Sustainability > Daylighting

THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR’S STANDARDS FOR
REHABILITATION &

ILLUSTRATED
GUIDELINES ON
SUSTAINABILITY
FOR REHABILITATING
HISTORIC BUILDINGS

  • New windows added to the side of a historic building.
    Recommended A limited number of new window openings may be added to non-character- defining, secondary facades to allow natural light into formerly windowless spaces.
  • An atrium inserted into a historic building and covered with a skylight.
    Recommended Small, covered atriums that are compatible with the character of these historic warehouses have been inserted to light the interior.
  • Building framing elements exposed by the insertion of an atrium inserted into a historic building.
    Recommended Small, covered atriums that are compatible with the character of these historic warehouses have been inserted to light the interior.
  • Two-story frame house with a central gable in the roof and two square skylights to the left of the gable.
    Not Recommended Skylights added on a primary roof elevation negatively impact the character of these historic houses.
  • Commercial building with rounded turret at the corner and skylights installed in the roof of the turret.
    Not Recommended Skylights added on a primary roof elevation negatively impact the character of these historic houses.
  • Small house with skylight installed in its gable roof.
    Not Recommended Skylights added on a primary roof elevation negatively impact the character of these historic houses.
  • Metal canopies over the windows and doors of a warehouse building.
    Recommended Traditional canopies compatible with the industrial character of this former factory building were installed when it was converted for residential use.
  • Historic building corridor lit by partially glazed walls and doors and a skylight.
    Recommended The original, partially-glazed doors and office partitions, as well as skylights, that let natural light into the corridors were retained as part of the rehabilitation of this early-20th century building.
  • Room with partially glazed walls and doors that allow light out into the corridor.
    Recommended The original, partially-glazed doors and office partitions, as well as skylights, that let natural light into the corridors were retained as part of the rehabilitation of this early-20th century building.
  • Clerestory windows above roof beams and trusses in an industrial building.
    Recommended A clerestory window lights the interior corridor of this historic mill building.
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Daylighting

Recommended
Not Recommended
Retaining features that provide natural light to corridors, such as partial glass partitions, glazed doors and transoms, commonly found in historic office buildings.
Removing or covering features that provide natural light to corridors, such as partial glass partitions, glazed doors and transoms, commonly found in historic office buildings.
Reopening historic windows that have been blocked in to add natural light and ventilation.
Blocking in historic window openings to accommodate new building uses.
Adding skylights or dormers on secondary roof elevations where they are not visible or are only minimally visible so that they do not negatively impact the building’s historic character.
Adding skylights or dormers on primary or highly-visible roof elevations where they will negatively impact the building’s historic character.
Adding a small light well or light tubes, where necessary and appropriate, to allow more daylight into the historic building.
Inserting a small atrium, only when necessary, to allow more daylight into the building in a manner that is compatible with the historic character of the building.
Cutting a very large atrium into the historic building that is not compatible with the building’s historic character.
Creating an open, uncovered atrium or courtyard in the historic building that appears to be an outdoor space, rather than an interior space.
Installing light-control devices on the historic building where appropriate to the building type, such as light shelves in industrial or mid-century modern buildings, awnings on some commercial and residential buildings and shutters on residential buildings that had them historically.
Installing light-control devices that are incompatible with the type or style of the historic building.
Installing automated daylighting controls on interior lighting systems that ensure adequate indoor lighting and allow for energy-saving use of daylighting.
Adding new window openings on secondary and less visible facades, where appropriate, to allow more natural light into the historic building.
Adding new window openings on primary elevations that will negatively impact the character of the historic building.