Baker Blog « Baker Lighting Lab

Entry NO. 3

30 Jan 2013

Author: Ben Bye

Lewis Integrative Science Building: Daylighting on Campus

University of Oregon | Eugene | THA Architecture

photo: archweekpeopleandplaces.blogspot.com

The Lewis Integrative Science Building is the newest addition to the University of Oregon campus. The building is designed by THA Architecture, out of Portland. The building is designed to require a minimal amount of electric lighting. The building’s central atrium contains an expansive skylight with elegantly detailed louvers. The curved louvers reduce glare by blocking direct sunlight and they also bounce sunlight in the laboratories on the atrium’s northern edge.

photo: hackerarchitects.com

The laboratories on the northern edge of the atrium are closed in with glazed walls. The glazing lets in light from the atrium, giving the labs natural light from two sides. The glazing system on the interior wall helps reduce glare inside the naturally lit laboratories. It also helps in the creation of transparency between the public and the scientists.

The offices and labs located on the southern edge of the building have external shading devices and internal light shelves. This reduces solar glare and heat gain while simultaneously improving the average light levels within the space. Sensors on the windows remind occupants when to open or close the windows for optimal ventilation.

photo: archweekpeopleandplaces.blogspot.com

Information and Photos From:

http://archweekpeopleandplaces.blogspot.com/2012/11/tha-architecture-in-eugene-oregon.html

http://uoresearch.uoregon.edu/content/lewis-integrative-science-building—-news

http://thaarchitecture.com/lewis-integrative-science-building-2

Entry NO. 2

24 Jan 2013

Author: Josie Baldner

The Design Hub at RMIT University in Melbourne opened on November 9^th 2012. The building was designed by Sean Godsell and Peddle Thorp Architects and the outer most layer of the double envelope was engineered by Permasteelisa Group.

This building was designed to house a broad range of tangible design research groups and postgraduate education. The building is not only used to house research but is also a vehicle for research itself. A part of the north façade has been dedicated to ongoing research and the entire façade was designed to be easily upgraded as solar technology evolves.

The outermost skin of the building uses conventional industrial materials in an unconventional way. A metal armature holds together over sixteen thousand cells made segments of metal tubing that houses sand blasted glass disks that pivot along their central axes to allow more daylight and air to pass through them. The cells become transparent in the rain allowing more light to enter into the building on cloudy days.