Daylight solutions for office building designs


 An exterior view of office Appel
Experience office Appèl

Daylight solutions can improve productivity, comfort and the well-being of office employees. Daylighting is also energy-efficient and cost effective, reducing reliance on artificial lighting. Check out our eBook: Designing daylight solutions for commercial buildings for a closer look at the impact of daylight on occupants in commercial buildings and incorporating daylight into building design.

Outside of our homes, most of our time is spent at work. Since the digital age began workplaces have made the move into office-based settings. But it is still possible to maintain a connection with the outdoors with good daylight design.

Redefining our relationship with office spaces

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on how people work. It has also shed light on the need to make communal spacesmore enjoyable to spend time in. Roof glazing solutions can help with a human desire for more light and cleaner air in office spaces. The time staff spend together plays a valuable role in building working relationships, boosts employee wellbeing, and can be healthy for your bottom line. A good indoor climate can also result in a 15% uptick in productivity. On average, people working in offices with windows get up to 46 minutes more sleep per night.

Rooflights with comfort ventilation help deliver fresh air throughout your office space and can assist with managing temperature while providing a connection to the outdoors.

They can also ensure smoke ventilation requirements are met. Over 80% of European office workers are overexposed to high or low temperatures (source: VELUX healthy workplaces article). Addressing indoor air quality and thermal comfort can help avoid ‘Sick Building Syndrome'.

Specifying daylight solutions for office buildings

The office sector comprises of new and refurbished buildings of all shapes and sizes. Daylight solutions speak to the needs of warehouses, historic buildings and modern designs on an individual basis. If wishing to work sustainably, many products are available to assist with architectural design. Daylighting solutions can provide comfort ventilation and blinds and shading can also address issues like solar overheating and glare. Reducing carbon dioxide levels lessons staff drowsiness and improves concentration. This creates an environment that is enjoyable to spend time in throughout the day.

UK Hydrographic Office

UK Hydrographic Office

VELUX Commercial works on ambitious office projects for companies that recognize the importance of daylight. For example, two hundred modules of the modular skylight system were installed as part of an innovative lighting and ventilation strategy at the Ministry of Defence’s UK Hydrographic Office. Read our case study to learn more about an award-winning design full of light.

In Hannover, Germany, a refurbishment of a former rubber goods factory enjoys daylight provided by 43 modular skylights. Today, this multipurpose communal space boasts a ballet school, roasting house and tailor’s shop on its premises.

Our flexible range of daylight solutions provide daylight, natural ventilation, smoke and heat exhaust ventilation (SHEV). Solutions can be combined to suit the needs of your building project. These include domes and flat glass rooflights, continuous rooflights, and glass roof systems.

At VELUX Commercial, we take pride in providing you with roof glazing solutions for every type of office building. We also offer support that goes beyond project completion. Our expertise, and support covers product selection, technical advice and installation support, as well as service and maintenance. Contact us to find out how we can support your ambitious projects.

eBook - Designing Daylight Solutions for Commercial Buildings, VELUX Commercial

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Daylight solutions enrich the recreational experiences people have when using sports facilities. Natural light in a well-being environment assists in keeping users comfortable when exercising. Communal facilities are better utilized when your building has evenly distributed illuminance levels, and lots of fresh air. A connection to the outside is proven to improve mood and the overall well-being of people.

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While the science of well-being is relatively nascent, the UK Government’s ‘Foresight’ project sheds a great deal of light on five factors that have a proven effect on well-being¹, leading to the definition of the Five Ways to Well-Being (connect, keep active, take notice, keep learning, give).² The question remains, though, how do we design buildings that can positively influence these five factors?

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Modular skylights provide comfort ventilation and natural light through classrooms and communal areas at Peder Lykke School.

We all know that the best antidote to the ‘winter blues’ is a break in a warmer, sunnier climate, preferably with white sandy beaches and clear blue waters.