University of Technology Sydney

11232 Lighting, Acoustics and Advanced Environmental Control

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Architecture
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 11225 Thermal Design and Environmental Control
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.

Description

The subject aims to deepen students' understanding of the principles of lighting acoustics and environmental control in the context of medium rise and complex architecture and seeks to equip students with the ability to design and modify the building fabric through analysis and evaluation to enhance the environmental performance of designed spaces. It encompasses advanced daylighting systems and the integration of electrical lighting, strategies for noise management, room acoustics, hybrid ventilation and mixed mode systems as well as an introduction to alternate and sustainable building energy systems. Qualitative and quantitative evaluative and analytical processes that inform such design decisions are explored in this subject.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Critically understand the principles of lighting acoustics and environmental control with respect to buildings and inhabitants
2. Acknowledge the interrelation between design decisions and environmental performance and sustainability
3. Effectively use quantitative and qualitative evaluative processes to assess and inform design decisions for enhanced environmental performance
4. Demonstrate an increased ability to design and modify the building fabric to enhance the environmental performance in medium rise and complex architecture through the application of learnt principles
5. Apply both self-directed and collaborative learning processes to research, conceive and evaluate possible approaches in response to a given brief
6. Show communication and presentation skills to a professional standard related to learning outcomes

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

  • Establish and develop an informed and ethical position towards social, technical and environmental issues and practices (A.1)
  • Work cooperatively and professionally as part of a team (C.1)
  • Communicate ideas professionally and effectively through a variety of mediums: oral, written, visual, physical and digital (C.2)
  • Produce inspirational responses that demonstrate the successful integration of sub-disciplinary areas of knowledge: history, theory, tectonics and/or practice (I.1)
  • Understand and challenge disciplinary conventions through an engagement with emergent forms of architectural practice, technologies and modes of production (P.1)
  • Respond to a comprehensive brief within the disciplinary context (P.3)
  • Integrate an understanding of a relationship between form, materiality, structure and construction within design thinking (P.5)
  • Position work within an extended and critically reasoned context through the identification, evaluation and application of relevant academic references and architectural case studies (R.1)
  • Independently analyse, synthesise and formulate complex ideas, arguments and rationales and use initiative to explore alternatives (R.3)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:

C = communication and groupwork

A = attitudes and values

P = practical and professional

R = research and critique

I = innovation and creativity.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc.).

Teaching and learning strategies

Weekly 4-hour sessions comprising of lectures and studios or computer labs. The learning activities are structured
around investigative and project-based design tasks. Detailed assessment task outlines that describe requirements for
assessments, associated tutorial activities and progress patterns are issued separately during the semester.

Typically, each week a two-hour illustrated lecture introduces the fundamentals pertinent to the overarching themes
and activities of the subject. The remaining two hours per week is structured as studio based tutorials or computer
laboratories. These are guided working sessions which include hands-on activities where individual work is used as a
means for group learning through discussion and critique.
Students are expected to attend all lecture and tutorial sessions prior to which they should complete set readings and
follow the suggested progress patterns outlined in the detail assessment task outlines. Students are also encouraged
to actively participate in the learning activities and group discussions during the tutorials.

ONLINE COURSEWORK
There are a number of online resources used to support the learning objectives of this subject. All documents are
accessible from UTS Online. Essential Readings are uploaded on a weekly basis. Students are expected to review and
engage with the material prior to the scheduled lecture or tutorial for which they are set. Other resources online include
lecture outlines, online tutorials demonstrating digital and modelling techniques and additional resources relevant to
assessment tasks, drawing examples, links to precedents, and materials for wider reading.

COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
UTS staff believe that collaborative peer learning enhances learning. There will be opportunities within assessments
for peer learning and collaboration during class activities, field research and group work submission.

FEEDBACK
The subject is designed around the progressive development of the assessment tasks. In this sense every weekly
tutorial session provides formative feedback to enable you to progressively develop your project. It is therefore vital
you complete the work outlined in the detail assessment outline to receive useful feedback.
Final submissions for all assessments will be graded in ReView.

