Solid Light, a full-service firm that plans, designs and builds exhibits and visitor destinations, opened its new headquarters in Louisville’s SoBro neighborhood.
Located in the former home of CED Industrial Solutions/E&H Electrical Supply, Solid Light made extensive renovations to the 1940s-era building and surrounding green space, confirming its commitment to contribute to the economic development of the SoBro community.
The renovation transformed the building from an industrial warehouse into a modern office and fabrication space that includes a 20,000-square-foot main office building and a 20,000-square-foot fabrication shop, with 15,000 square feet for expansion.
The new building also includes a black-box theater for audio/visual editing and sound engineering and meeting spaces that incorporate state-of-the-art technologies provided by local Trinity Video Communications to showcase Solid Light’s media projects for clients.
Solid Light Owner and President Cynthia Torp collaborated closely on the green project with local civil engineering firm Sabak, Wilson & Lingo, Realm Construction and the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) to sustainably divert rainwater away from the building into surrounding soil, decreasing sewer overflow and demands on treatment facilities. Added vegetation and green spaces will help with water control, as well as enhance the building’s overall visual appeal.
“We decided to put our headquarters in the SoBro neighborhood because investing in the revitalization of our community is the right thing to do,” says Torp. “By bringing life back into this historic building, we are keeping a piece of history alive in Louisville and telling our story through the building design, demonstrating what we do for our clients—create a visitor experience where everything from the design of a room to the furniture tells a story about the organization’s brand.”
Commonwealth Bank and Trust was the primary lender for the project. With assistance from the Louisville Forward METCO loan program, Solid Light also instituted façade and accessibility improvements to the new building, and Louisville Downtown Partnership’s Downtown Community Loan Fund provided assistance with the sustainability portion of the project.
