SPECIAL SECTION BUILDING AUTOMATION
as well as they wished. The goal was to make the most of those awesome views while making better use of daylighting, optimize lighting quality throughout the office, and reduce energy consumption. The first solution that they explored in detail was a “light shelf,” louvered panels that could tilt up and down according to the positioning of the sun and, they hoped, allow optimal useful daylight illumination, or UDI, into the workspaces without energy-wasting solar gain. A digital test was followed by a physical mockup of the light shelf, assembled by the Tech Studio. It was activated by a light sensor, to block sun as
needed. The test showed the system had a positive effect at removing glare and providing desired levels of shade at the perimeter of the floor. But the light shelf fell short of expectation in other respects. It fully blocked views in the sunniest periods, and the movement of those shelves, responding to sunlight/cloudy variability, was distracting. Undaunted, Pautz and the Tech Studio team took what they learned and leaned on Lutron Electronics to offer an alternative solution. Part of the solution was already in place. “Daylight modeling helped us determine
PHOTO: DOUG SCOTT; PRODUCT SHOT: COURTESY OF LUTRON ELECTRONICS
design technology tools and improve implementation of existing tools. The studio supports specific projects and conducts independent research,” says Pautz. “A key aspect of what they were working on early in the process was energy and daylight modeling. Green can be intuitive, but using our own technologies, we can do a relative, early analysis of our ideas.” The LMN Tech Studio uses building performance simulation, parametric modeling, digital fabrication, and human-computer interaction to serve the needs of clients, and, in this case themselves. What they found was their first idea didn’t work
96
september–october 2015
gbdmagazine.com