Sound Sketch Series 1

The second floor of the Maud Gatewood Studio Arts Building has poor overall acoustical qualities for an educational space. The spaces that have better, more controlled acoustical properties are the lounge space and classroom 204. These spaces have better acoustics because of the use of softer materials in the space which helps with the sound absorption. The other spaces suffer acoustically due to their lack of soft materials. Without the soft materials there is nothing to absorb the sound reverberation which makes the space loud and echoey. Another factory is that the second floor space, at the front of the building, is open to the lobby space below which only adds more sound in the space. There are some acoustical panels scattered among the concave regions of the coffered ceiling. However, the acoustical panels are not integrated throughout all the coffered ceiling so they are not very beneficial for reducing sound in the more open areas. 

Acoustical panels on the market today can be made out of a wide array of materials, textures, and colors. There are durable, fabric acoustical panels, such as the ones in the third floor interior architecture studio space. Plus there are textured sound diffusers that are created to have a design of their own. For this space, in order to cut down on excess disruptive noises within the space, there should be acoustical panels integrated throughout the entire coffered ceiling and it would also be beneficial to add acoustical panels to the walls that can still provide the same tackable surface as the wall while still providing sound control. Below are some links to some interesting acoustical panel manufacturer websites.

http://www.armstrong.com/commceilingsna/article64305.html

http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/fabric_panel/fabric-wrapped-wall-panels.html

http://www.acousticsfirst.com/diffuser-art-diffusor.htm

Light Sketch Series 4

Studio Pendant Lights

a. Type of luminaire: direct

b. Mounting type: ceiling suspended

c. Lamp type: pendant lamp

d. Manufacturer: Shenzhen Yoohun Opto-Electronic Co., Ltd.

e. Light distribution: 

lamp luminous efficiency (lm/w): 98

lamp luminous flux (lm): 7840

f. Materials: aluminium and aluminium alloy

g. Lensing: n/a

h. Shielding: n/a

i. Function: fixed

j. Ballasts/drivers/transformers/dimmers: n/a

k. Environment

1. Purpose of the space: This space serves as a teaching and working space for interior architecture students.

2. Purpose of the lighting: The lighting is designed to serve as overall lighting for the space.

3. Recommendations: For the purpose of lighting the overall space this lighting seems to work well.

4. Other luminaries in the space: Most of the students who use the space have task lighting on their desk to provide better lighting in their space.

5. Suggestions: n/a

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/425900871/80w_led_pendant_light_fixture.html?s=p

Library and EUC entryway lighting

a. Type of luminaire: indirect

b. Mounting type: ceiling hung

c. Lamp type: uplight

d. Manufacturer: Widearth Lighting Factory

e. Light distribution: 

lamp luminous efficiency (lm/w): 87

lamp luminous flux (lm): 7680

f. Materials: bronze iron and frosted glass

g. Lensing: n/a

h. Shielding: n/a

i. Function: fixed

j. Ballasts/drivers/transformers/dimmers: n/a

k. Environment

1. Purpose of the space: This space serves as an entryway into both the library and the Elliot University Center on campus. It also serves as a small seating area for students socialize or study. 

2. Purpose of the lighting: The lighting in this space is designed for overall lighting of the space.

3. Recommendations: Combined with the other lighting in the space this lighting design seems to work well for its purpose.

4. Other luminaries in the space: There is also recessed can lights in the space to add more light to the tables and walkways.

5. Suggestions: n/a

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/productgs/649694177/Matt_Bronze_Ceiling_Fixture_Pendant_Lamp.html

EUC Hallway Lights

a. Type of luminaire: semi-indirect

b. Mounting type: wall mounted

c. Lamp type: wall sconce 

d. Manufacturer: Vellince Lighting Company Ltd. 

e. Light distribution: 

lamp luminous efficiency (lm/w): 68

lamp luminous flux (lm): 7450

f. Materials: aluminium 

g. Lensing: n/a

h. Shielding: n/a

i. Function: fixed

j. Ballasts/drivers/transformers/dimmers: n/a

k. Environment

1. Purpose of the space: This space serves as a hallway connecting the Elliot University Center and the university library.

