Case Study: Commercial Skylighting in Educational Setting Gives Students Fresh Air, Light

The site of the Project is in the College of Architecture, Art & Planning at Cornell University, Ithaca Campus.LEVENBETTS Architects of New York planned the renovation of the third floor of East Sibley Hall. The plan afforded the campus and the Arts Quad and the College of Architecture Art and Planning the ability to create a model in the campus for an academic space that is connective, collaborative and vital with a strong material and design culture.



The Scope of Work included the build-out of the third floor of East Sibley Hall for use by the Department of Architecture as faculty offices, collaborative space and architecture student studio space. The scope of the project included structural reinforcement to stabilize the existing roof of the space as well as new openings in existing interior masonry walls.



The approach to the historic East Sibley Hall and the top floor of the building followed a line of inquiry that held the existing building and the new renovation of the interior space and certain key exterior elements up to examination so as to create a dialogue amongst the architectural elements. In this approach, the design resolution is more nuanced and at times indistinguishable where the new begins and the existing stops.



VELUX Modular Commercial Skylights provide energy efficient daylight and fresh air and to enable automated climate control to help offset HVAC energy loads in commercial, industrial and other structures.



The modular units can be assembled to form a large “glass roof” in a number of configurations and product functionality is enhanced by a design that allows each module to be assembled in a controlled factory environment.



This is a complete unitized system that is fitted over the opening on a site-built curb. The system offers installation speed with a pre-designed, pre-engineered system with no value engineering necessary in the field. There is no caulking, putty, welding, boring or soldering. Modules are fully glazed, insulated and assembled at the factory.



Today, those on the third floor of East Sibley Hall can now enjoy sunlight and a breath of fresh air in between study and work sessions.