Atrium

Published February 2000

Space located in the interior of a building that is lit by natural light entering the building through a light opening in the roof. Atria are often used for public areas. Tests at the University of California, Berkeley, sky-simulation facility have produced concrete data on atria design: 1) the addition of an atrium doesn't necessarily provide good light to adjacent workspaces, 2) in atria more than five stories high, it is difficult to provide the daily 100 to 200 foot candles of natural light required to keep many plants alive at the first-floor level and 3) multiple roof monitors are the best method of filtering light during the summer months when the sun is at its peak.