Content (topics)

Topics covered include-

  • Advanced Daylighting Systems
  • Integrated Electrical Lighting
  • Noise Control in Complex Buildings
  • Room Acoustics
  • Hybrid Ventilation Systems and Mixed Mode Systems for Medium Rise and Complex Buildings
  • Alternate Energy Systems
  • Energy Management

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Investigative/Case Study

Intent:

Investigative/Case Study assessment requires you to undertake a reflective appraisal of an existing building for its design approach and outcomes for lighting, acoustics, thermal and other environmental considerations.
Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3, 5 and 6

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.1, C.2, P.1, P.3, P.5, R.1 and R.3

Type: Report
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 45%
Criteria:

Assessment 1 is an Investigative/Case Study that requires students to undertake a reflective appraisal of an existing building. Assessment Criteria will be made available in additional documentation, which will be posted to UTSOnline at the same time as the subject outline.

Assessment task 2: Design Synthesis

Intent:

Synthesis requires you to demonstrate your ability to design for environmental control in response to lighting acoustics and thermal considerations.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.1, C.1, C.2, I.1, P.1, P.3, P.5 and R.3

Type: Report
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 55%
Criteria:

Assessment 2 requires students to develop and to refine a building design in response to considerations for lighting acoustics and thermal performance. Assessment Criteria will be made available in additional documentation, which will be posted to
UTSOnline at the same time as the subject outline.

Minimum requirements

The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.

Pursuant to “UTS Rule 3.8.2”, students who do not satisfy the attendance requirements may be refused permission by the Responsible Academic Officer to be considered for assessment for this subject.

Students can make themselves familiar with all University rules here:
https://www.uts.edu.au/about/uts-governance/rules/uts-student-rules

Recommended texts

Lechner, Norbert (2009) Heating, cooling, lighting : sustainable design methods for architects John Wiley & Sons (697 LECH)

Lechner, Norbert (2012) Plumbing, electricity, acoustics : sustainable design methods for architecture, John Wiley & Sons, c2012. (696 LECH)

Greenland, J. (1998). Foundations of architectural science : heat, light, sound. Sydney : University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building. (720.472 GREE )

Brown, G. Z. (2000) Sun, wind & light : architectural design strategies, New York : John Wiley (720.47 BROW)

References

AS1680 — 1990, Interior Lighting. Part 1: General Principles and recommendations. Sydney: Standards Australia. )

Alread, Jason (2007) Design-tech: building science for architects, Oxford: Burlington MA: Elsevier Architectural Press (721 ALRE)

Barron, Michael (1993) Auditorium acoustics and architectural design, London ; New York : E & FN Spon (725.81 BARR (ed 2))

Bies, D.A. & Hansen, C.H. (2003) Engineering Noise Control — Theory and Practice. London: Unwin Hyman: 2003 (620.23 BIES)

Cavanaugh, William J (2010) Architectural Acoustics, Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons (690.2 CAVA)

Clemens. Richarz (2013) Energy efficiency refurbishments: principles, details, examples, Munich: Architecktur-Dokumentation GMBH & Company REF:720.472 RICA)

Cuttle, Christopher (2008) Lighting by design, Amesterdam: Boston: Butterowrth Heineman (729.28 CUT)

Edwards, Brian (2003) Green Buildings Pay, New York: Spoon Press 2003 (720.472 EDWA)

Egan, M. David. (1983) Concepts in architectural lighting New York : McGraw-Hill?(729.28 EGAN)

Egan, M. David. (1988) Architectural Acoustics New York : McGraw-Hill?(729.29/15 EGAN)

Essig, Linda (c2005) Lighting and the design idea. Belmont, CA : Thomson/Wadsworth,.?(792.025 ESSI)

Etheridge, David (2012) Natural Venitlation of Buildings: theory, measurement and design (697.92 ETHE)

Evans, Benjamin Daylight in Architecture, New York: Architectural Record Books, (720.472 EVAN)

Gevorkian, Peter (2010) Alternative energy systems in building design, New York: London: McGraw-Hill (720.472)

