Case Study: Sheffield Hallam University
Shaping Light: Custom Rooflights for a brighter campus
LAMILUX designed, supplied, and installed seven uniquely shaped glass rooflights to provide an aesthetically striking and functional daylighting solution for an otherwise overlooked roof space. These bespoke rooflights were tailored to suit the architectural vision of the building, each crafted with a distinct shape and size to complement the structure’s modern design while enhancing its visual appeal from both interior and aerial viewpoints.
Given the stringent quality and performance standards of the university’s state-of-the-art STEM building, high-performance solar control glazing was specified and installed. This advanced glazing not only ensures optimal levels of natural light throughout the day but also significantly reduces solar heat gain, helping to regulate indoor temperatures, improve energy efficiency, and maintain a comfortable learning environment all year round. The combination of cutting-edge materials and precision engineering makes the rooflight installation an integral element of the building’s sustainable and user-focused design.
Why LAMILUX were chosen
LAMILUX was selected for this project due to its proven ability to deliver high-performance daylighting solutions that meet exacting architectural and technical specifications.
Exceptional Thermal Performance: A key requirement of the project was a rooflight system with outstanding thermal insulation. LAMILUX met this challenge by offering glazing with an impressively low Ug-value of just 0.29 W/m²K, significantly enhancing the building’s overall energy efficiency and helping to meet stringent sustainability goals.
Bespoke Engineering Capability: The architectural design called for a series of seven rooflights, each comprising multiple glass fields, with no two panes exactly the same in size or shape. This level of customization demanded a specialist supplier with deep expertise in precision engineering, advanced fabrication, and seamless integration. LAMILUX’s ability to manufacture and install rooflights to such unique and complex geometries made them the ideal partner for this bespoke solution.
Together, these factors of high thermal performance, tailored design, and expert project execution, cemented LAMILUX’s position as the supplier of choice for this challenging and visually ambitious university project.
Extensive research has demonstrated a clear connection between natural daylight and improved student outcomes. A notable study by the Heschong Mahone Group, involving over 9,000 students, revealed several compelling findings:
- Faster learning rates in classrooms with ample natural light, especially those with larger windows
- Higher test scores in the brightest learning environments
- Enhanced performance in classrooms equipped with skylights
- Improved student progress in rooms where windows also provided natural ventilation
These results highlight the powerful influence of daylight not only on academic performance but also on student wellbeing and engagement.
Complementing these findings, the University of Salford’s ‘Clever Classrooms’ study concluded that classroom design directly influences 16% of a student’s learning progress. Among the most influential environmental factors identified were natural light, indoor temperature, and air quality—all of which can be significantly enhanced through thoughtful and well-designed roof glazing.
These insights underscore the critical role that daylighting plays in educational design, making it a core consideration in modern learning environments such as the STEM building featured in this project.
