An existing courtyard in the Law Building at the University of California, Berkeley, was excavated and infilled to provide new classrooms, offices, the Law Library extension and a plaza with cafe. Loisos + Ubbelohde provided daylighting and shading analysis, and glazing specifications to provide daylighting in the subterranean library spaces including reading room, offices and storage. The courtyard above is populated with skylights and glass pavers to provide natural daylight for reading areas and corridors in the subterranean library. Exterior ceramic shading, glazing specifications and coordination with landscape architecture for the cafe on the plaza level was also included in the L+U scope. Direct beam is carefully controlled but allowed to enter in order to provide a connection with diurnal and seasonal changes.

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ARCHITECT
Ratcliff Architecture

LOCATION
Berkeley, CA

CURRENT STATUS
Occupied, 2011

Above: Radiance simulation of cafe.