Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, located in Georgetown, supports research and learning in Byzantine, Garden and Landscape and Pre-Columbian studies. Administered by the Trustees for Harvard University, the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks were recently named among the premier gardens in the world in the National Geographic book The 10 Best of Everything.        

Last year, Outdoor Illumination was contacted to assist in illuminating the historic Ficus Pumila that hangs in the property's Orangery. The Ficus, originally planted by Edward Linthicum in the 1860s in one corner of the Orangery, now covers the inside walls and is festooned across each of the windows. However, the new architectural configuration of the roof and skylights limits winter light from above, and Executive Design Consultant Matt Taylor was brought in to design a solution.

Illumitex, has manufactured fixtures designed for plant growth for over 25 years, and in consultation with their engineers, we designed a strategy that employs LEDs mounted in the architectural ceiling of the Orangery. Senior Account Manager Derek Thomas led Outdoor Illumination electricians in carefully installing these innovative LED fixtures, employing scaffolding. This fall, the final tweaks will be executed on the project. In addition to extraordinary energy efficiency, these LED fixtures should be relatively low maintenance which will reduce the need for complicated future maintenance. 

Outdoor Illumination is proud to have played a role in making sure this famous Ficus continues to grow and flourish for another 150 years!