2. Purpose of the lighting: The lighting is designed to light the path of the hallway.

3. Recommendations: These lights do not quite light the space as well as it should be. They should probably be combined with other types of lighting for a more effective lighting quality. 

4. Other luminaries in the space: These are the only luminaries in the space.

5. Suggestions: I would suggest adding other types of lighting to increase the lighting quality in the space.

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/391335908/Aluminum_TC_D_26W_wall_light.html


Living Room Lamps

a. Type of luminaire: semi-direct

b. Mounting type: free standing

c. Lamp type: table lamp

d. Manufacturer: DongGuan Tianhua Photoelectric Technology Co., Ltd. 

e. Light distribution: 

lamp luminous efficiency (lm/w): 53

lamp luminous flux (lm): 6538

f. Materials: ceramic base with cloth shade

g. Lensing: n/a

h. Shielding: n/a

i. Function: free standing and adjustable

j. Ballasts/drivers/transformers/dimmers: n/a

k. Environment

1. Purpose of the space: This space serves as a relaxation and socializing space for my apartment.

2. Purpose of the lighting: The lighting is designed to provide soft accent lighting in the space. 

3. Recommendations: These lights work well for their purpose within the space.

4. Other luminaries in the space: There are also recessed can lights in the space.

5. Suggestions: n/a

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/460946820/Home_decorative_Ceramic_Table_Lamp.html


Weatherspoon Art Gallery Track Lights

a. Type of luminaire: direct

b. Mounting type: ceiling mounted

c. Lamp type: track lighting

d. Manufacturer: Foshan Nanhai Wei Jia Lighting Co., Ltd.

e. Light distribution: 

lamp luminous efficiency (lm/w): 98

lamp luminous flux (lm): 1566

f. Materials: aluminium

g. Lensing: n/a

h. Shielding: n/a

i. Function: fixed track with adjustable lights

j. Ballasts/drivers/transformers/dimmers: n/a

k. Environment

1. Purpose of the space: This space serves as a display space for artwork in the Weatherspoon Art Museum Gallery.

2. Purpose of the lighting: The lighting is designed to accent and display the artwork within the space.

3. Recommendations: This lighting design works well for its given purpose.

4. Other luminaries in the space: There are recessed can lights used to light the overall space.

5. Suggestions: n/a

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/257169575/metal_halide_track_light_fixtures_CE.html?s=p


Studio Pin-up Wall Track Lights

a. Type of luminaire: direct

b. Mounting type: ceiling hung

c. Lamp type: track lighting

d. Manufacturer: Shenzhen City Apollux Optoelectronics Technology

e. Light distribution:

lamp luminous efficiency (lm/w): 90

lamp luminous flux (lm): 1000

f. Materials: aluminium

g. Lensing: n/a

h. Shielding: n/a

i. Function: fixed track with adjustable lights

j. Ballasts/drivers/transformers/dimmers: n/a

k. Environment

1. Purpose of the space: This space serves as a pin-up wall for interior architecture students in the Gatewood Studio Arts Building.

2. Purpose of the lighting: The lighting is designed to accent the pin-up wall and show off anything pinned upon it.

3. Recommendations: n/a

4. Other luminaries in the space: There are also pendant lights lighting the overall space.

5. Suggestions: n/a

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/658683149/Best_seller_COB_led_track_light.html

Music Building Lobby Lights

a. Type of luminaire: indirect

b. Mounting type: inlaid in ceiling

c. Lamp type: slot lighting

d. Manufacturer: Jiangmen Brandon Lighting Co., Ltd.

e. Light distribution: 

lamp luminous efficiency (lm/w): 78

lamp luminous flux (lm): 1654

f. Materials: aluminium

g. Lensing: n/a

h. Shielding: n/a

i. Function: fixed

j. Ballasts/drivers/transformers/dimmers: n/a

k. Environment

1. Purpose of the space: This space serves as an entryway into the music building on campus

2. Purpose of the lighting: The lighting is designed to light the space and accent the entryway.

3. Recommendations: I think that the lighting could have been better designed and that another type of luminarie should have been used.

