Dan Weissman, in his capacity as Director of Lam Labs and Chair of the IES Daylighting Committee, was recently honored to speak to the joint chapters of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Puerto Rico. The event took place at the Colegio de Arquitectos y Arquitectos Paisajistas in San Juan.

His presentation, “Designing Daylighting,” focused on the critical importance and innovative strategies involved in designing effective daylighting solutions for contemporary architecture. The talk included an introduction to daylighting, its fundamental principles, and the distinguishing features, principles, and strategies for designing buildings to create Daylit Architecture as well as his research work with MIT professor Christoph Reinhart and Georgia Tech Professor Terek Radka that compared human perception to various daylighting performance metrics. The presentation concluded with a series of academic case studies and design iterations from Gardner Elementary School (with Jones Whitsett Architects), Gund Hall (Bruner/Cott), and Princeton Firestone Library Rare Books Reading Room (Shepley Bulfinch).

Beyond his speaking engagement, Weissman’s visit to Puerto Rico included several key interactions aimed at fostering professional connections and exploring the island’s rich architectural heritage. He met with local IES and AIA leadership, engaging in productive discussions about collaborative initiatives and the advancement of best practices in the field.

A significant highlight of his trip was a comprehensive tour of the University of Puerto Rico campus. This tour offered a unique opportunity to experience firsthand a remarkable collection of mid-century modern buildings. These architectural gems, designed by the influential architect Henry Klumb, showcased innovative approaches to integrating natural light and ventilation, providing a compelling real-world context for Weissman’s expertise in daylighting design. The tour served as a testament to the enduring principles of daylighting design.