University of San Agustin

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Architecture

Lighting Evaluation in selected USA Architectural Facilities

Submitted by:

Joshua Abraham Belita

Jesus Bernal Jr.

Kyle Johnxen Gumban

Dale Aldrich Ong

Sean Paul Saquilon

El Alden Sorongon

Ma. Lourdes Apostol

Kristine Joy Panizales

Submitted to:

Mrs. Cecile Alimen

 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

Background and Theoretical Framework

The role of lighting in our daily lives is essential to operate ideally in every

environment. A study by Tanner (2008) reiterates the idea that the physical design of schools can

effect student achievement. One of the areas of design discussed was lighting. The author relates

evidence from other studies that have shown that lighting affects human physiological functions,

health, development, and performance. Thus, good architectural lighting is necessary for

buildings to achieve efficiency and visual comfort. This case study will evaluate the selected

architectural facilities in the University of San Agustin to determine if they provide good

condition for educational use in terms of lighting.

Statement of the Problem

1. What are the lighting designs in the selected USA Architectural Facilities?

2. How is the lighting condition in the selected USA Architectural Facilities?

3. What are the possible measures to solve problems in lighting in the selected USA

Architectural Facilities?
Conceptual Framework

Lighting System/s Lighting

Evaluation in
Lighting Condition USA
Architectural
Solutions to
Problems in Lighting
Facilities

Significance of the Study

This case study will benefit the following:

Architecture students

In this case study, architecture students will benefit in their area of learning where

lighting condition greatly affects their performance. Thus, a well-lighted room will satisfy their

color-rendering needs wherein true shades of colors are well seen with good lighting condition.

Architecture instructors

This case study will benefit in their area of teaching where the provision of good lighting

is needed for effective learning. Thus, a well-lighted room encourages the students to listen and

participate.

Interior designers
 Interior designers will benefit in their area of expertise, which is interior design. They

will be aware of the lighting needs of the building users and improve their lighting design. This

case study will also serve as basis for their future interior projects.

Future architecture students

This case study will serve as their future research source.

Definition of Terms

In this study, Architectural lighting means a field within architecture and architectural

engineering that concerns itself primarily with the illumination of buildings. The objective of

architectural lighting design is to obtain sufficient light for the purposes of the building,

balancing factors of initial and operating cost, appearance, and energy efficiency.

In this study, CAD Room means a space that is or may be occupied for Computer-aided

design used in art and architecture and engineering and manufacturing to assist in precision

drawing

In this study, contrast is used as a term for an opposition

or juxtaposition of different forms, lines, or colors in a work of art to intensify each

element's properties and produce a more dynamic expressiveness.

In this study, drafting room means a workstation where architecture students produce

drawings for residential, commercial and industrial projects.

In this study, fluorescent lamp means a lamp that produces visible light by fluorescence,

especially a glass tube whose inner wall is coated with a material that fluoresces when an

electrical current causes a vapor within the tube to discharge electrons.

 In this study, glare is used as a term for too much light.

In this study, incandescent lamp means an electric light which produces light with a

wire filament heated to a high temperature by an electric current passing through it, until it

glows.

In this study, LED is an acronym for Light-emitting Diode which means a semiconductor

diode that emits light when a voltage is applied to it and that is used especially in electronic

devices (as for an indicator light).

In this study, lighting is a term used as a method or equipment used to provide artificial

illumination.

In this study, lighting design is a term generally concerned with the permanent

illumination of a structure.

In this study, lighting fixture means a fixture providing artificial light.

In this study, physiological function is a term for the degree of activity that stimulates the

physical structures but that is so limited as not to irritate those tissues.

In this study, visual comfort is used as a consideration. The aspects of lighting that cause

visual discomfort include those relevant to visual performance and extend beyond them.

In this study, visual information means an information in the form of visual or pictorial

representations of person(s), place(s), or thing(s), with or without sound.

Scope and Limitation

The case study will focus on the evaluation of the lighting designs of the architectural

facilities in which the University of San Agustin will be the locale of the study. The evaluation

will be aided by a checklist of guidelines in good architectural lighting provided by the book in

Architectural Lighting by Egan, M. D. and Olgyay, V. W. Facilities to be covered are the

drafting rooms, lecture rooms, CAD rooms, office and library. The evaluation will cover one

area per facility.

 Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Architectural lighting design

A field within architecture and architectural engineering that concerns itself primarily

with the illumination of buildings. The objective of architectural lighting design is to obtain

sufficient light for the purposes of the building, balancing factors of initial and operating cost,

appearance, and energy efficiency. Lighting designers are often specialists who must understand

the physics of light production and distribution, and the physiology and psychology of light

perception by humans. Architectural lighting design is generally concerned with the permanent

illumination of a structure. Concert and theatrical lighting have different purposes and

practitioners.

