In building science education, building performance simulation (BPS) is central, as it not only strengthens the scientific basis of the learning experience, but also expands the investigation space of a design and engineering problem, creating a free experiential space for novices. However, students often accept simulation results uncritically due to limited knowledge or the complexity of the BPS tasks and/or tools. Therefore, enhancing the learning experience with tests and measurements alongside simulation can support active learning, critical thinking and self-reflection, allowing to compare expectations and simulation results with reality and understand the confidence interval of the methods used.

This paper presents a case study of how to produce educational materials to implement these integrated concepts in teaching daylighting, using simulation and measurement methods. The aim is to contribute to the effective implementation of daylighting teaching in higher education by providing examples on the subject. In particular, the study investigates the optical properties of materials, such as light transmittance and reflectance, which have a strong influence on daylighting assessments, and uses the measured and normalized values of these properties as input for daylighting simulations, and compares the results regarding daylight availability, also obtained from field measurements.

The results are significant in providing a concrete example for application in higher education, focusing on a possible performance gap between the teaching methods of measurement and simulation, and demonstrating the pedagogical value of simplified parameter studies in daylighting assessments.

Daylighting has been shown to enhance human health, productivity, and well-being, and is associated with higher satisfaction levels, particularly in workplace environments. Improving visual comfort through the use of daylight in these environments plays a critical role in reducing artificial lighting energy consumption. While numerous studies address user experiences with daylight in office buildings, there is limited research linking this topic with current daylight performance metrics.

This study aims to explore the daylighting conditions within a high-rise educational building complex, specifically concentrating on the office zones. Focusing on the relationship between office configurations, daylight performance, and occupant perceptions, this research investigates how spatial arrangements and work behaviors influence the experience and effectiveness of daylighting. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods are employed to evaluate whether occupant perceptions align with calculated conditions or reveal discrepancies between subjective experiences and objective measurements.

The methodology of the study includes subjective analysis and simulation-based studies for calculation and evaluation of daylight performance within office configurations. A survey is administered to specifically explore psychological satisfaction with the office configuration and its relationship to daylight quality. Climate-based daylight simulation are then conducted to further understand these dynamics, comparing evaluated daylighting conditions to occupant experience. Daylight compliances are investigated based on daylight provision, glare levels, and view-out as addressed in EN 17037 Daylighting in Buildings Standard. Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) metrics are also used to evaluate annual daylight availability within the office spaces. The discomfort glare level caused due to the daylight is assessed based on the DGP metric.

Obtained results of this study examine the relationship between daylight conditions and human perception, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between spatial design, natural light, and workplace efficiency. Through a holistic approach that integrates daylight strategies, human behavior, and spatial organization, the research emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive glare free daylit environment with adequate view out conditions. The simulation study further complements these findings, comparing calculated daylight metrics with occupant experiences to evaluate their alignment. The findings underscore the broader impact of daylight on workplace efficiency, productivity, and visual health.

Daylight is crucial for the well-being of individuals in indoor environments, providing numerous physiological and psychological benefits. Achieving satis-factory daylight levels can be particularly challenging during adaptive reuse of ex-isting buildings for new purposes. This study determined the feasibility of adapt-ing an office for residential use by assessing interior daylight availability and the effect of surface properties. The effect of six parameters on two static daylight metrics was evaluated across 24 rooms on two floors of a Swedish office build-ing. Daylight simulations were conducted using Radiance within the Grasshop-per® environment in Rhinoceros®. The effect of the parameters on both daylight metrics was determined through global sensitivity analysis using the method of Morris. The study showed that daylight levels were expected to exceed the legal minimum. However, the variability due to the effect of studied parameters was such that daylight levels could fall below the legal threshold under certain condi-tions. The visual transmittance of glazing in apertures had the largest effect on in-terior daylight levels, while the reflectance of major room surfaces influenced the uniformity of daylight distribution more. All parameters displayed nearly mono-tonic or slightly non-linear relationships with at least one of the daylight metrics. While the study confirmed that the proposed adaptation was able to achieve ade-quate interior daylight conditions, further research is necessary to produce gener-alizable conclusions on daylight availability regarding adaptive reuse of office buildings for residential purposes.

