PROJECT | Workhorse pendants balance ambience and task illumination in hospitality venue

Earl Giles Distillery bills itself as “thoughtful, fun, and authentic.” Located in the Art District of Minneapolis’ Logan Park neighborhood, the 18,000-square-foot facility is many things: full-service bar and restaurant, distillery, canning and bottling operations, flavor laboratory, gift shop, and private event space.

The distillery owners hired integrated design firm Shea, Inc. to create its first-ever location. A historic warehouse building, the Earl Giles space was once an auction house for heavy machinery. As architects and interior designers for the project, the Shea team sought to preserve the essence of the space. This included the preservation of the original exposed beams and pillars. With extremely high ceilings, lighting was a key consideration.

“Our lighting goals were to maintain the aesthetic of our design, while having functional lighting for the multiple levels and experiences,” said Cori Kuechenmeister, director of design at Shea, Inc. “We wanted to highlight the manufacturing process and provide appropriate light levels for distilling while still being able to show off the distillery space during open public hours.”

Luminis’ Hollowcore HC1600 luminaires illuminate the working distillery, a central area enclosed with black-framed glass wall panels. The 12 high-bay pendants were selected for their sleek design and attractive hollow center; the latter feature is reminiscent of an airplane propeller, which reflects the Earl Giles logo. Aesthetics were particularly important in this space because the distillery luminaires are highly visible from most dining and bar areas.

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