This research focuses on daylight and energy assessments in office buildings with different atrium proportions and roof aperture designs. The goal is to assess and optimize atrium roof aperture design and proportion to improve daylighting performance and energy efficiency of atrium buildings. This study investigates daylight and thermal performance metrics in central and attached atrium types with different proportions and roof aperture designs, such as monitor and horizontal skylight. This research measures daylight performance of an atrium based on its proportion defined by the Well Index (WI). Climate-based daylight modeling (CBDM) is applied as the assessment strategy in Raleigh, NC. Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Solar Exposure (ASE) are adopted as the dynamic daylight metrics. This study also validates DIVA for Rhino as the simulation tool by comparing daylight results of the computer simulation with the physical scale-model results.;This study then employs DIVA simulation tool to assess daylight performance based on the Well Index. The results demonstrate that the Well Index is an effective indicator to characterize atrium proportion when the climate-based daylight modeling (CBDM) method is adopted. Considering the impact of other design parameters, such as climate, building depth, material reflectance, material transmittance, furniture and monitor roof glazing height, the study provides architects with an atrium design database for U.S climate zone 3. An online interface has been developed to allow for designers to access the database to inform their atrium designs in early project phases.
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