key external elements, such as the cupola, to sensitively accentuate the restored Richardsonian Romanesque exterior. Illuminationworks worked closely with Deborah Berke Partners in New York City and Louisville-based K. Norman Berry Architects to make the project come to life. The project renews one of Lexington’s most prominent buildings for public use and returns it to the people of Kentucky.