The things that Schoolhouse Electric Co. turn out always interest me one way or another, and this wall light the Portland-based manufacturer is no exception. Created in collaboration with their crosstown friends at the ACE Hotel, the new Schoolhouse Electric Co. Radar Sconce comes in six color options and was developed from a light from an old 1970s parts washer.

More from Schoolhouse Electric:

Our new Radar Sconce was inspired by a light originally used on an industrial parts washer. Utilitarian simplicity. We loved it. So did Ace Hotel Portland. Teaming up again after a 2007 collaboration, Schoolhouse and Ace developed a versatile and elegant industrial lamp to be used bedside in the hotel’s rooms and bar side in the new Ace basement bar.

When sourcing parts, we stumbled upon a 1970s stamped electrical box from one of our East Coast vendors that had the vintage tooling but hadn’t used in decades. We crushed hard on all the stamped details, including a cross, risk-of-fire warning, and wattage rating on the canopy box face. Functional communication incorporated into the design is what makes many vintage designs so rad. The message wasn’t hidden; it was part of the design, adding texture and character.

Over the last few years I have had a chance to get to know the company founder Brian Faherty a little bit and I tell him frequently how much I appreciate what he does. To me, to see him build a company like Schoolhouse that makes such well-made and aesthetically excellent products is admirable. In my mind he’s doing everything right –making things the way they should be (high quality, good-looking, unique) and defying what many see as conventional wisdom by doing it all in the U.S. –it’s no easy feat. I’m sure it has not been all smooth sailing, but I have to say that I consistently look at the company as one I truly admire. I hope some day I can personally take on an endeavor as ambitious.