Concept of lighting design

Comprehensive lighting design requires consideration of the amount of functional light

provided, the energy consumed, as well as the aesthetic impact supplied by the lighting system.

Some buildings, like surgical centres and sports facilities, are primarily concerned with providing

the appropriate amount of light for the associated task. Some buildings, like warehouses and

office buildings are primarily concerned with saving money through the energy efficiency of the

lighting system. Other buildings, like casinos and theatres, are primarily concerned with

enhancing the appearance and emotional impact of architecture through lighting systems.

Therefore, it is important that the sciences of light production and luminaire photometric are
balanced with the artistic application of light as a medium in our built environment. These

electrical lighting systems should also consider the impacts of, and ideally be integrated with,

day lighting systems. Factors involved in lighting design are essentially the same as those

discussed above in energy conservation analysis.

Architectural lighting design focuses on three fundamental aspects of the illumination of

buildings or spaces. The first is the aesthetic appeal of a building, an aspect particularly

important in the illumination of retail environments. Secondly, the ergonomic aspect: the

measure of how much of a function the lighting plays. Thirdly is the energy efficiency issue to

ensure that light is not wasted by over-illumination, either by illuminating vacant spaces

unnecessarily or by providing more light than needed for the aesthetics or the task.

Each of these three aspects is looked at in considerable detail when the lighting designer

is at work. In aesthetic appeal, the lighting designer attempts to raise the general attractiveness of

the design, measure whether it should be subtly blended into the background or whether it should

stand out, and assess what kind of emotions the lighting should evoke. The functional aspects of

the project can encompass the need for the project to be visible (by night mostly, but also by

day), the impact of daylight on the project and safety issues (glare, colour confusion etc.).

History

For the most part of the history of mankind, from the origins of man up to the 18th

century, there were basically two sources of light available. The older one of these two is

daylight, the medium by which we see and to whose properties the eye has adapted over millions

of years. A considerable time elapsed before the Stone Age, with its development of cultural

techniques and tools, added the flame as a second, artificial light source. From this time on
lighting conditions remained the same for a considerable time. The paintings in the cave of

Altamira were created to be viewed under the same light as Renaissance and Baroque paintings.

Lighting was limited to daylight and flame and it was for this very reason that man has continued

to perfect the application of these two light sources for tens of thousands of years.

Daylight architecture

In the case of daylight this meant consistently adapting architecture to the requirements

for lighting with natural light. Entire buildings and individual rooms were therefore aligned to

the incidence of the suns rays. The size of the rooms was also determined by the availability of

natural lighting and ventilation. Different basic types of daylight architecture developed in

conjunction with the lighting conditions in the various climatic zones of the globe. In cooler

regions with a predominantly overcast sky we see the development of buildings with large, tall

windows to allow as much light into the building as possible. It was found that diffuse celestial

light produced uniform lighting; the problems inherent to bright sunshine cast shadow, glare

and overheating of interior spaces were restricted to a few sunny days in the year and could be

ignored. In countries with a lot of sunshine these problems are critical. A majority of the

buildings here have small windows located in the lower sections of the buildings and the exterior

walls are highly reflective. This means that hardly any direct sunlight can penetrate the building.

Even today the lighting is effected in the main by the light reflected from the buildings surfaces,

the light being dispersed in the course of the reflection process and a large proportion of its

infrared component dissipated.

1.1.2 Artificial lighting

 A similar process of perfection also took place in the realm of artificial lighting, a

development that was clearly confined by the inadequate luminous power provided by the light

sources available. The story began when the flame, the source of light, was separated from fire,

the source of warmth - burning branches were removed from the fire and used for a specific

purpose. It soon became obvious that it was an advantage to select pieces of wood that combust

and emit light particularly well, and the branch was replaced by especially resinous pine wood.

The next step involved not only relying on a natural feature of the wood, but, in the case of

burning torches, to apply flammable material to produce more light artificially. The development

of the oil lamp and the candle meant that man then had compact, relatively safe light sources at

his disposal; select fuels were used economically in these cases, the torch holder was reduced to

the wick as a means of transport for wax or oil.

1.1.3 Science and lighting

The reason why the development of efficient artificial light sources experienced a period

of stagnation at this point in time lies in mans inadequate knowledge in the field of science. In

the case of the oil lamp, it was due to mans false conception of the combustion process. Until

the birth of modern chemistry, the belief laid down by the ancient Greeks was taken to be true:

during the burning process a substance called phlogistos was released. According to the

Greeks, any material that could be burned therefore consisted of ash and phlogistos (the classical

elements of earth and fire), which were separated during the burning process phlogistos was

released as a flame, earth remained in the form of ash.

