Skylights have been used throughout history and provide a number of benefits, from adding in much-needed natural light to making a room look bigger, or helping you take advantage of the views around your building. They can even help improve employee productivity and help you save money on your electricity bills. With this in mind, we’ve created a list of 30 commercial buildings that we feel would benefit from the addition of skylights.
1. Office buildings
- Why: Skylights help to enhance employee productivity. This is because they help to create a brighter, more welcoming working environment. Employees won’t feel as stifled if they can see the outside world from within the office. Increased natural light can also help your skin produce vitamin D, which can help to reduce the likelihood of depression. Skylights are especially effective in the winter months, where we get less sunlight in general; especially in countries like the UK.
Also, increasing natural light in the workplace helps to reduce energy costs, as you’ll not need to turn as many lights on during the day. Similarly, they help to reduce heat loss from the property, and help make the room cooler in the warmer months.
You can read more about the benefits of natural light in the workplace in our guide.
2. Retail stores
- Why: The benefits of natural light are not just limited to offices – even shops can stand to gain from the addition of windows. Natural light helps to improve product visibility, which increases the likelihood that customers will spot their next purchase. Also, a brighter space helps to create an inviting atmosphere that encourages shoppers to linger. This increases their likelihood of making a purchase.
3. Shopping centres
- Why: Skylights are also beneficial in the context of shopping centres. This is because they illuminate large common areas, which reduces the reliance on artificial lighting; thus, saving money on electricity. Additionally, they help improve the aesthetic appeal of the space, which makes customers want to spend longer in the shopping centre. It also helps illuminate the stores themselves, making customers more likely to see the products inside. This encourages them to go in and browse.
4. Restaurants
- Why: The merit of Skylights also extends to restaurants – they can help to create a unique dining ambiance, by connecting customers to the outdoors without compromising comfort. Increased natural light will also help to improve the mood of your diners, as well as creating the illusion of additional space. Additionally, you will save money on heating and electricity, due to the heat retention and increased light to the space.
5. Cafés & bars
- Why: Similar to restaurants, skylights are a great way to make small spaces like cafes and bars feel larger. They also help to illuminate the space and attract customers looking for a bright, cozy atmosphere. In the case of bars, skylights provide a unique chance for your customers to enjoy the night sky from the comfort of the warmer indoors.
6. Hotels
- Why: Skylights add luxury and natural beauty to the numerous spaces included in a hotel, from lobbies and spas to the guest rooms themselves. This enhances the overall guest experience, as those staying on the top floor can enjoy the views of the surrounding area and the sky, day and night.
7. Hospitals and clinics
- Why: Natural light can be a great way to speed up recovery for patients in healthcare settings. According to an NHS study, when exposed to more than 46% light, patients tended to report less distress and pains than those in the dark ward. They also needed 22% fewer painkillers; this led to 21% savings in total treatment costs.
Additionally, increased natural light helps to boost the morale of healthcare workers and patients alike, particularly those with depression.
8. Schools and universities
- Why: Artificial lighting can cause eye strain, and skylights help let in more natural light, which helps avoid it. Skylights in classrooms are useful for improving focus, as well as reducing fatigue as the access to the outside worlds helps regulate their body clocks. The increased access to natural light also increases the amount of vitamin D they get, helping with their immune system.
Skylights can also help from a sustainability perspective, as well as making the school a more appealing and welcoming environment. This, in turn, helps to support better learning outcomes for students.
9. Libraries
- Why: Similar to schools, skylights make libraries bright, welcoming spaces, and reduce eye strain. Increased natural light helps to create open reading areas with a connection to nature. This also encourages a calm and serene environment that people want to spend extended time in
10. Museums and Galleries
- Why: Skylights offer ideal natural lighting for exhibits, reducing glare while highlighting any artwork and artifacts. Also, increased natural light helps to boost the mood of those in the space. This all makes for a more awe-inspiring viewing experience, allowing the works to be appreciated as their creators intended.
Also, in the case of buildings that are open to the public for long periods of time, the energy efficiency from increased natural light cannot be overstated.
11. Gyms and fitness studios
- Why: Skylights make exercise spaces feel more open, which is especially important for those who may find the gym intimidating. Increased natural light helps to elevate the mood, making the space feel more inviting and invigorating, enhancing the workout experience.
Windows in a fitness space are also great for ventilation, as well as energy efficiency.
Learn more about opening vs non-opening skylights, and which one is best for your space, in our blog.
12. Indoor pools
- Why: Skylights create an outdoor feel for indoor swimmers, with views from their surrounding area enhancing their swimming experience. The lower reliance on natural light helps to reduce energy costs, as well as protecting swimmers from harmful UV rays whilst still brightening the room.
13. Warehouses
- Why: Skylights can help improve visibility, and enhance workplace safety. This is vital when it comes to jobs that require heavy lifting. Increased visibility can reduce the chance that you put yourself, or others, at risk. Similarly, they reduce reliance on artificial lighting, helping cut back on energy costs.
14. Factories and manufacturing plants
- Why: Similar to warehouses, natural light boosts worker morale and productivity and helps businesses save on energy costs in large spaces. It will also help in terms of improved visibility, encouraging safety and alertness in the case of manual labour.
15. Greenhouses
- Why: Skylights provide the essential natural light needed for healthy plant growth and energy efficiency. Added ventilation can also do wonders for plant growing conditions, regulating the humidity for the best possible growing conditions.
