ABSTRACT
This pattern provides a model for effective daylighting design in a small-scale single story commercial construction, a building type that constitutes the vast majority of new and existing buildings. These buildings represent a tremendous daylighting opportunity through the use of skylights and vertical glazing which is applicable to retail, office, light industrial, and other small-scale building typologies. One of the perennial challenges in daylighting is providing an even distribution of diffuse daylight across the building section, especially at areas beyond the reach of perimeter glazing. Once an interior section depth exceeds 25', the contrast between perimeter zone and core of the building increases to excessive levels during daylight hours. A large central transparent skylight comprising 4" skylight-to-floor area ratio (SFAR) provides high levels of daylight illumination at the center of the open office areas. Introducing the perimeter glazing in combination with the nine translucent central skylights and three transparent wall-washing skylights comprises the as built condition.
