At 12pm the Stacks are washed with diffuse daylight and the distribution of daylight is entirely symetrical. No direct sunlight is present. Six translucent, light diffusing skylights provide a consistant distribution of ambient daylight on key vertical surfaces, while clerestories provide a wash of ceiling brightness.

By 4pm the the Book Stacks continue to be washed with diffuse daylight from the translucent skylights above. Direct beam sunlight passes through the west stacks, however it is largely shielded from the central study carrels. Again, the presence of direct beam sunlight is largely mitigated by high relative levels of diffuse daylight illumination on adjacent wall, floor, and ceiling surfaces.

At 8am low angle direct sunlight enters the Reading Area from the south and east facing glazing. However, the library will not open for another two hours. Since the library is not occupied, this short period of direct sunlight passing through the reading area and striking the Books Stacks does not interfere with visual comfort.

At 12am direct sunlight has moved to the south portion of the periodicals and Reading Area. This allows much of the space to be in shade. Again, as a flexible use space, occupants may choose to  seating areas with or without direct sunlight based on their visual preference. Library patrons using computer workstations (to the right) are shielded from views to patches of direct sunlight by the curving translucent panels.

By 4pm direct sunlight has left the Reading Area for the remainder of the day. The reading area is illuminated by diffuse sky light from the vertical glazing and clerestories. The computer terminals (to the right) maintain a comfortable distribution of diffuse daylight via overhead translucent skylights, while potential glare from the view to the exterior is shielded by an arc of curving translucent panels mounted to casework.

The Circulation Desk is designed to ensure that absolutely no direct sunlight or “line of sight” to the disc of the sun is possible at any time. This is to guarantee that regardless of time of day, time of year, or sky condition, the staff at the counter of the Circulation Desk maintains a high level of visual comfort and visibility to both the entrance and the stacks. To ensure these conditions are maintained this zone of the library is intentionally designed to have lower daylight levels and therefore much less variability.

Daylight levels are kept low at the Circulation Desk, therefore supplemental electric light sources are required to ensure visibility both on computer screens and for interaction with library patrons. However views to other zones within the library allow for the experience of daylight variability over the course of the day. At mid-day the adjacent stack area becomes much brighter relative to the Circulation Desk providing a dynamic environment and visual stimulation.

Daylight levels are kept low at the Circulation Desk, therefore supplemental electric light sources are required to ensure visibility both on computer screens and for interaction with library patrons. However views to other zones within the library allow for the experience of daylight variability over the course of the day. By 4pm the stack area (to the left) has some direct sunlight though none of this sunlight is permitted to cause glare by striking the Circulation Desk.