Every year, the Office of Facilities Management use around 30,000 lights to fill the campus with the holiday spirit.
The campus’ grounds crew and student workers help contribute to this task.
“With Capital taking steps toward sustainability, all Christmas lights on campus are now 100 percent LED,” Jason Halliwell, assistant director at the Office of Facilities Management, said. “These lights are rated to last for 50,000 hours and save over 5,000 watts of electricity usage.”
These lights are replaced when the need arises, and currently there are no plans to spend money to increase the current display.
“So far this year, we have spent less than $200 on materials,” Halliwell said. “The City of Bexley allows us to use their bucket truck to keep equipment costs to a minimum.”
For those who don’t know, a bucket truck is a vehicle with a small crane on the back that the operator uses to elevate themselves to higher positions. Commonly, electricians use them when working on electrical lines.
Already, some lights have been hung up around the fountains, but a key area that will feature most of the lights is the 60-foot Colorado Blue Spruce that will be placed in Renner lawn.
“Our main focus is the Christmas tree, but we also decorate the plaza, the gate, and the main corridor leading up to Kerns,” Halliwell said.
“Last year, Patrick Lorms, our carpenter, constructed a lighted village display that is installed around the perimeter of the tree. He also constructed a new star for the top,” Halliwell said.
This year, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 25. Starting at 4 p.m. there will be hot chocolate available, along with an iceless skating rink.
Outside of just the Christmas lights, Facilities also help set up a Menorah display during Hanukkah, and four giant wreaths are hung on the Conservatory of Music, Blackmore Library, and Yochum Hall.
For a full list of events happening this holiday season, check Capital’s event calendar.
