A multi layered daylighting assessment of LEED certified buildings

Meticulous daylighting design is a fundamental passive strategy for energy conservation and a critical architectural element linked to human physical, emotional, and behavioral well-being. This is particularly important in school buildings, where students spend a significant portion of their daytime hours and daylight conditions influence learning performance, developmental health, and psychological stability. The recent revision of LEED v5 strengthens its emphasis on user well-being and introduces Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE) as key indicators for a more occupant-centered environmental evaluation framework. However, relying solely on these metrics provides an incomplete understanding of indoor light environments, which are inherently multifaceted and require a more holistic and layered approach to assessment. This study analyzes nine LEED Platinum school buildings, selected based on their daylighting credit achievements, three with a perfect score of 3 points, three with 2 points, and three with 0 points. Instead of evaluating the entire building, the simulation focused on one representative classroom where actual learning activities take place. The evaluation metrics included LEED-based indicators such as Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE), as well as occupant-centered metrics including Average Glare (AG), Daylight Factor (DF), and illuminance uniformity. Detailed digital models were constructed in Rhino, and simulation data were generated using CLIMATE STUDIO by Solemma. The key finding of this study is that, although Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) satisfied LEED requirements from a physical performance perspective, it did not consistently align with the occupant-centered metric of Average Glare (AG) or spatial daylight distribution. This discrepancy highlights the limitations of relying on a narrow set of criteria and demonstrates the need for a broader, multi-metric evaluation framework capable of addressing both physical performance and experiential comfort. Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of daylighting strategies that balance diverse metrics, emphasizing the creation of learning environments that move beyond numerical compliance to deliver spaces that genuinely support user comfort, well-being, and overall environmental quality.