The Daylight Imperative

The study of global best practices, together with a literature search, were used as basis for the development of daylight design guidelines for future US hospitals that meet the requirements of contemporary programs and codes. Guidelines that were developed include 1) Orientation and location, 2) Narrow building footprint, 3) Perforated thick building footprint, 4) Courtyards in patient, staff and public areas, 5) Shading, and 6) Skylights and clerestories in patient, staff and public areas. This research thesis was supported by the AIA/AAH Arthur N. Tuttle Jr. Graduate Fellowship in Health Facility Planning and Design.