Daylighting And Occupant Density: An Indoor Environmental Quality Analysis Of Appalachian State University Classrooms

This study acted as a comprehensive indoor environmental quality analysis of a selected set of 19 Appalachian State University classrooms that met a specific typology. The study focused primarily on daylighting and occupant density data, but also recorded other environmental quality factors of each room, including finishes and furniture. The data gathered was compared against industry standard values for both daylighting and occupant density. The intention of the study was to act upon a set of goals that Appalachian State University had set forth as a part of its strategic plan, The Appalachian Experience: Envisioning a Just and Sustainable Future. The study found that Appalachian State University classrooms that possess windows fare well in terms of daylighting. Among this sample of classrooms, however, nearly a third do not contain windows and thus do not meet daylighting standards. Nearly all classrooms observed do follow industry standard guidelines for occupant density. The study concluded with recommendations for future classroom design to better adhere to industry standards and to increase the well-being of classroom occupants, followed by suggestions for future research.