Architect’s Challenge
The purpose of Division 12 Product Labs is to provide Engineered Shading Solutions to Architects. We begin the evaluation of each project by asking a question. How do you want your Engineered Shading Solution to perform? We find that many answers focus on similar areas such as light control, solar control, privacy concerns, maintaining the view, shade function and daylighting & glare control.
Many times it is something more specific. Perhaps it’s an unusual skylight that needs an Engineered Shading Solution or a tight ceiling pocket where dual shades are desired. For the product engineers to begin their work, the Architect is asked to describe the project and to provide the available plans, drawings or specifications. Next our engineers in our Division12 Labs offer possible solutions.
Architect’s Challenge – Light Control
Client can’t sleep, because of light seepage with current skylight treatment.
D12 Product Lab Solution
The SKY-4 Motorized Skylight Solution with EB-700 Blackout Fabric is ideal to provide total light blockage.
Architect’s Challenge – Solar Control
Control the intense solar energy from entering an office space.
D12 Product Lab Solution
By far the best Engineered Shading Solution for controlling the intense solar energy from entering any space is an Exterior Shading Solution.
Architect’s Challenge – Privacy Concerns
Provide a Dual Shading Solution in a pocket only 4” high.
D12 Product Lab Solution
The solution developed was this clever design where a secondary roller is installed allowing the blackout fabric to snake around the solar shade fabric and land tight to the window.
Architect’s Challenge – Maintaining the View
To engineer a motorized shading solution that comes from the bottom up in a trapezoid window that is on an incline.
D12 Product Lab Solution
Reengineering the SKY-3 Skylight System, a solution was designed.
Architect’s Challenge – Shade Function
To provide a way for the shades to be programed to automatically function with the movement of the sun.
D12 Product Lab Solution
The Solar Flex software monitors solar position based on both the sun angle and the season.
Architect’s Challenge – Daylighting
Daylighting provides natural light, but the side effect is problems with Glare
D12 Product Lab Solution
The upper louvers of SolarBlade provides Daylighting into the space while the solar shade regulates heat reflection and glare control.
Sketches
We start all projects in the Division 12 Product Lab with Sketches. This is a sketch we did for a Solarium Shading Solution.
Mockups
Next step is to build a mockup. Here is a mockup we built for a Skylight Solution.
Shade Mapping
Once all products are approved, we then create a Shade Map, which lays out all the Engineered Shading Solution details for the Architect.
Fabrication
The project is fabricated in our facility.
