Factory Walls

Abstract

Abstract The walls of industrial buildings, as well as their roofs, were engineered to provide light and ventilation for manufacturing space. Invariably, the goal was to replicate ideal outdoors conditions-the brightness and comfortable temperature of a June day. Daylight, especially northern light, was preferred for manufacturing space because of its high quality and low cost. Even after the introduction of gas and electric lighting, natural light was cheaper and better for close work and matching colors. Artificial light was used to supplement daylight during the early morning and late afternoon hours only as necessary. The term daylight factory became prevalent when reinforced concrete and steel framed construction nearly doubled the amount of wall space that could be devoted to window openings. The large windows that extended from pier to pier and nearly from floor to ceiling created previously unimaginable lighting conditions in loft buildings.