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The
architecture of the Way Station Clubhouse
directs available daylight to produce
an aesthetically pleasing environment
that is a critical factor in the healing
process. The controlled daylight dimming
is an essential part of this integrated
lighting system, providing cost-effective
and flexible support for the design goals.
Lighting,
both daylight and electric,
is an integral part of this building's
design.
This
project set new standards for automated
lighting control and facility-wide energy
management using daylight with electric
light. It provides an outstanding visual
environment which supports the healing
process. It also demonstrates that energy-efficient
buildings that are designed for human
comfort are extremely successful. It is
quite possible to design both to reduce
environmental impact and to construct
an affordable commercial building.
"The
light really provides a symbol
of the kind of openness and positive
stance that the organization has
taken toward the care of people
with serious mental illness. The
clients of Way Station love the
building. The design is a very
open one and from any part of
the building its possible to see
exactly where you are in relation
to the rest of the building. Its
a building where people feel a
sense of freedom, a sense of lightness
... a sense of esteem."
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Tena
O'Rear,
Owner (at time of construction)
Duration : 17 minutes
43 seconds |
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Cross-Section
Diagram
Daylight
penetration is a vital component of the
healing environment in this facility.
To see more details of how daylighting
was incorporated, click on the graphics
below.
CLICK
RED AREAS TO SEE PHOTO
Note
that almost every interior space has some
daylight access, either from the exterior
of the building or from the interior courtyard.
The roof structures gather the light and
direct it to the interior, where light-diffusing
banners, light shelves, and reflective
surfaces diffuse and moderate any direct
glare. This general illumination is supplemented
by electric lighting, which only operates
when needed.
Design
Goals
The
main goal for this health care facility
was to integrate high-quality electric
lighting with available daylight, to provide
reduction in electric lighting load, a
quiet environment, and maximum recuperative
benefits from daylight.
Architect
ENSAR Principal, Gregory Franta, brought
together all members of the team, including
staff, to ensure consensus on design goals,
good communication, and that no part of
the building was designed in isolation.
Lighting Designer
Our primary goals were to balance electric
lighting with the daylighting, minimize
energy use, especially during peak demand
periods, and provide a system that worked
with the people and their needs. Another
unusual goal was to provide a non-institutional
feel to the electric lighting system.
Buzzing, flickering fluorescents could
contribute to negative effects on patients.
So one goal was to minimize extraneous
noise and light confusion from the electric
lighting.
Owners
Way Stations directors, and their staff,
wanted a building that was environmentally
sound, energy-efficient, and satisfied
the needs of their clients. The building
had to foster a sense of open communication
and well-being, and of harmony with nature.
What
were the constraints?
Money is always a constraint in any project.
The owners were very committed to doing
the right thing, so keeping controls on
the project was simpler. We were looking
for good long-term investment in minimizing
operating costs.
What
were the greatest challenges?
Since this was one of the first times
electric lighting had been dimmed automatically
in response to daylight, the commissioning
of the system took longer.
What
prompted the decision to use controls?
The building was beautifully daylighted.
Each area had daylight coming from multiple
directions for balanced light. There was
little need for the electric light and
it is truly used as an auxiliary system.
Therefore, it made sense to dim the electric
lighting when not needed to save on energy
and to help lessen the mechanical system
loading.
Was
there a champion for the use of controls?
Gregory Franta (architect) and Tena and
Grady ORear (owners) understood the importance
of controls and insisted on their use.
Solutions
Indirect
lighting combined with highly reflective
surfaces produces a bright interior without
compromising visual comfort. The lighting
control system must respond to changing
daylight levels throughout the day to
maintain adequate lighting. Dimming controls
provide supplemental electric lighting
when daylight levels fall below the preset
threshold. As spaces receive more daylight,
lights are automatically dimmed.
Occupancy sensors provide on/off control
for spaces used intermittently. Task lighting
provides focused control for small areas.
To achieve the design goals, the Way Station
team demonstrated creativity and excellent
technical competence.
How
did you meet the challenges and constraints?
Most of the daylight reflects off light
shelves and is directed up to the ceiling.
The indirect electric lighting, which
also lights the ceiling, automatically
fills in the light. The luminaires closest
to the windows are dimmed depending on
the amount of daylight light. As one gets
further away from the windows, the electric
light gets brighter, filling in for the
missing daylight. In smaller areas, occupancy
sensors automatically turned the lights
on or off. As a result of lighting controls
and excellent daylighting design, the
mechanical system was downsized from a
100 ton system to a 40 ton system.
What
did you learn from doing this project?
First, it is entirely possible to design
affordable commercial buildings which
rely on solar energy and energy efficiency
to greatly reduce the environmental impact
of energy use.
