K–12 Education · Lake Bluff, IL
Lake Bluff Elementary School
211 shades solving two problems at once — spring-operated blackout shades as a classroom security tool, and clutch-operated solar shades preserving the rural views.
K–12 Education · Chicago, IL
Gary Comer College Prep
24 motorized blackout shades integrated with a school's data network, so staff can trigger classroom privacy from any connected device.
Project specification
- System
- PowerMove® Motorized
- Control
- ILT motors connected to the facility's data network, allowing staff access to shades facility-wide from any networked device
- Fabric
- No Lite Fiberglass — opaque, no view-through
- Openness
- 0%
- Fascia
- 4" white aluminum
- Shade count
- 24
- Sector
- K–12 Education
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Fig. 01Background
About Gary Comer College Prep
Gary Comer College Prep, located in the Grand Crossing neighborhood on Chicago's south side, was conceived from the Comer Science and Education Foundation's core mission: to improve urban education and the lives of children.
The 45,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art charter high school opened in May 2008 and is designed to be used in conjunction with the adjacent Gary Comer Youth Center. As of August 2014 it serves 755 students in grades 9–12.
The solar control challenge
Most classrooms include several interior and exterior windows providing excellent use of daylight and the benefits of an open design concept for students and staff.
However, school administrators are responsible for providing a safe, stable and innovative learning environment. Parents count on GCCP leadership to be prepared for any situation where immediate privacy is needed.
The solution
IWS designed a privacy shade system integrated with and controlled by the school's data network, which allows appropriate staff access to the privacy shades in the entire facility from any device connected to the network.
A total of 24 motorized privacy shade systems were placed in classroom windows throughout the facility, fitted with No-Lite Fiberglass opaque fabric and seamlessly concealed by 4" white aluminum fascias to match the classroom decor.
The blackout shade successfully blocks all solar and visible light transmittance, providing the right environment for optimum privacy levels or for use of audiovisual equipment.
Results
The privacy solution at Gary Comer College Prep looks fantastic, is easy for facility staff to operate and produces instant results with respect to the privacy and light levels in the facility.
Fig. 03Related
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