Correction Appended

Risley Hall recently shed some light on a piece of its historic architecture — literally. In September, lampposts were installed on the four gates the residential college, a project that was initiated by one of Cornell’s student architects.

It all started in 2006, when Joe DeSense ’09, then architecture student and Risley resident, came across several old photos of Risley from 1913, dug up by a friend who had been writing a paper on the history of Risley.

“I noticed these brick lampposts, two in each driveway leading up to the building, and thought, ‘Why did they get rid of something so nice?’” DeSense said.

DeSense eventually proposed his idea of restoring the lampposts to Elaine Bushey, Risley’s residence hall director, who responded favorably.

DeSense said that he had never made a proposal to initiate a project like this before. Being an architecture student, however, he knew where to go — Rand Hall, where he spent two weeks drafting up a reconstruction. Details such as the size and number of the bricks all had to be estimated from carefully studying the historic photos. In the end, he put together a presentation board with images made through computer modeling and sent it to Bushey, who was amazed at DeSense’s professionalism.

“I thought I would be seeing thumbnail sketches; I was not expecting a full-color pdf file!” Bushey said.

The project was eventually granted funding by Campus Life, and in Spring 2008 construction began. The eight lampposts together cost an estimated $40,000, according to Bushey.

The start of construction stirred much excitement in the Risley community. Risley residents would update DeSense through constant e-mails while he was studying abroad in Rome that semester.

In May 2008, Cornell’s landscape architect brought the plans for review to Prof. Jeffrey Chusid, city and regional planning and member of the historic preservation planning program, who stepped in to improve the accuracy of the restoration. Along with one of his students, Ross Pristera M.A. ’09, Chusid honed the details of the lampposts — the exact form of the brick posts, the specific composition of the mortar, etc.

A local blacksmith was hired to make the metal lanterns, and electricians were hired to connect the lamps. With the help of a great number of people, the project was finally completed this September.

Having graduated this May, DeSense has not been able to see the lamps in person, though he has seen photographs of the lamps and takes pride in knowing that they are there.

“I can look at them and think, ‘I helped make these! This is the reason I want to be an architect!’” DeSense said.

In light of program houses going under review, DeSense emphasized the unique qualities of a place like Risley.

“Program houses are wonderful things that really create close-knit communities — in any other dorm a project like this wouldn’t have happened. It fosters close communication between students and people like Bushey, who are involved in the workings of the University, and really lets people have these great opportunities to improve the campus as they’d like to,” DeSense said.

Bushey mentioned that Risley residents have frequently taken part in designing renovation projects because of the great sense of connection they feel to the building.

Risley residents adore the new lampposts, Bushey vouched. Chusid added that the lampposts contribute much to the overall composition and atmosphere of Risley.

“The lamps changed Risley from just being a wall to a space that ends in a wall of light,” Chusid said. “Restoring historic lighting in places that add to safety, to character and to beauty is a wonderful thing.” The meeting place of Lucy and Mr. Tumnus: Risley’s newly built lamp posts, designed by Cornell Architecture tudent Joseph DeSense ’09, were installed in September.

The Nov. 5 news article, “Risley Installs New Lampposts; Former AAP Student Began Project,” incorrectly stated that Prof. Jeffrey Chusid is head of the historic preservation planning program. In fact, Prof. Michael Tomlan is and has been.