The impact of interior design on visual discomfort reduction: A field study integrating lighting environments with POE survey

Publication date: 15 June 2018
Source:Building and Environment, Volume 138
Author(s): Zhe Kong, D. Michael Utzinger, Kara Freihoefer, Troy Steege
This paper presents a POE study integrated with physical lighting quantities in an open-plan office. The southwest-facing office has external overhangs and internal mechoshades as the solar controls. However, 65.9% of the participants in the office still complain about daylighting glare at their workstations. Aiming to improve indoor environmental quality, a renovated layout is constructed in a section of the office. The office results in two types of layouts, the original and renovated ones, in addition to three window heights. The research uses mixed methods to explore the environmental variations that influenced occupants' lighting experience and investigate the effectiveness of the renovated layout in terms of glare reduction. HDR image techniques are utilized for field measurements and calibration of a simulation model. The questionnaire generated based on the interviews with occupants is distributed to the office. The calibrated simulation model presents annual daylighting performance outside of data collection periods. The results show that taller windows, seating orientations towards windows, and adjacent to windows lead to more glare for occupants. Although replacing the original cubicle workstations with more open workstations allows more daylighting penetration and prolongs the annual glare duration in the renovated layout, more accessible outside views and flexible furniture designs increase occupants' tolerance of glare and satisfaction with daylighting environments. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of utilizing multiple methods to comprehensively assess daylighting qualities in open-plan offices. It also demonstrates the important role interior designs play in creating comfortable daylighting environments.