Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Livermore, California

For the University of California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LDA joined with W E Lyons Construction Company to propose a 21,000 square foot, 2-story office building for a design/build competition.

Our proposed design incorporated features primarily intended to promote energy efficiency as assets in creating a place that is both a comfortable and joyful workplace. In resolving the University requirements, we provided daylight to each of more than 90 offices. Our design delivers the comfort of private offices with the interaction of open plan workstations.

A sunshade/ light shelf surrounds the three exposures most subjected to the direct sunlight of Livermore Valley summers. Calculated to block solar radiation from 9 until 3 on the Summer Solstice, daylight is reflected across the ceiling plane, controlling glare yet illuminating work surfaces with minimal need for artificial lighting.

The perimeter offices throughout the facility have glass partitions that allow the hallways beyond to extend inboard the daylight from the offices. Throughout the normal work-day, these public areas will have minimal need for artificial illumination. The building depth is maintained as narrow as possible to allow maximum use of the light. In addition the building transparency allows light to enter from multiple facades and the courtyard providing balanced light and direct views to the outside.