By Neall Digert
The Scripps Ocean-Atmosphere Research Simulator (SOARS) Lab at the University of California San Diego has been at the forefront of climate change research, marking the beginning of the modern era in this field. By unraveling the mysteries of the oceans, earth, and atmosphere, Scripps focuses on tackling the most urgent environmental challenges.
With the goal of advancing research, scientists at Scripps secured a National Science Foundation grant to construct a revolutionary ocean simulator. This one-of-a-kind instrument enables researchers to replicate the interconnected dynamics of the ocean, atmosphere, and biology within a single facility.
Plunging into the challenges
The pursuit of this innovation was not without several formidable challenges. The scientists needed to be able to control the sunlight entering the lab, replicating real ocean conditions for algae growth in controlled settings. Creating an ocean simulator meant emulating outdoor conditions indoors, including the dynamic interplay of sunlight and oceanic factors. This demanded precise sunlight control—a challenging task to undertake.
Moreover, the unique architecture of the 60-year-old lab, characterized by its curved, copper-fleeced roof, presented an additional hurdle. The design team needed to create a solution to seamlessly integrate with the existing structure while ensuring optimal performance.
To realistically replicate ocean conditions through controlled daylighting, the design team implemented advanced five Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) equipped with daylight dimmers. TDDs work by capturing the sun’s rays with an optical dome mounted on the roof. The light is then transferred downward through reflective tubing. Once the daylight reaches the interior, it is evenly distributed throughout the space using diffusers. Additionally, TDDs are designed to easily maneuver around obstructions without the need for structural changes.
For this project, the TDDs would allow natural daylight to enter the lab for optimal environmental conditions for the scientists’ experiments. The daylight dimmers, made from the same material as the reflective tubing used in the TDDs, use a butterfly baffle design to ensure even light distribution in any position. Engineered to provide a wide range of light levels found in natural environments, the scientists can choose between day and night conditions and control the growth rates of algae, essential for their studies. This provided scientists with a customizable solution tailored to their specific needs. The installation team collaborated closely with the project’s architects and scientists to ensure exact product placement, aligning with the facility’s requirements.
The success of the project hinged on meticulous calculation and strategic positioning. Leveraging a daylight design calculator, which combines photometry with weather data, the design team was able to accurately forecast daylight distribution. This enabled the scientists to determine the optimal parameters for algae growth and scientific experimentation, resulting in a system that not only brought natural daylight into the lab but also granted control over its intensity, mimicking the fluctuating conditions of the open ocean.
Integrating TDDs into the lab’s curved roof also posed several engineering challenges:
To ensure the seamless integration of the daylighting systems with the existing lab architecture, the design team created architectural renderings from various viewpoints to understand how neighboring buildings would perceive the addition and to comply with San Diego County’s strict coastal site-line regulations. The strategy involved keeping the TDDs below the apex of the roof’s curve and ensuring the new roofing material would patina in the same manner as the existing roof, thereby minimizing the visibility of the tubes.
Before any structural modifications to the lab began, the design team hosted an on-site preconstruction meeting to explain their drawings and detail the step-by-step process for effectively installing the TDDs into the roof. The complexities of the project made effective communication and collaboration between all parties vital for bringing all the moving parts together and successfully executing the design plans.
The architects then designed a custom curb to blend the TDDs with the lab’s existing architecture. An additional challenge arose when it became clear the original copper fleece membrane needed to create the curb was no longer available in a linear embossing. The architects resolved this issue by procuring several samples of a specially sourced crosshatched embossed copper fleece roof from Italy to match the historic materials. These samples were then laid on the roof and viewed from nearby vantage points to ensure the crosshatched pattern would not stand out against the linear pattern of the existing roof.
Diving into the design
The positioning of the TDDs and the wave simulator was a meticulous process, carefully adhering to California Coastal Commission regulations. The installation team strategically placed the tubes to avoid exceeding the curved roof’s highest point. This placement not only ensured regulatory compliance but also maximized the effectiveness of the TDDs in capturing natural daylight, which is crucial for replicating realistic ocean conditions within the lab.
During installation, the tubular devices needed to remain true and plumb to the sky above, a critical requirement for the opt functioning. To achieve this, the design team had to shape the custom curb’s base in-field while shaving the wood-blocking base to match the curvature of the roof. By carefully tailoring the curb for the facility, the design team guaranteed the TDDs would perform efficiently and maintain the structural integrity of the roof.
Following installation, the design team used a chemical treatment to enhance the patina of the new roofing. A small spray bottle that oxidizes the copper was used for this and it was just to speed up the natural patina process to see if the cross-hatched roofing would blend with the linear roofing after patina. This process confirmed that as the roof aged, it would effectively hide the crosshatch pattern next to the original linear pattern, making the modifications inconspicuous.
Additional modifications were also made inside the lab to support the new installations. New wood blocking was stained to provide structural support for the TDDs. The design team executed the staining process to match the patina of the existing wood roof in the work area. Given the natural variation in wood color, the stain on the new ladder frame was applied randomly, facilitating the integration of the new structure into its surroundings, and ensuring a seamless visual transition. This attention to detail preserved the aesthetic harmony of the historic building.
The project’s design intent prioritized minimizing impact on the historic building’s exterior. By keeping the tubes below the roof’s apex and ensuring the patina covered as much of the roof’s intervention as possible, the TDDs were integrated with minimal visual impact. Additionally, the design team’s careful selection and treatment of materials ensured the new roofing patina would continue to blend with the existing roof over time.
The success of the project is evident in the minimal impact of the TDDs on the building envelope. From the seamless integration with the architecture to the optimal daylighting performance, every aspect of the project aligns with the lab’s commitment to scientific excellence. The precise placement and careful craftsmanship involved in installing the TDDs demonstrate a perfect balance between preserving the historic integrity of the building and enhancing its functionality for advanced scientific research.
In the pursuit of unraveling the mysteries of the oceans and atmosphere, every ray of light counts. Through collaboration, expert design and installation and innovative daylighting technology, the SOARS Lab can continue its mission of unraveling the mysteries of the oceans and atmosphere, advancing scientific knowledge, and addressing the most pressing environmental challenges, paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.
Author
Neall Digert, PhD, MIES, vice-president, innovation and market development, Kingspan Light + Air North America, has more than 30 years of consulting and education experience working in the energy/lighting/daylighting design and research fields, specializing in the design and application of advanced lighting and daylighting systems for commercial building applications.