The benefits of LED technology have let schools to transition from traditional fluorescent lighting. This transition is significant because of its impact on students and teachers, as effective lighting can improve the learning experience through enhanced health and wellbeing, and poor lighting may result in negative educational outcomes. Research highlights the non-visual outcomes of light, specifically its impact on circadian rhythms and cognitive performance in the learning environments. The non-visual system is mediated by melanopsin-containing ipRGC cells and reacts differently to light wavelengths compared to the visual system. Therefore, it’s necessary to evaluate them using advanced measurements like melanopic EDI (mEDI) which is a key metric in circadian lighting design. The aim of this study is to evaluate LED lighting’s role in availability and distribution of appropriate melanopic stimulation. In-field measurements focused on Spectral Power Distribution (SPD) and melanopic illuminance at eye level from both students' and teacher's perspectives under short-wavelength-enriched LED light. Lighting scenarios included daytime and evening variations, integration of daylight from different orientations, and light from the projection machine to account for most common classroom environments. Calculations reveal that, mEDI fell below the 250 lx threshold in three circumstances: 1. evening lessons when blinds were closed (157-245 lx), 2. north-facing classroom during midday projector use (218 lx at desk center), and 3. teacher position in south room during evening blinds-closed sessions (224 lx). These sub-threshold lighting conditions during the day could lead to reduced alertness and cognitive function. While reduced mEDI levels in the evening support melatonin production and circadian rhythm alignment, mEDI in some evening scenarios remained above 250 lx, potentially conflicting with international circadian lighting guidelines. These findings highlight the importance of balancing visual comfort, daylight control, and non-visual lighting needs in educational environments.

Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings is critical for advancing sustainability by mitigating environmental impact and safeguarding cultural heritage. However, integrating contemporary functional exigencies, such as adequate daylighting for precision tasks, frequently contravenes conservation principles. Insufficient daylight in repurposed spaces undermines energy efficiency and occupant comfort, necessitating innovative solutions. While various advanced daylight utilization methods—tubular daylighting devices (TDDs), holographic optical elements (HOEs), and light-redirecting films—have been proposed, this study focuses on reflecting ceiling elements. These elements are selected for their capacity to satisfy key criteria: physical integrity (minimal impact on original materials), visual coherence (preservation of character), reversibility (ability to remove or modify without permanent alterations), and performance efficiency (adherence to modern daylighting standards).

This research integrates parametric design and machine learning (ML) to optimize daylight performance in heritage buildings, aligning with global sustainability frameworks such as sustainable cities and communities. The study examines a case study of a former primary school repurposed into a fashion design academy, where the new function necessitates significantly higher illuminance levels for precision tasks.

Two interconnected phases form the core of the approach. First, the existing daylight performance is evaluated using advanced simulation tools, evaluating key metrics such as spatial daylight autonomy (sDA), annual sunlight exposure (ASE), Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI), and glare metrics based on Daylight Glare probability (DGP) method by the use of Climate Studio tool. Parametric design tools, including Grasshopper, are then used to generate diverse configurations of ceiling-mounted reflective elements, varying in geometry, material, and placement.

In the second phase, machine learning algorithms, including regression models and neural networks, are employed to analyze the simulation data. These ML models are trained on performance metrics from generated configurations, enabling predictive evaluation of new designs without additional simulations. By ranking and identifying optimal configurations, ML framework facilitates selection of designs that maximize sDA and UDI while mitigating glare risks caused by daylight. This approach markedly reduces computational time relative to traditional iterative simulations while maintaining robust accuracy.

Preliminary results indicate that the integration of ML enhances daylight optimization, improving distribution and energy efficiency. This aligns with the dual goals of sustainability and heritage preservation.

This research aims to contribute to sustainable heritage conservation by presenting a replicable and computationally efficient methodology. By combining parametric design with ML-based evaluation, it furnishes actionable insights for architects and conservationists to adapt heritage buildings to contemporary functional demands without compromising their historical and architectural integrity.

One of the foci of recent research efforts regarding indoor environmental quality (IEQ) pertains to the exploration of cross-domain and multi-domain effects. These efforts are motivated by the fact that people experience concurrently present environmental stimuli from different domains (i.e. thermal, visual, acoustic and indoor air quality). The assumption is that investigating these domains in isolation falls short of understanding their combined effects on people in realistic settings. Nonetheless, the majority of previous IEQ studies have addressed the human perception of indoor-environmental conditions along isolated dimensions. This circumstance may be at least in part due to the complexity of designing and conducting cross-domain and multi-domain experimental studies. As a result, there is a knowledge gap in this area, which implies the need for further research efforts and increased availability of reliable experimental data. Given this background, the present contribution entails a specific experimental study, which dealt with potential cross-effects of different IEQ domains through analysis of responses collected from the study's participants. The experiment was conducted in an office setting with a group of participants performing certain text-based tasks on a computer. Thereby, the participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their experience of various IEQ aspects. In the course of the experiments, the participants were exposed to four different visual settings (corresponding to four different glare conditions) and three different acoustic settings (ambient sound, office noise, traffic noise). Other indoor-environmental variables (e.g., temperature, CO2 concentration) were continuously monitored. This paper focuses on the question, if and to which extent the prevailing acoustic conditions influence participants’ perception of the visual conditions. Specifically, the results help ascertain if the intensity and the frequency spectrum of the acoustical environment impacts participants’ evaluation of the glare-induced visual discomfort levels. The implication of the studies for general IEQ research agenda in this field are discussed, as well as their practical relevance for planning and standardisation matters.