The VAC
Vandal Athletic Center CASE STUDY
Tristan Van Slyke, Glenn Edward Ostrom, Justin Matsukawa
CONCLUSION
HYPOTHESIS #1
The amount of glazing on the east facade causes solar heat gain during the morning hours.
Obviously there is a significant amount of direct sunlight during the morning hours (without the shades down), however the shading devices are lowered every night so that the sun can't reach into the space. The overall opinion of the users is that there is a slight gain during the morning hours, but nothing that is not bearable. Some of the afternoon users stated that the reason for working out in the afternoon is due to the warmer temperatures during the morning hours. The shades do an effective job at blocking the direct sun, and a moderate job at reflecting the solar heat. It is nearly impossible to please all the users at once.
HYPOTHESIS #2
The mechanical and passive systems utilized within the space are effective in maintaining thermal comfort
The users of the space were very please with the roll down shading devices. The HVAC system seemed to control the space very efficiently with only a 3 degree difference in temperature from the morning to the evening. The systems tend to work together very well and block much of the morning sun and most of its heat. The HVAC outlets had a fairly constant temperature and seemed to turn on just a few times a day.
HYPOTHESIS #3
The curtain wall on the east facade and lack of glazing elsewhere causes uneven light distribution to the back of the space.
The light levels in the space are obviously not perfect, however the east facade wall actually does a significant job at letting light enter into the space. The darkest part of the gym is on the second floor in the back, right below the row of eight windows. The lower level on the west wall is actually brighter than originally anticipated, but could still use some light well to help bring in more daylight. The interior lighting helps evenly distribute light to the areas that don't have solar access from the windows.
HYPOTHESIS #4
The curtain wall on the east facade and lack of glazing elsewhere causes glare issues.
The majority of the users in the space stated that glare is an issue. The entire east facade is covered in glass, and the light colored structural columns don't help minimize the bright spots. There are definitely different areas at different times of the day that cause bright spots which is known as glare. The entire east facade is very bright, even when the shading devices are drawn.
The Vandal Athletic Center (VAC) opened on March 19, 2004 and is the new home for the Norm L. Iverson Strength and Speed Center, which is used by Student-Athletes. The facility is made up of 8,000 square feet; a 7,000 sq. ft. first floor used for strength and condition training, and a 1,000 sq. ft. second level filled with cardiovascular equipment used for warm-up, conditioning, and rehabilitation. The facility is located on the western part of campus, on the east façade of the Kibbie Dome.
The VAC has a nice design to it, providing a lot of morning daylight. The east façade is completely covered by a glass curtain-wall which is equipped with automatic blinds that are drawn during the morning hours. The facility is usually full of athletes preparing for their next game or event. Our role is to examine the space and form hypothesis that we can examine through testing lighting, temperature levels, and various other aspects of a comfortable space, concluding how the space is for the users and occupants in it.
The Team
 Glenn Edward Ostrom III |
 Justin Matsukawa |
 Tristan Van Slyke |