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◀ Understanding the benefits of daylight on student performance and well-being inspired the design for the adaptive reuse of a former Target store into The Lincoln School . naturally lit classrooms progressed 20 percent faster in math tests , 26 percent faster in reading tests and when end-of-year test scores were used as the outcome variable , students in classrooms with the most daylighting were found to have seven percent to 18 percent higher scores than those with less daylight . They also found that attendance rates ( in both teachers and students ) were higher than those in non-daylighted schools .
This evidence drove The Lincoln School in Fergus Falls , Minn ., to incorporate a thoughtfully planned daylighting design when retrofitting a sprawling 90,000-squarefoot former Target store into the new Independent School District 544 campus . Given that this big-box facility had no exterior windows , and its classrooms were situated in the interior , 49 Solatube SolaMaster Series Tubular Daylighting Devices ( TDDs ) were
installed to capture daylight at the rooftop and channel it deep into the building ’ s interior . Each TDD was also equipped with a Solatube Daylight Dimmer , allowing staff to fully control the amount of daylight in each classroom for optimal comfort . By adopting this top-down daylighting approach , the district successfully transformed a windowless big-box facility into a functional educational environment with a strong focus on wellness .
Biophilic design
As society spends more time indoors , reconnecting with nature becomes increasingly critical . Biophilic design , which incorporates natural elements such as plants , water and natural daylight into built environments , offers a promising solution . A World Green Building Council report suggests that biophilic design elements can improve cognitive function , reduce stress and enhance mood and well-being .
Research supports these claims . A study by the University of Exeter found that adding plants to an office space increased productivity by 15 percent . Additionally , research published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology indicated that plants in the office can lead to higher job satisfaction and reduced health complaints .
Designing spaces that nurture the innate human connection to nature is vital for mental and physical health . As urbanization continues to rise , biophilic design offers a way to mitigate the negative effects of spending too much time indoors , creating more harmonious and sustainable living and working conditions .
Case Study : Emery Hotel
The Emery Hotel , located in the historic Midland Bank building in Minneapolis , Minn ., illustrates the possibilities of biophilic design . The hotel ’ s ownership aimed to revitalize and beautify the space by creating an urban oasis filled with daylight and greenery , enhancing both guest experience and employee well-being .
One significant challenge encountered during the adaptive reuse was delivering direct sunlight deep into a building surrounded by parking ramps and highrise structures , particularly during winter when sunlight angles are low . To meet the design goals effectively , the team needed to incorporate toplighting solutions . However , traditional daylighting methods risked damaging the building ’ s structural integrity .
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