Daylighting Parametric Workflows Used for Adaptive Reuse

Daylighting & Solar Glare control, which affect both the energy consumption of the building as well as the comfort of the occupants, become rather limited when repurposing existing buildings for new uses. Many variables are fixed (among others, window to wall area ratios, current orientation and the visible light transmittance of glass) and have to respond to certain historical parameters. Nevertheless, in this era of Data-driven design and Performance-based design, the art of daylighting has undergone a radical evolution, which also has affected the way Adaptive Reuse is approached. Using the metrics specified in the IESNA LM 83 Standard, (Spatial Daylight Autonomy SDA & Annual Sunlight Exposure ASE), daylighting workflows could be parameterized in order to establish an “optimization best path”. Using either cumulative or comparative (or both) parametric strategies, these historical structures are analyzed in order to establish optimal levels of daylighting (using SDA) while establishing the best strategies for solar glare control (using ASE). For this study, 3 repurposed structures are analyzed: 1) a renovated historic high school from the 1930’s, 2) a renovated historic office building from the 1910’s occupied by the local chapter of a national a non-profit and 3) an iconic repurposed domed stadium from the 1960’s. The three buildings are located in Houston, Texas.