4. Other luminaries in the space: This is the only type of lighting in the space.

5. Suggestions: I would have used another type of recessed lighting such as cove lighting or recessed can lights to illuminate the space rather than using slot lighting. 

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/617643790/Modern_Louvered_Industrial_Strip.html

Music Building Plaque Accent Lighting

a. Type of luminaire: direct

b. Mounting type: recessed ceiling lights

c. Lamp type: accent lighting

d. Manufacturer: Foshan TOSEO Lighting Factory

e. Light distribution: 

lamp luminous efficiency (lm/w): 75

lamp luminous flux (lm): 1432

f. Materials: aluminium 

g. Lensing: n/a

h. Shielding: n/a

i. Function: fixed

j. Ballasts/drivers/transformers/dimmers: n/a 

k. Environment

1. Purpose of the space: This space is an area where plaques honoring certain people are displayed in the music building.

2. Purpose of the lighting: The lighting is designed to accentuate the information displayed on the plaques.

3. Recommendations: n/a

4. Other luminaries in the space: n/a

5. Suggestions: This type of lighting is successful for its given purpose.

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/productgs/626017909/halogen_die_casting_aluminium_ceiling_light.html?s=p

Marriott Hotel and Restaurant Lobby

a. Type of luminaire: indirect

b. Mounting type: inlaid in ceiling

c. Lamp type: cove lighting

d. Manufacturer: Dongguan Solar Optronics Co., Ltd.

e. Light distribution:

lamp luminous efficiency (lm/w): 80

lamp luminous flux (lm): 1530

f. Materials: aluminium

g. Lensing: n/a

h. Shielding: n/a

i. Function: fixed

j. Ballasts/drivers/transformers/dimmers: n/a

k. Environment

1. Purpose of the space: This space serves as a lobby space for a restaurant and a hotel.

2. Purpose of the lighting: The lighting is designed to light the space and accent the ceiling decoration. 

3. Recommendations: I think this lighting is successful in this space.

4. Other luminaries in the space: There are also recessed can lights used in the space.

5. Suggestions: n/a

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/642634452/t5_cove_light.html?s=p

Sound Paper #1

In the last few weeks of this class we have been discussing how the reflection of light can change the look and feel of a space. However, the same can be said for sound within a space. Architecture reflects sound as well as light and they both help to hint at the form and materiality of a space and both are used to judge the psychological effect of a space. The shape and materials within a space effect the reverberations or lack there of in a given area. Rooms with softer materials and brighter colors usually give a sense of being warm and comfortable because of the soft materials that absorb sound and the bright colors that reflect warmer light. On the other hand, a room with a lack of color and all hard surfaces has a cold and uncomfortable feel because the cool, hard surfaces that lack sound absorption.

Through our lives we experience a variety of spaces that have good acoustics, poor acoustics, and then somewhere in between. Some of the spaces that I have experienced with good acoustics include my parent’s house, my apartment, and the Aycock auditorium. Each of these spaces has an acoustical feel that fits the purpose of the space. The soft interiors of both my parent’s house and my apartment allows for good sound absorption that make the space comfortable. The lack of reverberation in these spaces keeps sound from echoing and making the space too noisy. Aycock auditorium on the other hand has row after row of upholstered seats but the hard surfaces around the stage combined with the sloping roof allow for good auditorium acoustics. Without this you would not be able to hear a performance taking place on stage if you were seated towards the back of the space.

