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Many of us have been there. You are sitting somewhere in the science center, engrossed in your work, when suddenly you hear a faint humming sound coming from above. I look up and see the window shades lowering little by little until the sun is no longer visible. We do not know when or for what reason this mysterious phenomenon will occur. I took it upon myself to find someone who could shed some light on this issue, and spoke to Kyle Mangini, an HVAC technician and science center specialist.
The shades at the Science Center actually close for a very subtle reason. Mangini said light sensors have been installed on various sides of the building to measure the glare on the glass from sunlight. To prevent this light from entering your eyes, the shades close when the sun shines directly into the window, making your work more comfortable. Additionally, in the summer, this automation helps keep buildings cool.
If this information wasn’t enlightening enough, consider one final fun fact from Jess Martin, the Science Center’s administrative director. The science center’s shade fabric is made from recycled water bottles, a fact she learned from the building’s architect.
We hope this investigation reveals some interesting automation and provides new appreciation for the subtle choices made in designing this important part of our campus.
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