The renovation of the Linde + Robinson Laboratory for Global Environmental Science is designed to achieve LEED platinum certification and will become the lowest-energy research lab in the United States.  The 1934 building was originally designed as academic offices and classrooms, but also as an astronomical instrument of building scale.  Renowned artist, architect, engineer, and instrument designer Russell Porter created the Robinson Coelostat as an integral part of the original building and it stands as the precedent for all modern solar telescopes operating today.  During the laboratory building remodel, Loisos + Ubbelohde proposed to reactivate and automate the coelostat. The coelostat will be used to provide daylight into underground laboratories, supply a beam of light for scientific experimentation, and create a large real time projected image of the sun visible in the main corridor of the building. We are designing and fabricating the optics and light fixtures for the project.

The coelostat will direct a 24" diameter column of light to the basement of the building, illuminating eight solar light fixtures and providing a free beam of light for scientific research.

Rendering of restored coelostat and optical system. The solar tracking capabilities of the coelostat will be fully restored and automated.

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ARCHITECT
Architectural Resources Group, Inc.

LOCATION
Pasadena, CA
CURRENT STATUS
Occupied, 2012AWARDS
2012 Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award

2012 USGBC LEED Platinum

2009 AIA East Bay Unbuilt Merit Design Award for Coelostat Re-Activation

Mockup of a fiber optics light fixture powered by sunlight delivered by the coelostat.

Detail of fiber optics.