Second, environmentally benign energy
use in buildings is an economic boon.
Way Station owners are saving money each
year on their building, and they put that
savings to work creating jobs in their
local economy.
Third, the designer and owners of the
Way Station building have shown that they
can create buildings that contribute to
environmental well being and personal
well-being at the same time.
The real beauty of Way Station's headquarters
is that it is truly a healing place.
What
was the worst problem you faced?
The photosensors for the daylight dimming
controls were supposed to be located in
the bottom of each indirect luminaire.
This did not occur and was missed in the
shop drawings. The contractor saw the
locations of the light sensors on the
plans and assumed it meant ceiling mounted.
Therefore, the light sensors ended up
directly above the luminaires on the ceiling.
When the sensors were operating, the electric
lights falsely triggered the sensors so
the lights would dim. Then the sensors
didn't think there was enough light in
the space, so the lights would go up.
This "wave" effect was solved by moving
the sensors and recalibrating their sensitivity.
The glazing on the greenhouse area windows
is clear double-pane obscured glass, which
allows adequate light without direct solar
gain when sun angles are high. The integration
of heating and lighting effects in the
greenhouse is an excellent example of
cooperative design work. Analysis showed
that, for example, window performance
was more important than wall insulation
in saving energy.
Benefits
Staff
members affirm that the lighting and daylighting
systems are dependable, and that the overall
feeling of the lighting is natural. The
primary goal, to provide a visual environment
which enhances healing, has been achieved.
Daylight dimming used in conjunction with
indirect lighting resulted in a 41% reduction
of energy use compared to the same design
without daylight dimming control.
Maintenance savings were realized in extended
lamp life and reduced maintenance labor
needs.
Additional equipment first-costs for this
advanced lighting control system were
approximately $0.65 per square foot.
There were numerous benefits from the
design decisions.
Reduced energy use by - A reduction in
lighting, cooling, and electric by $30,428/yr.
or a reduction of 65%.
Human factors - Continuous ventilation
system to control air quality and humidity,
daylighting for healing mental health
patients, extensive plantings in greenhouse
and atrium for air quality and food production,
and low toxicity materials.
Reduced construction or retrofit costs
from integrated design - Construction
costs were increased by $170,000 for the
solar and energy efficient features. Total
construction cost was $3,310,000 (or $111/ft.2).
This represents a 5% increase which provided
a 4-year payback.
Were
there any unexpected benefits?
Environmental
and Health Features
Continuous ventilation system to control
air quality and humidity
Daylighting
Extensive plantings in greenhouse and
atrium
Ceramic tile, low toxicity fabrics and
paints
Non- or low-toxic cleaning materials and
floor wax used in maintenance
Energy
Performance
Percent overall reduction in energy use:
66%
Reference Case: 66,100 Btu/ ft.2/yr.
Way Station: 22,700 Btu/ ft.2/yr.
Auxiliary heating system: Central variable
air volume
Solar
Features
1028 ft.2 greenhouse
2500 ft.2 south-facing glass
2-foot (.6 m) exterior and interior light
shelves
No west or east glazing
Roof monitors
Skylights with SoLuminaire™ daylight
trackers
Thermal mass: masonry wall in greenhouse,
tile flooring in 80% of the building
Energy
Efficient Features
R-30 to R-36 ceiling (tapered rigid foam)
R-24 walls: structural block, 2.5 in.
foil-faced isocyanurate, exterior brick
Heat Mirror™ glazing
High-efficiency lighting equipment and
controls
Energy management system
| Energy
Bills |
Reference
(modeled) |
Way
Station* |
| Space
and water heating |
$8,800/yr. |
$2,939/yr. |
| Lighting,
cooling, electric |
$47,100/yr. |
16,672/yr. |
| Water
heating |
$2,100/yr. |
$734/yr. |
| Total |
$58,000/yr. |
$20,345/yr. |
|
* Actual 1992 bills
Specifications
& Credits
The
Way Station project incorporated new design
features which required the efforts of
many talented people.
Electrical
Engineer : Engineering Economics,
Inc. (John McGovern), Denver, CO.
Controls Manufacturer : Lutron
Electronics Co., Inc.
Ballast Manufacturer : Lutron
Electronics Co., Inc.
Luminaire Manufacturer : Peerless
Lighting Corp.
Photography : Michael Mutmansky
Type
of Facility :
Way Station, Inc. is an organization with
a healing mission. The clubhouse is a
place where members with long-term mental
illness voluntarily come for clinical
treatment and rehabilitation. The members
also take advantage of socializing with
staff and other members.
Size
:
2-story building, 30,000 sq. ft.
Completed : February 1991
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