Examination of lighting design in open offices: A case study

This study aims to develop a lighting design that enhances the visual comfort of employees working in open offices while improving the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of office spaces. For this purpose, the open office section of a sample software office located in Vadi Istanbul Informatics Valley has been examined. Within the scope of the study, improvements were made on the lighting design implemented by the lighting company for the selected sample office project. The design process focused on creating a solution that complies with international and national lighting standards and effectively combines daylight and artificial lighting sources. Throughout the design process, various simulations were conducted using Dialux evo 12.0 software based on the sample open office. These simulations tested scenarios that included improvements to the existing office lighting design. The scenarios involved parameters such as daylight, artificial lighting, and the combination of both factors in the open office. To analyze the daylight factor, specific days of the year and specific times of the day were included in the simulation parameters. Additionally, to test the effect of orientation on benefiting from natural lighting, a new orientation was proposed alongside the existing orientation of the building, and both orientations were included in the study as part of the scenarios. For artificial lighting scenarios, lighting fixtures from the company Litpa were utilized. In this way, a new lighting design proposal that meets the visual performance criteria defined by the standards and achieves optimal values for employees was evaluated. The results demonstrated that integrating daylight into the interior space within the framework of values defined by standards, and arranging artificial lighting in compliance with international and national lighting standards, effectively enhances employees' visual comfort and visual performance as prescribed by the standards. This study also establishes a method for achieving human-centered lighting design in an open office by leveraging the psychological effects of daylight and integrating natural and artificial lighting in accordance with standard data to ensure optimal visual comfort conditions. These evaluations can also be used in future studies to assess reductions in energy consumption caused by lighting. Within the scope of the study, partial use of artificial lighting was proposed during times when daylight is utilized, achieved through the implementation of a switching system or shading elements. This approach reduces energy consumption caused by lighting fixtures. The study ensures that the open office receives daylight at specified levels and integrates this light with artificial lighting in a balanced manner. Thus, both visual comfort requirements are met, and the efficient use of artificial resources is encouraged. In this way, the study also contributes to environmental sustainability. This thesis serves as a guide for developing sustainable and human-centered lighting designs in open offices by creating solutions tailored to users' needs and spatial requirements.