The Waukesha Campus in Waukesha, WI, is a satellite educational facility of Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC). The sister campus is home to the Service Building, which houses the student center.
CHALLENGE
Dubbed “the cave” for its dark and gloomy atmosphere, the student center was unpopular with students. With a budget of $600,000, the school sought to renovate the existing space, transforming it from a dark and dreary environment to a bright and cheerful one where students would want to eat, study and socialize.
SOLUTION
According to Matthew Kerr, IIDA, ASAI, Senior Associate and Interior Designer at Zimmerman Architectural Studios, the renovation’s main objectives were filling the space with natural light and creating auditory separation without disrupting the visual “openness” of the existing space.
Daylighting the space required 12 Solatube SolaMaster 750 DS Core Units, which were installed by local Solatube Certified Commercial Distributor Brighter Concepts. The units integrated with LED lighting for night use and maximum lighting energy efficiency. Custom square-shaped fabric lanterns added a decorative element at the ceiling level.
“The cave-like environment of the student gathering area was very oppressive. It was truly incredible to see the transformation of the space once the Solatube units were installed.” — Keith Johnson, Owner, Brighter Concepts .
RESULTS
Increased Space Use
With the addition of Solatube Daylighting Systems, the former “cave” went from being an underused, dark space to a vibrant and active hub for students, according to Brooks Kyler-Eberlein, WCTC Interior Design instructor.
Reduced Energy Costs
Using natural light by day and LED light by night, the school established a long-term solution to reduce its lighting energy costs.
“It’s amazing what a building remodel that factors in natural light can do for one’s psyche! The Solatube units made this possible.” — Brooks Kyler-Eberlein, WCTC Interior Design Instructor
To learn how Solatube Daylighting Systems can elevate your next project, get in touch with a Solatube Certified Commercial Distributor, visit the website or call 1-888-SOLATUBE.
PROJECT DETAILS
- CLIENT: Waukesha County Technical College
- CHALLENGE: Transform dark, cave-like student center into a bright, cheerful space
- RESULTS: Increased student center use, reduced energy costs
- PRODUCT: 12 Solatube® SolaMaster 750 DS Units
- SOLATUBE DISTRIBUTOR/INSTALLER: Brighter Concepts
- ARCHITECT AND INTERIOR DESIGNER: Zimmerman Architectural Studios
- ENGINEERING CONSULTANT: Ring & DuChateau
- LANTERN FABRICATION: Ascend Design
Related Stories
| Oct 6, 2010
Windows Keep Green Goals in View
The DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has almost 600 window openings, and yet it's targeting LEED Platinum, net-zero energy use, and 50% improvement over ASHRAE 90.1. How the window ‘problem’ is part of the solution.
| Oct 6, 2010
From grocery store to culinary school
A former West Philadelphia supermarket is moving up the food chain, transitioning from grocery store to the Center for Culinary Enterprise, a business culinary training school.
| Sep 16, 2010
Green recreation/wellness center targets physical, environmental health
The 151,000-sf recreation and wellness center at California State University’s Sacramento campus, called the WELL (for “wellness, education, leisure, lifestyle”), has a fitness center, café, indoor track, gymnasium, racquetball courts, educational and counseling space, the largest rock climbing wall in the CSU system.
| Aug 11, 2010
YKK AP launches enerGfacade family of building envelope products
YKK AP America, the leader in manufacturing high quality architectural products, today announced enerGfacade™, its new family of energy-efficient products, as part of the YKK Group’s 50 year anniversary in the architectural products business. The family includes several products, such as Luminance™, ThermaShadeTM and YOW350T.
