|
|
 |
Authors: Orietta Flores, Pablo Garcia, Ana Paula Pirondi, and Awymarie Riollano School: Cornell University |
| Brief: The Carl A. Kroch Library was
constructed during the 1990's under very different conditions from the other two major
libraries at Cornell. Being such a new building, it is expected to have a substantially
higher performance than the others. However, the variety of spatial needs that its program requires led the team to inquire about its actual success in dealing with so many different functions. Having books and people in the same space requires a very careful analysis of the needs of both and a compromise between both conditions. We assumed that it would be very hard to meet the best possible environment for both if this compromised was to be achieved. This assumption lead us to question how effective the architect's job had been in providing a comfortable environment conducive to high levels of productivity for the occupants at different places in the building. The focus of the study was the occupants' thermal comfort (meaning temperature, humidity and air movement), since it is one aspect to which everyone reacts. The control spaces were defined as the Atrium's Reading Room and the Rawson's Reading Room because of their different HVAC zoning. Our hypothesis was that the thermal conditions would be different due to the influence of book storage requirements on each space, and that due to its scale the Rawson Room would be more comfortable. Surveys and physical data were used to analyze the conditions from subjective and objective points of view. The data led to the conclusion that despite the different spatial characteristics, both rooms were comfortable enough for people and that, in reality, the Atrium space was more comfortable than the Rawson room in most occupants' eyes. |
||
|
Background: Professor Kwok received a Vital Signs Equipment Kit Loan for the fall term of 1997 that supported the student investigation. |
|
 |
||
All contents copyright (C) 1998. Vital Signs Project. All rights reserved. Created: 10/15/98 |
|
|
Carl A. Kroch Library: Thermal Comfort Study
