With a rich history seeped in centuries of ownership by the native Suquamish Tribe, the Kiana “Garden of the Gods” Lodge, located in Poulsbo, Wash., on Agate Passage on the North Kitsap Peninsula, is a favorite for local weddings, banquets and corporate functions.
For years the extreme sunlight and glare would soak the hotel’s Garden Atrium unfiltered, making it uncomfortable for those in the space. “With the standard skylight panels we had before, we couldn’t control the light and had too much sun and no insulation,” says Jay Mills, director at Kiana Lodge. “I’d gone up there and put black tablecloths and then had to lay bricks so that the wind wouldn’t blow them away, all to accommodate the client.”
After contracting PHC Construction, Bainbridge Island, Wash., the lodge decided to retrofit the Garden Atrium with Lake Forest, Ill.-based CPI Daylighting’s IntelaSun controlled daylighting system. The failing old skylight panels were replaced with 42, 6-foot-wide by 13-foot-long IntelaSun SolaQuad skylights that provide shading and automated control of daylight transmission, glare and solar heat gain.
The skylights also have zone controls that allow maximum control of daylight transmission. Mills’ facilities team can preset each zoned group of skylights for automatic sun-tracking operation based on the unique conditions in that zone. Operable SolaBlades are built in to the SolaQuad skylights, and sensors gauge the sun’s position, and then dynamically manage the desired sunlight transmission, shading and solar heat gain inside the space. “You set it and forget it,” says Mills.
With enhanced solar heat, shade and glare control, Mills has finally been able to support more corporate events, a long-term goal for the Kiana Lodge. “We’re trying to encourage more corporate functions which require more power point presentations and things of that nature,” says Mills. “Now, [with the IntelaSun controlled daylighting system], I can just hit a button and dim them. It’s put the power back in the point.”
The insulated SolaQuad panels have enhanced energy efficiency at the lodge, and also eliminated problems with leakage from heavy Northwest rains.
“We’ve notice that we’ve been able to retain heat better, especially this winter. We were able to keep the building warmer,” says Mills. “Another benefit to the skylights: We’ve had no more leaking-we don’t have to give away as many umbrellas!”
CPI Daylighting, www.cpidaylighting.com, Circle #54
