The Lighting lab is a learning and research space for lighting students in Architectural Engineering and Building Systems. The lab has a dynamic ceiling such that the height can be adjusted through wallbox control gear. This allows for a wide range of academic and research exploration. Although the lab has full wall south facing windows, there are blackout curtains installed to eliminate external light when it is undesirable as with certain types of research projects. In addition, this lab houses a goniophotometer. This apparatus is used to measure the intensity of light leaving a luminaire at various vertical and horizontal angles. From this information, the photometric light distribution of the luminaire is derived, and quantities such as total lumen output, luminaire luminance, zonal lumen summary and other information that is included in a photometric report can be computed.
Furthermore, a moveable lighting station that includes low voltage track and various track luminaires is in the lab to compare track head types as well as the distribution of different types of reflector lamps. Other handheld illumination measurement equipment is available as well, including: illuminance meters, luminance meters, chromaticity meters, and other light detection devices. Also, there is a variety of lamp, socket, ballast, and luminaire samples for use in mock-ups, luminaire design exercises, and research projects.
In addition to the main lab space there is studio space next to the main lab. This space is used primarily for lighting research. The lab has an extensive aluminum open ceiling grid that allows for quick electrical and physical connection of light sources and luminaires for research. In addition, a series of custom 4 lamp indirect luminaires fill the lower room cavity and are controlled by Lutron Ecosystem with Quantum Software. Each lamp can be individually controlled or group according to the academic or research needs. This allows quick re-grouping of the lamps/luminaires for research or as a learning tool.
In addition, daylight sensors and 5 bays of individually or group controllable top-down and bottom-up shades covering a floor to ceiling window bay, can be controlled through the Quantum software. The combination of top-down and bottom-up shades allows the window bay to simulate numerous possibilities of daylighting window configurations. The purpose of this lab is to provide an independent space for research on such topics as daylighting, light spectrum optimization, and psychological aspects of lighting.