1.1.4 Modern light sources

 The Argand lamp marked the climax of a development which lasted tens of thou- sands

of years, perfecting the use of the flame as a light source. The oil lamp at its very best, so to

speak scientific progress, which rendered this latter development possible, gave rise to the

development of completely new light sources, which revolutionized lighting engineering at an

increasingly faster pace.

1.1.4.1 Gas lighting

The first competitor to the Argand lamp was gas lighting. People had known of the

existence of combustible gases since the 17th century, but gaseous substances were first

systematically understood and produced within the framework of modern chemistry. A process

for recovering lighting gas from mineral coal was developed in parallel to the Argand lamp

experimentation.

1.1.4.2 Electrical light sources

Incandescent gas light was doomed to go the way of most lighting discoveries that were

fated to be overtaken by new light sources just as they are nearing perfection. This also applies to

the candle, which only received an optimized wick in 1824 to prevent it from smoking too much.

Similarly, the Argand lamp was piped at the post by the development of gas lighting, and for

lighting using incandescent mantles, which in turn had to compete with the newly developed

forms of electric light.

1.1.5 Quantitative lighting design

A good hundred years after scientific research into new light sources began all the

standard lamps that we know today had been created, at least in their basic form. Up to this point
in time, sufficient light had only been available during daylight hours. From now on, artificial

light changed dramatically. It was no longer a temporary expedient but a form of lighting to be

taken seriously, ranking with natural light.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ALL LIGHTING DESIGNS

A. Control of Nuisance/Disabling Glare

No lighting scheme shall cause unnecessary or disabling glare to motorists or pedestrians and all

reasonable means shall be taken to prevent the projection of light onto neighboring properties.

Glare control should be accomplished primarily through the design and selection of appropriate

lighting equipment. Only after technical means are exhausted, may a developer substitute

vegetative screening, fencing or other indirect means to reduce glare and light trespass;

No fixture with an output of more than 2,000 lumens (approximately equivalent to a 150-watt

incandescent bulb) shall be unshielded;

Luminaires with adjustable heads must be installed with fixtures perpendicular to the ground

plane (0 tilt).

B. Color

Color rendition, or the effect of a light source on the appearance of objects compared to

their appearance under normal daylight conditions, is greatly affected by the type of lamp used.

The Village promotes natural color rendition, or a white light from artificial light sources.

Generally, a metal halide lamps are the most energy efficient of the white light sources, and thus

the most desirable.

C. Hours of Operation

Outdoor lights should be used only when necessary.

Hours of operation shall be limited to the hours of darkness between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM,

except under the following conditions:

Commercial and industrial uses which remain open after 11:00 PM are permitted to keep outdoor

lighting on up to 2 hour after employees leave;

Approved security lighting may remain on after 11:00 PM;

Recreational activities that continue past 11:00 PM may remain lit 2 hour past the conclusion of

the event. Ball field lights should be turned off within 15 minutes of the last game;

On premise advertising signs may remain on after 11:00 PM if only if open for business.

The Plan Commission may require that lighting be controlled by a timing device or photo-

electric control if concerns regarding compliance arise.

D. Installation

All outdoor lighting must meet applicable Village Codes and should be permanently installed. In

addition, the following criteria should be met:

Electrical feeds to lighting standards should run underground, not overhead;

Lighting standards set in the perimeter of parking areas should be placed a minimum of five feet

outside paved lot areas or five feet behind tire-stops;

Lighting standards in the middle of parking areas should be mounted on concrete pedestals at

least 30" high, or protected by other acceptable means.

 Chapter 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Methodology

This chapter presents the purpose of the study and research design, evaluation tool as

source of data and the research procedures used in the study.

Research instrument

The researchers conducted an evaluation through printed checklists in the selected

architectural facilities in the University of San Agustin namely; drafting rooms, lecture rooms,

CAD rooms, office and library. The evaluation will cover one area per facility.

Locale of the study

University of San Agustin is a private educational institution located in Iloilo City,

offering the Bachelor of Science in Architecture since June 13, 1960 as recognized by the

Philippine government. The architectural facilities such as drafting rooms, CAD rooms and

architecture office are located in the Mendel hall. The CEA office and the lecture rooms are

located in Blanco hall. The library is located in Mentrida hall.