Skylights on a greenhouse can also bring a modern touch and a sense of sophistication to your garden space.
16. Airports
- Why: Skylights brighten airport terminal spaces and create a more pleasant travel experience. Passengers with an elevated mood and visual access to the outside world may respond more positively to being kept indoors due to delays. Also, skylights are great for energy efficiency, which is vital in a space like an airport which is open 24/7.
17. Train and bus stations
- Why: An increase in natural light from skylights makes waiting areas more appealing; it also improves visibility in high-traffic spaces. Similar to airports, a bright and open space can help regulate moods, especially when passengers are aggravated due to delays etc. In addition, with train and bus stations being open for 12+ hours a day, increased natural light is ideal for improving energy efficiency.
18. Convention centres
- Why: The addition of skylights creates a sense of grandeur and natural illumination in large event spaces. The increase in natural light helps to bolster the mood of attendees, which can help with crowd management in the case of delays. People tend to feel more calm when they can see the outside world, as opposed to windowless spaces that rely on artificial light. It also helps with reducing energy costs for lighting and heating, which is beneficial for longer-running events.
19. Car dealerships
- Why: Natural light helps to showcase the true colours of vehicles, making individual details stand out that much more. Added windows also make the showroom more inviting and open, as well as increasing energy efficiency. A comfortable environment means prospective customers are likely to linger longer, meaning more chance of a sale.
20. Religious buildings (churches, temples, etc.)
- Why: Skylights create a serene, uplifting environment by bringing in natural light, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere with contrast between light and shadow. Visibility of the outside world can provide a visual connection to nature and symbolise a strong connection to a higher power. A lack of artificial light creates a sense of authenticity, with a warm and opening atmosphere encouraging people to participate. Skylights can be strategically placed over areas such as altars to highlight the sacred space symbolically.
If the building has stained glass windows, for example, a skylight can help welcome in the natural light to enhance its aesthetic beauty, without overpowering it. People also tend to spend extended periods of time in these spaces, and skylights help in terms of energy efficiency and heat retention.
Learn more top benefits of skylights.
21. Co-working spaces
- Why: Skylights enhance creativity and focus, which is great for freelancers and startups. Natural light in a shared work environment can be a great way of making a generic common space feel more open and inviting. This can help boost morale and togetherness in a space where everyone is working for themselves. These spaces also tend to be open for an extended period of time, so energy efficiency is a concern that skylights could help alleviate.
22. Community centres & sports centres
- Why: Bright, naturally lit spaces make community events and activities more inviting, encouraging people to enter and spend more time in these spaces. These places often act as an escape from everyday life; the access to nature can help boost people’s moods and enhance their enjoyment of the activities. Also, community centres are often open for multiple hours of the day; skylights will help make them more energy-efficient.
23. Sports arenas and stadiums
- Why: Skylights illuminate large indoor spaces like courts or tracks. This helps reduce energy costs while maintaining a vibrant atmosphere. Also, increased natural light helps to enhance visibility for both participants and watchers of the event, as well as security and event staff.
24. Exhibition halls
- Why: Natural light showcases exhibits, adding dynamic lighting elements that shift throughout the day. It also reduces the need for extensive artificial lighting in large venues, which helps cut energy costs.
25. Aquariums & zoos
- Why: Skylights can help to simulate natural environments for animals and plants when kept indoors, as well as making spaces appear more open. This creates a better environment, creating a healthier experience for the animals, and in turn making visitors feel more at ease when viewing them. Also, natural lighting increases visibility, meaning that visitors can get the most out of each exhibit (animal collaboration depending of course)!
26. Nurseries/playgroups
- Why: Skylights create a warm, cheerful environment that supports children’s well-being and development. Increased visibility means that children can learn and play to their heart’s content, and have a full view of the activities on offer to them. It will also help the colours of toys and displays around them appear much more vibrant and appealing. A lot of children struggle with settling into a nursery; skylights can make the space look more open and welcoming.
27. Luxury spas
- Why: Natural light from skylights adds tranquillity and enhances relaxation areas like saunas and treatment rooms. Bringing in a sense of the outdoors can help create a sense of connection to nature, which can help with the psychological restoration involved in a spa visit.
28. Senior living facilities
- Why: Skylights provide uplifting natural light that supports mood, immune health, and comfort for elderly residents. The connection to nature can help the space appear less sterile or stifling; instead, it opens up the space so it feels inviting. It can also help with visibility, helping to avoid eye strain
29. Beauty salons
- Why: Skylights improve visibility, so that your clients can fully appreciate the quality of your work, whether it’s makeup, hair or nails. It will also help showcase your portfolio to prospective clients walking by, or those viewing your work online, due to lighting enhancing your picture quality. A morale boost from increased natural light can also be great when it comes to keeping waiting clients happy, or those who are having a longer appointment. Additionally, it can help you save money on energy costs from artificial lighting.
30. Fire stations
- Why: Natural light in both their living and training areas helps firefighters stay alert and motivated. It also helps to reduce energy consumption during their downtime.
Looking to create a more inviting business environment but don’t know where to start? Toughened Glass Systems offer a range of high-quality rooflights and skylights to suit your needs, from circular rooflights and dome rooflights to flat rooflights . Shop the range of rooflights and skylights here, or get in touch. Our expert team will help you to find the best one for you. You can even read our range of informational resources below to help you make your decision.