Baylor University Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation

Lead Designers Paul Zaferiou, Justin Brown

Entry Description

In a collaborative design process with both the architects and owners, aspects of Baylor’s neo-Georgian aesthetic were maintained with new materials and innovative building technologies. A major design challenge was developing a solution to provide as much access to natural light throughout the year as possible, without creating glare or thermal discomfort for the occupants. In particular, the 4-story central atrium was the first task, and initially envisioned by the architect to be capped with a standard north-facing saw-tooth, monitor-style roof. While this was effective, our design team lamented a missed opportunity to create a more dynamic environment within the bustling heart of the building. Employing sophisticated daylight analysis tools, our team quickly explored multiple options that controlled and redirected sunlight year round, before settling on a formula that offered the most promising results and ability to match the architectural vision.