Some of the places that I have experienced with poor acoustically quality include studio, the lobby space in the Weatherspoon Art Museum, and East Coast Wings Restaurant on Tate Street. None of these spaces posses the proper acoustical qualities needed for these types of spaces and their purposes. The studio space is intended to be an instructional and private working space for several different groups at once, however, due to all of the hard surfaces and the high, open ceiling in the IARc space the sound reverberation in the space is unbearable when there are larger numbers of people in the space working on a variety of different things. Often times we will be having class in the studio space and the noise created by other classes elsewhere in the studio is so loud and distracting we have a hard time hearing what our professor is saying. In the lobby of the Weatherspoon Art Museum the space has good acoustical properties but these properties do not fit with the purpose of the space. Art museums are usually intended to be quieter spaces where you can reflect on the artwork that you see, however, the dome ceiling and hard surfaces in this space create so much reverberation even the simplest sound is a major distraction. The same could be said for East Coast Wings restaurant. There is so much sound reverberation within this space due to the larger amounts of people socializing and eating combined with all of the hard surfaces make it hard to talk to the people seated at your own table. More than once I have been in this restaurant with friends, even when it wasn’t crowded, and we have had to yell to each other to be heard over all the background noise in the space.

Both the lighting and the acoustical qualities of a space effect how you feel within the space and how you experience the space. Spaces with large amounts of reverberation tend to make us uncomfortable and want to leave. While spaces that have proper acoustical properties are more comfortable and we are able to remain in these spaces for longer periods of time. 

Daylight Model

Daylight Model

Daylight Model Poster

Sketch Series 3

For this assignment I chose two warm colored fabrics and two cool colored fabrics and examined each of them under a compact fluorescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a high-intensity discharge lamp, a LED lamp, and a incandescent lamp. It amazed me at some of the different colors that it made the fabric appear to be. The fluorescent, the halogen, and the incandescent lamps in my opinion had the best effect on each of the fabrics where as the high-intensity discharge and the LED lamps gave each of the fabrics a harsh appearance.

Sketch Series 2

Restaurant - Jimmy Johns

The lighting in this space consists of red pendant lights with incandescent lamps over the tables, track lighting in the higher part of the ceiling with halogen lamps, recessed can lighting around the kitchen area with halogen lamps, and fixtures in the kitchen with fluorescent lamps. The kitchen area in this space is lit with intense luminance and is the brightest area in the restaurant and then the surrounding dining area is darker with moderate luminance. This lighting pattern creates a slightly more intimate atmosphere because your attention is drawn to the brightly light kitchen space and away from the tables which gives the people at the tables more privacy. From the back of the restaurant, facing the front, there is a glare from the windows that stretch across the whole front of the space that leads you to the exit once you are done eating. I think that the space could do without the track lighting higher up in the ceiling because it doesn't seem to be doing much for the space. Aside from that the lighting in the space seems successful for a restaurant. There is not any inappropriate glare in the space and the lighting in the space seems to fit the purpose, which is that they want you to come in, eat, and leave so that they can serve more customers. 

Jimmy Johns

Retail Store - Sister's Jewelry

In this space there is track lighting with halogen MR-16 lamps, and fixtures along the wall and in the ceiling with fluorescent lamps. The strongest luminance in the space is directed on the display cases using the track lighting. For a retail/jewelry store this pattern of lighting makes sense because you want the emphasis in the space to be on the purchasable merchandise. There are not any places of intense glare or brightness within the space and the space is appropriately lit. The track lighting illuminating the displays is a good lighting decision because in a retail space where you want people to come in and buy things. You want to make sure that the merchandise stands out. 

Sister's Jewelry

Gallery - Weatherspoon Art Museum

In this space there is only track lighting with halogen lamps in various places around the space. The stark white walls and glossy floor combined with the intense lighting creates a lot of glare and brightness within the space. There is intense luminance within the space, especially around each piece of artwork. The bright lighting around each piece of artwork helps them to stand out but with the bland white walls it makes the space seem very harsh and it is hard to be in this space for a very long time. If the lighting needs to be this bright then I think that the walls should be painted another color besides white because it creates too much glare and not enough contrast. 

