University of Virginia Library

Studies Climate

New Equipment Aids A-School

Equipment never before found in an
architecture school is helping University
students study the effects of humidity,
air motion and temperature on personal
comfort.

"Lack of facilities for demonstrating
such conditions as air motion and
temperature has made it difficult in the
past for architecture students to be aware
of such comfort factors," says Roger C. Davis
associate professor of architecture. "But in the
future they will be called on to use such
knowledge in designing and in working with
engineers."

The new equipment is housed in one of the
two environmental laboratories to be demonstrated
when the Virginia section of the
Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) meets
next Monday at the University's new School of
Architecture building.

Some 60 persons are expected to attend the
meeting which will include addresses by Fred
A. Dickey, lighting specialist from General
Electric Company; F.A. lachetta, associate
professor of mechanical engineering at the
University, and A.R. Kuhithau, professor of
aerospace engineering and associate provost of
research.

A refrigerated wall and demonstration air
duet located in the celling are two devices
previously found only in industrial research
facilities, Mr. Davis says.

The refrigerated wall, a panel 10 feet square
which can be cooled as low as 45 degrees
Fahrenheit, will help students experience he
effects of a "cold" wall such as glass which
conducts heat or cold easily.

The ceiling duct is designed to show air flow
patterns caused by each of its seven different
air registers. A wall register showing the
resulting air pattern is revealed on the vertical
side of the duct when it is lowered from 10 to
seven feet. Smoke emitted from the outlets
makes each air pattern visible.

Students can set the cold wall temperature
at different levels and use varying amounts of
cool and warm air from the different registers
to determine the most comfortable conditions.
with special instruments, they can measure the
air flow from the duct.

The second laboratory, equipped with low
voltage switching and dimmers, is designed for
the study of lighting. It features spot and
accent lighting, fluorescent lighting from a
recessed panel and fluorescent light sources
which can wash the wall in light. Incandescent
sources illustrate a wall "wash" and a scallop
lighting pattern to show various lighting effects.

A principle feature is the "low brightness"
ceiling which can provide comfortable illumination
at levels up to 1000 foot candles. Controls
can vary this light to red, blue, green, mitures
of these colors and "emotional" or cool and
warm shades of white. Illumination usually
suggested for classroom lighting is as low as 70
foot candles, Mr. Davis says.

Students can adjust the different types of
light sources to varying degrees of illumination
and colors to learn about comfortable lighting
conditions. With special equipment they can
study illumination design, light quality, types
of lamps and how to measure brightness.

This lab is also equipped for future
installation of a stereo sound system for
studying the acoustical environment and a
programmed teaching system for studies in
environmental technology.

Roger C. Davis Instructs Student On How To Use A Spectrometer

Measures Brightness In A Scallop Pattern By Incandescent Light Sources