The Performance of Light: Exploring the Impact of Natural Lighting in the New UMass School of

195 Pages·2017·18.9 MB·English

University of Massachusetts Amherst
THE PERFORMANCE OF LIGHT
EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF NATURAL LIGHT IN THE NEW
UMASS SCHOOL OF PERFORMANCE

A Thesis Presented
by
DYLAN BROWN

Submitted to the Graduate School of the
University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillmen t
of the requirements for the degree o f
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE
May 2017
Department of Architecture
© Copyright by Dylan D. Brown 2017
All Rights Reserved
THE PERFORMANCE OF LIGHT: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF NATURAL
LIGHT IN THE NEW UMASS SCHOOL OF PERFORMANCE

A Thesis Presented
by
DYLAN BROWN

Approved as to style and content by :

_______________________________________
Kathleen Lugosch, Chair

_______________________________________
Ajla Aksamija, Member

_________________________________
Stephen Schreiber, Department Chair
Department of Architecture
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I’d like to thank my thesis advisor Kathleen Lugosch and Ajla Aksamija for their
dedicated effort throughout this whole process, and their patience in guiding my thoughts
and design towards a completed project. I would also like to thank my thesis committee
jurors, Derek Noble, Chris Novelli, Jason Newman, Lawson Wulsin and Ludmilla
Pavlova for giving their time and professional advice during the design process.
I’d also like to acknowledge Ray Mann for guiding me during the beginning
stages of research, Alex Schreyer for providing insight into the design of the timber
structural system, and Garrison Gamble for his advice on design issues, as well as
presentation layout and delivery.
Supporting documentation and resources graciously provided by Patricia
Parenteau, Łukasz Czarniecki, and Lindsay Schnarr.

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ABSTRACT
THE PERFORMANCE OF LIGHT: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF NATURAL
LIGHT IN THE NEW UMASS SCHOOL OF PERFORMANCE
MAY 2017
DYLAN BROWN, B.A., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
M.ARCH, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
Directed by: Professor Kathleen Lugosch
This thesis explores how natural light can be integrated with built form to create a
“performance of light” in architecture. Lighting conditions from a contemporary dance
piece, as well as other architectural precedents, were studied, and aspects adapted into the
building’s design. In addition to designing theatrical effects of light, the classroom and
administrative spaces were designed to take advantage of natural light. Daylight studies
were used to inform glazing design and material selection to stay within illuminance
thresholds in the spaces.
This project is responding to the facility needs of the campus of UMass Amherst
where the program of the dance, theater and music departments are stressed for space, are
operating in below-average facilities, and are separated, making collaboration difficult.
The programmatic concept driving this design purposely mixes offices, classrooms and
rehearsal spaces, creating overlap and collaborative opportunities.
The use of mass timber was also an important aspect of the buildings’ design.
Wood brings along many benefits, such as lower embodied energy, carbon sequestration,
better thermal properties, and an increase in the perceived quality of architectural spaces.
The volume of wood used in the building’s structural system was run through a life-cycle
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analysis to determine the overall carbon footprint, in relation to the amount of steel and
concrete used.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv
ABSTRACT .........................................................................................................................v
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix
LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x

CHAPTER
I INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................1
II LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................2
Properties of Light ...........................................................................................................2
Light and Architecture .....................................................................................................5
How Architecture Impacts Learning ...............................................................................8
Adaptability & Flexibility in Buildings .........................................................................18
Sustainability & Energy ................................................................................................23
Theater Design ..............................................................................................................38
Architectural Precedents ................................................................................................49
III SITE ANALAYIS ................................ ................................ ................................ .........63
IV PROGRAM................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 78
V DESIGN ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 85
Conceptual Design ................................ ................................ ................................ .......85
Schematic Design ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 95
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Design Development .....................................................................................................99
Final Review Boards ...................................................................................................107
VI CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................114
APPENDICES

A – STRUCTURE AND TECTONICS .....................................................................116
B – WOOD PROPERTIES ................................ ................................ ........................ 130
C – TIMBER PRECEDENTS ................................ ................................ ................... 138
D – MATERIAL GUIDE................................ ................................ ........................... 147
BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................ ................................ ................................ ............166

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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page

1. Movement Studies ........................................................................................................ 92
2. Movement Studies Cont. ............................................................................................... 93
3. Properties of mass timber panels. Mgb Architecture + Design, 2012 ........................ 120
4. Sound insulation performance of bare CLT floors and walls. CLT Handbook ......... 137
5. IBC minimum requirements for sound insulation for assemblies. 2015 IBC ............. 138
6. 3-ply CLT panel with mineral wool gap. CLT Handbook.......................................... 138
7. 3-ply CLT panel with studs/mineral wool gypsum board. CLT Handbook ............... 139
8. 5-ply CLT panel with acoustic infill and concrete topping. CLT Handbook ............. 139

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