Weatherspoon Art Museum Gallery

Sketch Series 1

The space that I chose to sketch periodically for the light module of this class is the living and dining room area of my apartment. From the same viewpoint each time I sketched the space once on August 30th, September 8th, September 12th, and October 3rd. I also sketched the space throughout the day on September 29th. As the seasons changed the light entering the space became less harsh and created more of a glow in the space rather than the contrast created by the sunlight in the space during the summer months. On September 29th when I observed light in the space throughout the day I realized that the room is brightest around three o'clock in the afternoon when the sun is right outside the windows. At this time of the day the natural light entering the space is too harsh to have the blinds open. There are more shadows in the living room area of the space throughout the day, which makes more sense because all of the windows in the room are in the dining area. The color in the space shows up best around one o'clock in the afternoon because the sunlight is not direct enough to wash out the color, instead it brightens the colors within the space and makes them clearer. The natural light works best in this space from twelve noon to two o'clock in the afternoon but from three to around six o'clock the sunlight in the space is too overpowering to be in the room without lowering the blinds.

August 30th at 1 pm

September 8th at 1 pm

September 12th at 1 pm

September 29th at 10 am

September 29th at 1 pm

September 29th at 4 pm

October 3rd at 1 pm

Light Box: The Mixing of Light

For this light box assignment we had to form groups of four or less. My group members were Cory Odell, Kelsey Walker, and Matt Weikert. We designed a lighting experience for our 12'x12'x12' space by using different colored lights and manipulating the areas they could flood into to create different colors of light. The model was a 1'=1" scale model of a triangular space with three tabs placed to focus all of the lights into a white triangle on the base that reflected the triangular viewport in the top of the box. The tabs also allowed for each pair of colors to cross each other and create a new color. The final products has two corners of green, blue, and red but then in between those corners are yellow, magenta, and cyan. Then where all of the colors meet in the middle forms a white triangle. 

The mixing of light

The lighting effect

Interior of the light box

The poster

Scavenger Hunt: Illuminance, Reflectance, and Transmittance

Illuminance (in fc)