Research procedure

The researchers conducted an evaluation of lighting designs in the architectural facilities

in the University of San Agustin. The data came from the printed handouts of checklists

containing the guidelines of good architectural lighting. Photo documentation was also included.
Data analysis and interpretation

The evaluation tool contained eight general factors of good architectural lighting guided

with very good, good and poor each. The breakdown of percentages (very good, good and poor)

in each factor was indicated to determine the condition of the selected USA Architectural

Facilities namely; drafting rooms, CAD rooms, lecture rooms, architecture office, CEA (College

of Engineering and Architecture) office and the library.

Site visit

Site visit is defined as paying a visit in a specific area as locale of the study for evaluation

and data gathering.

The researchers visited the selected architectural facilities in the University of San

Agustin for evaluation of the lighting design.

 Chapter 4

RESULTS

Introductory Statement

Chapter 4 contains the objectives raised in this research paper. It includes the results

taken from the data generated for this purpose.

The lighting systems in the selected USA Architectural Facilities

The lighting condition in the selected USA Architectural Facilities

The possible measures to solve the problems in lighting:

1. Design lighting for expected activity.

2. Design with more effective luminaires.

3. Use efficient light sources.

4. Use lighter finishes on ceiling, walls, floors and furnishings.

5. Turn off lights when not needed.

6. Control window brightness.

7. Utilize daylighting as practicable.

8. Keep lighting equipment clean and in good working order.

9. Post-instructions covering operation and maintenance.

 Chapter 5

FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

DRAFTING ROOM

As a result, out of eight evaluators, the lighting condition in the drafting room is good with 61%.

Good combination of natural and artificial lighting. Lighting pattern is good but glare is irritating

during afternoon. The fluorescent lamps provide sufficient light on selected drafting tables. Some

drafting tables do not receive natural light.

Maintenance is needed like replacing busted fluorescent lights. Provision of baffles to counter

the glare. Additional lights that focus on drafting works considering that the architecture students

need enough light for their color-rendering techniques.

LECTURE ROOM

As a result, out of eight evaluators, the lighting condition in the lecture room is good with 64%.

The evaluators found that lecture room lacks apparatus that prevents glare such as sun baffles or

any material which help eliminate too much light coming from the sun. We also found out that

the lecture rooms lighting fixtures are not arranged properly that gives discomfort to the users.

The selection of lighting fixtures is improper and not energy-efficient.

We recommend to arrange the lighting fixtures accordingly and to have direct lighting to prevent

discomfort. We would also like to implement sun baffles to prevent glare from the sun.
CAD ROOM

As a result, out of eight evaluators, the lighting condition in the CAD room is good with 54%.

Lightings were arranged in longitudinal pattern. However, the light is not directed in some

workstation areas. It is also not maintained since the support of the light have rusts. The absence

of daylighting may cause of higher energy consumption. The windows are covered by the

curtains and cause dim areas in workstations that are not well-lighted.

The teacher who we asked recommended about the glare or the lighting that it must be semi-

direct to cover and lessen the light towards the users of the CAD room.

OFFICE

As a result, out of eight evaluators, the lighting condition in the office room is good with 42%.

The office of the College of Engineering and Architecture of University of San Agustin located

at the ground floor of Blanco Hall was evaluated. The quality of lights in the office was partially

maintained. The arrangements of lighting fixtures were arranged linearly but the lights are not

directed to workstation. It uses fluorescent lamps. It uses a glass curtain wall that there is no

enough daylight that can enter in the office.

Opening of curtain walls or the use of Light Emitting Diode (LED) can lessen the electricity and

that daylight or natural light can enter in the office.

LIBRARY

As a result, out of eight evaluators, the lighting condition in the library is good with 46%.
The sources of light inside the library of University of San Agustin are the fluorescent lamps.

These fixtures are bright enough to provide clear light to the students. The lighting pattern used

inside is the longitudinal pattern. The only mistake in the lighting design of the library is that

they put the lamps right above the shelves. According to the architectural lighting design,

lighting fixtures must be put above between every two shelves to provide direct lighting so the

readers can easily see or find the book they need.

Lighting fixtures should be properly organized. They should be transferred between every two

shelves to provide direct lighting .

 REFERENCES

Egan, M. D. and Olgyay, V. W. (2002). Architectural Lighting. McGraw-Hill, Inc.: New York.

pp. 47-48

Salvan, G. S. (1999). Architectural Utilities 3: Lighting and Acoustics. JMC Press, Inc.: Quezon

City. pp. 247-294

Smith, D. L. (2011). Environmental Issues for Architecture. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.:

Hoboken, New Jersey. pp. 45-52

Steane, M. A. (2011). The Architecture of Light. Routledge: New York. p.161

Steffy, G. R. (2002). Architectural lighting design. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.: Hoboken, New

Jersey. Chapter 1

Mott, M. S. et. al. (2012). Illuminating the Effects of Dynamic Lighting on Student Learning.

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