Goncalves, Joana Carla Soares (2010) The Environmental Performance of Tall Buildings, London: Earthscan (720.47 GONC)

Guzowski, Mary (2010) Toward zero energy architecture: new solar design, London: Laurence King, 2010 REF: 720.472 GUZO)

Hawkes, Dean (2002) Energy efficient building: architecture, engineering and environment, New York: W.W. Norton & Co (720.472 HAWK)

Jaffe, Christopher J (2010) The acoustics of performance halls: spaces for music from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl (725.81 JAFF)

La Roche, Pablo (2012) Carbon-neutral architectural design, Boca Raton FL: CRC Press, (720.472 LARO)

Livingston, Jason (2014) Designing with light: the art, science and practice of architectural lighting design, Hoboken New Jersey: Wiley (729.28 LIVI)

Long, Marshall (2014) Architectural acoustics. Waltham MA Academic Press. (729.29 LONG?)

Maekawa, Z. (2011) Environmental and Architectural Acoustics, Abingdon, Oxon; New York: Spon Press (693.834 MAEK)

Meek,Christopher (2014) Daylighting and integrated lighting design, Pocket Architecture: Technical Design Series, New York: Routledge, 2014 (729.28 MEEK)

Mende, Kaoru (2005) Lighting designing: for urban environments and architecture, Tokyo: TOTO Shuppan (729.28 MEND)

Meyers, Victoria (2014) Shape of Sound, London: Artifice books on architecture (729.29 MEYE )

Moore, F. (1985). Concepts and practice of architectural daylighting. (illustrations by Gregory Anderson. New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold.?(729.28 MOR)

Newhouse, Victoria (2011) Architecture and acoustics of new opera houses and concert halls, New York: Monacelli Pres (725.81 NEWH)

Parkin, Peter Hubert (1979) Acoustics, noise, and buildings London ; Boston : Faber and Faber?(729.29/11)

Phillips, R.O. (1992) Sunshine and shade in Australia, CSIRO Division of Building, Construction & Engineering (729.28 PHIL)

Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA), Environment Design Guide, (1995 onwards). Canberra: RAIA.?)

Smith, BJ (2010) Acoustics and Noise Control, Harlow: Prentice Hall, (693.834 SMIT)

S.R. Hastings (ed) (1993). Passive solar commercial and institutional buildings : a sourcebook of examples and design insights / International Energy Agency, Paris, France. Chichester ; New York : Wiley.?(725.20472 HAST)

Steffy, Gary R. (2008) Architectural lighting design. Hobken NJ : John Wiley?(621.32 STEF)

Steven Winter Associates. (1998). Passive solar design and construction handbook. New York : Wiley.?(690.8370472 PASS)

Szokolay, S. V. (2014). Introduction to Architectural Science: the basis of sustainable design. New York NY Routledge (720.47 SZOK?)

Szokolay, S. V. (1996). Solar geometry.¡ Brisbane : PLEA, Passive and Low Energy Architecture International in assoc. with Dept. of Architecture, University of Queensland.?(720.472 SZOK)

Szokolay, S. V. (c1988). Climatic data and its use in design.¡ Canberra : Royal Australian Institute of Architects (721.0994/3)

Thomas, R (ed). (2005). Environmental design : an introduction for architects and engineers / edited by Randal Thomas, New York : Taylor & Francis 2005. (720.47 THOM)

Tregenza, Peter (2011) Daylighting: architecture and lighting design, New York: Routledge (729.28 TREE)

Ulrike Brandi Licht ... [et al.] ; editor: Andrea Wiegelmann. ( c2006). Lighting design : principles, implementation, case studies Munich : Institut fur internationale Architektur-Dokumentation. (729.28 BRAD)

Other resources

Web Resources:

http://wiki.naturalfrequency.com/
Building Services Journal - official journal of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) http://www.bsjonline.co.uk/
Architects'Journal Ajplus http://www.ajplus.co.uk
Your Home, Australian Greenhouse Office : http://www.yourhome.gov.au