The project defines and analyzes current issues in Lawrence Tech Univeristy’s studio bay located on the 4th floor.
The goal is to focus on the natural light, electrical lighting, and acoustical environment to improve the space.
Developed With: Revit, Cove Tool, Enscape 3d, Illustrator, Photoshop
4th Floor Studio Bay
Current Conditions
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Natural Light
Strengths: Throughout the day there is a surplus amount of daylight coming through both the NE and SW elevations. To most, this will help boost mood and reduce eye strain within the area. The SW light shelf helps control over exposure currently.
Weaknesses: While the surplus of daylight is a strength, it can become a weakness at particular times throughout the day. Due to window locations on both NE and SE elevation, the early morning and late afternoon light coming through can cause an interruption in the center of the studio where students spend the majority of the time.
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Electrical Light
Strengths: In the main studio areas, track lighting provides quality lighting throughout the day. It is recessed can light along the halls, which provides better visibility throughout the day. In the hallway, students often hang artwork along with the windows, so these lights are essential when the space has low lighting.
Weaknesses: Generally, the lighting in the space is good, however, a few concerns that were voiced were about motion sensor lighting, which could limit control based on the amount of movement. In addition, there is no lighting on the interior walls where the desks are located.
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Grow it.
Strengths: Existing panels help support the acoustics in the space with the existing partition walls that can be moved by the students and faculty when desired. Also, the carpet in the center helps absorb conversations within each studio bay, preventing any simultaneous classes from clashing with one another.
Weaknesses: Even with the existing ceiling panels the space can be upgraded. The current panels are in poor condition and could use replacement. Another weakness is traveling voices from the hallway into the seating area, which can cause a distraction to students working in the center.
Design Solutions
Natural Light
After a review of the area, we determined that the NE elevation could cause discomfort in the early morning. For students who are early risers and are working particularly in the center of the studio in the AM, the low angle of the sun can cause glare on the computer monitors. By removing the current curtain wall and adding the louvers we can help control the deeper light into the studio. The vertical orientation of the louvers works well with the low sun angle on the 1st and 2nd level windows.
Vertical Louver System
Electrical Light
With not a lot of weaknesses on lighting in the space, we decided that removing the motion sensor from the lights and putting the control back in the occupant’s hand could be beneficial. Overall, we were satisfied with the way the recessed can light and track lights were laid out in the studio. However, now that the motion sensors are removed we could provide accent lighting to the interior walls overlooking the desk space. Task lighting at the desks could help provide a more pleasant studying space for students instead of only having the track lights. The current lighting can be changed to LED lights since they are a cooler, efficient lighting source. They are much more durable, have low energy consumption, and have a longer life span.
Accent Wall and Task Lighting
Reflected Ceiling Plan
Acoustical Environment
With the current old panels in place, we chose to upgrade to receding acoustic panels from the ceiling. This decision would help prevent reflected sounds and reverberations coming from either the hallway or the main studio area in the center. The main benefits would be as follows:
Reduces echo and reverberation
Improves speech intelligibility
Exceptional acoustical performance
Mold-resistant, fire-retardant
Our final solution would be to switch the carpeting from the inside of the room to the halls where the majority of the noise comes from traveling occupants.
Acoustic Panels and Carpet
