Lincoln School, Fergus Falls, Minn.
RETROFIT TEAM
ARCHITECT: Design Intent Architects
TUBULAR DAYLIGHTING DEVICE DISTRIBUTOR/INSTALLER: Designer Specialty Products
MATERIALS
Eighteen Solatube SolaMaster Series 300DS-C units and 31 Solatube SolaMaster Series 750DS-C units were installed in the facility to provide more natural light in the space.
DAYLIGHTING DEVICE MANUFACTURER: Solatube
THE RETROFIT
This 90,000-square-foot former Target retail location, which was nearly windowless, has been converted into a bright, welcoming education facility. The campus provides the community with a new early childhood education facility and home to the Otter Preschool and Children’s Corner, together employing nearly 40 staff and educators and supporting more than 300 students.
There were several challenges in this project of transitioning a retail store into a functioning educational facility, including different building and fire codes, as well as the lack of windows. Data from multiple studies show that daylight improves student performance.
Lead architect on the project, Scott DeMartelaere, AIA, of Design Intent Architects, comments: “The teachers wanted natural light in all of the classrooms. Because this is a big box, the inner classrooms would not have exterior walls and windows that would allow the introduction of natural light.”
The 49 Solatube SolaMaster units were used to capture daylight at the rooftop and transfer natural light deep into the interior of the building on sunny and cloudy days. Eighteen SolaMaster 300DS systems were installed in smaller classrooms with lower ceilings that have a hard or suspended ceiling system. All Solatube products were equipped with a solar-powered daylight dimmer, which allows staff members to fully control the amount of daylight in the room. The SolaMaster 300DS units were also fitted with Thermal Insulation Panels to provide additional thermal performance with a lower U-factor against the central Minnesota climate.
The other 31 SolaMaster 750DS systems were utilized in larger classrooms, kitchen spaces and open offices. The SolaMaster 750DS is designed to deliver consistent light output throughout the day by effectively capturing low-angle rays of light in the morning and late afternoon but rejecting high-angle rays at midday to prevent glare and over-lighting.
The adaptable tube design will allow for future interior layout flexibility. If the building needs change, the tubular daylighting system’s light distribution lens and tubing can easily be realigned to new locations. Fixtures can be updated by swapping out or adding new accessories to customize the new space.
Upon entry of the new school, staff and students report positive effects of the natural light in the classrooms, including improved performance, productivity and attitudes. Plus, the ability of the Solatubes to dim allows for seamless transitions to media presentations or naptime for the younger grades.
“People who tour the school and are shown the tubes are impressed by the way they dim and the ability for them to light rooms completely on their own,” says Melissa Amundson, Fergus Falls District early childhood education administrator.
PHOTOS: Laura Kingsbury Jones