Lighting for Affordable Housing
Rent is too damn high
The first Zero-Net public library in California
West Berkeley Library is a branch library for the Berkeley Public Library system. It is the first Zero-Net energy public library in California and was awarded AIA COTE Top Ten for 2016. It was awarded an IESNA Illumination Award of Excellence, “for significant contribution to the art and science of lighting design.” The project attained LEED Platinum.
Lighting fixtures continue to improve in efficacy, but we have to provide the necessary light levels to make the space functional and enjoyable for all users. In practice, that means the efficiencies mostly come from turning lights off when not needed.
Zero-net lighting design is lighting controls design: occupancy sensing, task tuning, and most especially daylight harvesting.
The desired feeling is one of approachability, that would welcome pedestrians inside, rather than the grandiose tradition of civic architecture that creates a space between the viewer and the architecture.
The goal for the night-time appearance was to create a lantern with the appearance of light streaming out from the interior.
Extensive photometric modeling was done to study the interaction between the electric lighting and daylight availability, which informed the lighting controls design. In addition, since we were attempting to minimize lighting energy loads without sacrificing quality of the design, calculations to determine lighting levels were integral to the design process.
Rent is too damn high
A renewal of an 1960’s university library to meet 21st century needs
Supporting physical health during cold, rainy Oregon winters