0-10 fc - (8.8 fc) 4th year studio space kitchenette 

10-20 fc - (11.7 fc) 4th floor studio space

20-30 fc - (20.6 fc) 3rd year studio pin-up wall

30-40 fc - (36.2 fc) computer lab table

40-50 fc - (48.4 fc) room 204 pin-up wall

50-60 fc - (53.2 fc) 4th floor critique room

60-100 fc - (76.1 fc) 3rd year studio windows

>100 fc - (163.8 fc) desk lamp on desk surface

Reflectance

0-20% - 1.4/31.4 = 4% monitor cover in room 204

20-40% - 9/30.2 = 30% desk surfaces in room 204

40-60% - 11.4/19.7 = 58% metal window frame in room 204

60-80% - 11.8/18.2 = 65% white board in room 204

80-100% - 19/20.2 = 94% bathroom mirror 

Transmittance

0-20% - 0.3/242 = 0% shades in room 204

20-40% - 12.7/44.5 = 28.5% sketchbook paper under lamp

40-60% - 13.2/31.2 = 42% monitor cover in room 204

60-80% - 540/710 = 76% light box surface

80-100% - 23/24.9 = 92% window in door to room 204

Impact of Light on Health

        Lighting plays a very important role in the lives of human beings and our happiness and well-being. Based on the readings it seems as though we have a set schedule about what lighting we can be exposed to at what time of day and if that schedule is tampered with it can have damaging effects on our health. However, though good design it is possible to minimize these harmful effects by considering site planning, building orientation, architectural openings, shading and screening systems, and electrical lighting systems. There should be some kind of system in order to help with the health issues that people who work night shifts face because they are at work all night and then sleep during the day, which damages their circadian rhythm. I think that close attention should be paid to both the natural lighting entering a space as well as the artificial light within the space because they are both equally important to our well-being. Research has shown that the interruption to our circadian rhythm is not only harmful to our sleep but has also been found to contribute to a number of diseases. It has been proven that blue emitting lights have the ability to keep us more awake and alert throughout the day by suppressing the production of melatonin, which is the chemical in our brain that makes us sleepy. The only downside to this is that if you are staying up late with the lights on you are damaging your circadian rhythm by delaying the production of melatonin that would usually be released and make you go to sleep at that time. Being exposed to these lights late at night has been shown to cause weight gain and breast cancer. Hopefully we can find a health balance to keep us safer, especially in this day and age.  

Light Revealing Experience

    Light affects how we see things, how we experience things, and how we feel about spaces and places. I grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina where the springs are clear and colorful, the summers are bright and humid, the fall is cloudy and crisp, and the winters are cold and gloomy. When I was younger our house was surrounded by a lot of trees that the light would filter though and create spotlights on the ground that would dance in the breeze. In the winter after all of the leaves fell away all that was left was the skeleton-like shadows of the trees and you could see across the landscape better without the leaves to get in the way. However, eventually the trees started to be cut down and new developments started going up and although the trees remain the affects are not quite as drastic as they once were.

       As I grew older I developed a love for travel and the experiences that new places had to offer. I’ve traveled to almost all of the 50 United States, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean and every place has its own feel and will leave you with a unique experience. In the Caribbean and Mexico the bright sun reflects off the water and the sand while there is little opportunity for shade with the sparsely placed palm trees. In Alaska the sky can be overcast and rainy with only the reflection of the gray clouds on the water and then on sunny days the sun glimmers on the water, the glaciers, and though the trees. While visiting my brother in the Great Smoky Mountains the mornings were foggy and gray and gave the light and the air a hazy appearance. When I traveled to San Francisco, California the cool, clear climate made the feel of the city cheery and exciting. Then there were places out west like Arizona where the air was so hot and humid and it made the landscape seem so bright it was hard to look at without sunglasses or squinting.

       One thing that I have noticed is that the more temperature comfortable climates seemed to have just the right amount of light to make the landscapes seem clear and colorful. Whereas the places where it was too cold or too hot and humid often the light was either too much to where it was hard to bear the sunlight or not enough to where you felt sleepy from lack of serotonin. Another thing that I have noticed over the years is I much prefer natural light over artificial light. In order to feel comfortable in a place or space I always need at least some natural sunlight or I start getting uncomfortable or just sleepy. So it’s safe to say I could probably never live in Alaska in the winter where the sun does not rise for thirty days or in a city where there is a lot of dreary cloudy weather. I think that having clear, pleasant, sunny weather makes any experience more comfortable and more fun. 

Class Exercise: John Flynn's Psychological Aspects of Lighting - A Scavenger Hunt

UNCG Library Tower

This space has very dimly lit with small amounts of natural light that makes this space feel tense and unpleasant. There is uniform, overhead, dim, artificial lighting and some peripheral natural lighting. The problems with the dim lighting in this space are accentuated by what natural lighting is there by creating a lot of high contrast. This natural light really exposes the surfaces that it touches and over powers what little artificial light there is in the space. It also creates stark shadows in the areas that neither lighting really reaches. I think that this combination of the small amount of natural light combined with the dim, patterned, artificial lighting that makes this space feel so uncomfortable.

EUC/Library Tunnel

This space's lighting gives it a relaxed and pleasant feel. The overhead, non-uniform, bright artificial lighting as well as a lot of bright illuminating natural light. With so much light from both artificial and natural sources this space is very well lit and there is a lot of lighting but not to the point where it becomes overbearing. The darker colors used in this space also help to allow the space to be brighter without looking washed out. The lighting in this space is comfortable enough that you would be able to read, do homework, or just relax comfortably in this space. 

Independent Project

Presentation:

Booklet: