Understanding Glare

Daylight harvesting in architecture is a complicated task as the most prominent characteristic of daylight is its variability. There are many methods of estimating how daylight will benefit spaces but too often the potential for glare is not properly addressed during design. This is especially prevalent in office space environments. A far too common scene is an office space with paper or foil taped to the glazing to keep glare sources from disturbing occupants. This article outlines what glare is, how it can be measured, when it is critical to analyze the potential for glare, and solutions to both keep occupants comfortable and at the same time optimize daylight harvesting throughout the year.

By David Mead

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Calgary Court Centre

Bridges connect the towers across the light-filled atrium at every level

by Bill Chomik

Located in the heart of Calgary, the new court centre serves both federal and provincial jurisdictions with a total of 73 courtrooms - one configured specifically for aboriginal hearings - making it the largest court facility in Canada. The design for the 1 million SF complex was driven by concerns for transparency, public space, sustainability, circulation, and flexibility. (more…)