Final Report Download final report (including appendix) in PDF format (43 MB) Last revised: April 16, 2008 Executive Summary This report summarizes a year-long analysis of New York Law School’s New Community Facility as part of an Architectural Engineering senior thesis at Pennsylvania State University. Many aspects of the building were investigated, with the lighting and electrical systems being the main focus of study. This report describes the existing systems of NYLS’s New Community Facility and proposes alternate design solutions. The successfulness of the new designs are evaluated, sometimes based on subjective judgment and other times based on concrete data such as cost or energy usage. The new lighting designs seek to complement the existing architecture aesthetically while simultaneously saving energy in comparison to the original design. The use of simple, efficient light sources, often hidden from view, aids this process. The lighting reinforces the building’s design and avoids making design statements not intended by the original architect. Additionally, strict performance criteria are met in order to ensure the comfort of occupants. The lighting was redesigned in four spaces, chosen to represent the overall building design and function. Various aspects of the building’s electrical system were also evaluated, both in coordination with the lighting changes and independently. The local panelboards and feeders affected by the lighting changes were redesigned. In order to analyze potential energy savings, the feasibility of a photovoltaic power generation system was studied and determined to be a poor investment. The electrical distribution system was redesigned to accommodate a new system voltage, saving money by reducing equipment size. And finally, a fault current analysis and device coordination study was performed along a path in the system, revealing no problems. The library’s acoustical characteristics were studied in order to determine the effects of the new lighting system. The study reveals that the acoustical quality of the space worsens, but not drastically. The final study investigates the solar gain of the building’s glass curtainwall.