Academic environments are carefully designed to enhance students’ learning while providing an inspiring and supportive atmosphere. Proper lighting solutions play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of both students and faculty. Dynamic lighting solutions are required for equally dynamic learning environments including circulation, classroom, laboratory, collaboration, and social spaces. The Lighting Practice strives to incorporate lighting to enhance wayfinding, storytelling, and functionality.
The Lighting Practice’s designers share their design expertise and tips for illuminating different spaces found in an academic environment.
University of Pennsylvania Wharton Academic Research Building – Philadelphia, PA (MGA Partners Architects)
“When it comes to master plans for academic campuses, more light is not the same thing as safety,” says Angela Banner. “Bright, glary sources can blind pedestrians and create high contrast that prevents eyes from adapting to darker sections of a site. Emphasizing uniformity in light levels, lighting destinations like building entries, and selecting fixtures with low-glare, controlled optics will make a campus walkable at any time of night.”
Virginia Commonwealth University STEM Building – Richmond, VA (Ballinger)
“In academic environments, students will use circulation spaces beyond the intended purpose of going from one place to another, a corridor can be a study area, hang-out spot, or gathering place for events. It’s important to understand what the space will be used for and light them properly so they will be used,” explains Jacob Hughes. “My pro tip for lighting circulation spaces is focusing on breaks in its repetitiveness and integrating a moment of visual interest.”
American University Hall of Science – Washington, DC (Ballinger)
“Something that often comes up in lighting design is aiding students’ focus and stimulation, so circadian rhythm is often brought up in conversations with clients. If the classrooms don’t get a lot of daylight, we do our best to make the space feel ‘daylit’ and expansive with lighting,” exclaims Xingying Peng.
Virginia Commonwealth University STEM Building – Richmond, VA (Ballinger)
“In labs, required light levels are stringent, especially in graduate-level research labs, and it’s important that we adhere to them for functionality and safety,” says Lily Meaker. “We tend to align the lights to the edge of the lab benches so the light can directly hit the counter and help prevent lab users from working in their own shadows. Lab workers need to be able to clearly see what they are working on to avoid cross-contamination or accidents.”
University of Pennsylvania Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing – Philadelphia, PA (Studio Modh)
“Comfort and function are equal partners when considering collaboration and study spaces. While other academic environments require large group-focused attention to a lecture or other presentation, collaboration spaces are often more intimate settings that should support teamwork and inspire creative ideation. This is often achieved through the soft lighting from decorative fixtures such as sconces and table and floor lamps. Multiple layers of light also allow for both comfort and the functional work that needs to happen in that space,” expresses Angela Myers.
University of Pennsylvania Stouffer Hall Dormitory – Philadelphia, PA (AOS Architects)
“When lighting dormitory social hub spaces, several considerations set these areas apart from other academic environments. Dormitory amenity spaces often serve multiple functions, including studying, socializing, and lounging. Therefore, lighting should be adaptable to support various activities by incorporating different layers of light,” says Yu Tien Hsieh. “Additionally, incorporating another layer of lighting design aimed at providing comfort and creating a sense of community.”
