The Anna Head Student Housing Complex for the University of California, Berkeley is a 424-bed residence hall and apartments with centers for Academic and Residential Life.  The 6-story, 114,000 sf building is designed to snake around significant historic trees on the site.  The design team, led by Behnisch Architekten, has placed an emphasis on the project's integrated sustainability with an innovative modular building façade being used for solar energy collection, daylighting, and thermal mass.  The electric lighting design begins with daylighting.  Loisos + Ubbelohde developed an innovative lighting control strategy that balances stringent budget demands with extensive occupancy and daylight sensing.  Research-grade computer simulations and analysis techniques were used to predict and visualize daylight levels in primary spaces throughout the year, helping us to tailor the light sources, fixture layout, and lighting controls to spatial and material configurations.  The electric lighting strategies were developed in concert with the daylighting so that evening and overcast lighting levels and color temperatures are complimentary and welcoming.  At the University's request, we conducted a broad search for next-generation lighting technologies in order to minimize energy use and maintenance costs. The resulting design balances the need for a safe, welcoming night-time environment with a high-quality, low-energy luminous environment.

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ARCHITECT
Behnisch Architekten

LOCATION
Berkeley, CA

CURRENT STATUS
Under Construction

Above: Rendering with isolux contours.

Below: False color rendering of luminance of dorm room.

Top image courtesy of Behnisch Architekten.