Experimental Testing To Enhance The Design Of Daylighting Systems. A Case Study On The Implementation Of Laboratory Oriented Design In Undergraduate Education

This paper addresses a timely topic, which is designing and enhancing the performance of daylighting systems in buildings early in the design phase. Currently in academia, the design of daylighting systems lacks the emphasis, rigor, and time normally given to electric lighting systems. However, only in a few higher education institutions, more attention is being gradually given to the study of daylighting systems. Undoubtedly, the substantial environmental and economic benefits of daylighting make its study a must to include in both architecture and architectural engineering curricula. In this paper, the author shares his experience teaching undergraduate students the principles of the design of daylighting systems; implementing laboratory-oriented studies as the educational tool. The paper starts with a brief survey of the existing design-assisting tools, discusses three advanced design methodologies, which are computer programs, outdoor model testing, and indoor model testing, and then concludes with a discussion of the implementation of laboratory-oriented design in undergraduate education.