University of Michigan

About the University of Michigan

A BMS integrated daylighting system, managing solar heat gain and glare

Architects at Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, sought to improve the student experience and maximize site usage by constructing a new building, Jeff T. Blau Hall, and renovating the connected Kresge Hall, both part of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business within the University of Michigan.

Completed in 2017, the project received LEED Gold® recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council, in part due to its custom daylighting systems.

Guthrie Douglas worked with Hunter Douglas Architectural, the designers, and construction leads at Walbridge Aldinger to balance design intent, daylighting performance, and construction requirements. They settled on a shading system that features several groups of EOS 500 automated shades and a bank of TESSTM 660 skylight shades, manufactured by Guthrie Douglas in the UK.

“This system of window coverings is ideal for a space like this that has such large windows and skylights,” said Carl Sly, President at Creative Windows (the installer). “The ability to control daylighting from both the top down with roller shades and the bottom up on the skylights has a huge effect on both the feeling and functionality of the space.”

Guthrie Douglas are often invited to consult during the design process to advise on the control of light, heat and glare into a space. Read about how we how we worked with designers to improve the environmental credentials for a central London hotel.