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Luminous sky illusions
The Sky Factory, Fairfield, IA |
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The Purpose-Driven LiteWindows in today's healthcare facilities must do a variety of jobs well.
Once, the "green" in healthcare facilities might have been interpreted as the ubiquitous lime sherbet-colored paint used in treatment areas and patient rooms. No longer. Green-building practices in healthcare facilities are expanding design visions to emphasize beneficial daylighting, energy efficiency, and other key green criteria. This while accomplishing the latest sector-specific missions of reducing healthcare errors, discouraging the spread of infectious agents, increasing sound attenuation, improving patient well-being, and enhancing physical security. Building codes in specific areas may also require special protection against coastal hurricanes, and job-specific criteria such as historic preservation. Windows are at the crossroads of all of these factors, and today's healthcare facility designers are challenged to look beyond standard product offerings to solve these location- and application-specific problems. With regard to the latter, the design challenge is not monolithic. The purpose of the facility, or that of different departments within a larger facility or complex, poses different needs. These range from general hospitals with their patient rooms, treatment centers, and intensive-care units; to psychiatric wards, outpatient facilities, rehab centers, nursing, and assisted-living establishments. |
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EcoSlim SkyCeilings are luminous sky illusions displayed in an ultra-thin, toxin-free, energy-efficient system. The low-profile design reportedly eliminates ceiling-clearance limitations, needing only 3 1/2 inches to install. The image tile is 1/4 inch below the illuminated edge-lit light guide, providing a bright image. The dimmable system provides 0% to 100% illumination control and is gasketed to prevent contamination of clean environments. Applications include healthcare, hospitality, commercial, institutional, and residential environments. The company uses evidence-based design research to support the product’s ability to alleviate stress and increase comfort and productivity.
