← Back to Insights & Resources
How Daylight Modeling Helped Studio Hillier Win a Competitive Bid
When you’re competing for a project, visual proof of how your design will perform isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a powerful advantage.
Architecture competitions are won on presentation. When Studio Hillier was invited to compete for the Felician University Gymnasium renovation, they knew they were up against other talented firms. The university needed to solve significant issues with glare, energy efficiency, and visibility in their aging facility. Studio Hillier had a secret weapon their competitors didn’t: visual proof.
By leveraging complimentary daylight modeling, they didn’t just tell the selection committee how their design would work—they showed them. This is the story of how that visual proof made all the difference.
❌ The Gymnasium’s Triple-Threat Problem
The existing gymnasium at Felician University, home to the Golden Falcons, was failing on three critical fronts:
- Player & Spectator Glare: Single-pane clerestory windows on the eastern and western exposures created debilitating glare and high-contrast light, making it difficult for players to perform and for spectators to watch.
- Video Recording Failure: The high-contrast lighting made it impossible for the university’s video equipment to focus. This meant they couldn’t record games for training and analysis—a major issue for a competitive athletics program.
- Massive Energy Inefficiency: The old, uninsulated windows provided poor thermal performance and very little usable daylight, forcing the university to rely on expensive artificial lighting all day.
Studio Hillier had to solve all three problems while convincing the university that their solution was better than cheaper alternatives, like applied window film.
✓ The Solution: Visual Proof That Wins the Argument
Instead of just describing a solution, Studio Hillier presented the selection committee with clear, data-backed evidence. Using daylight modeling, they created a side-by-side comparison that left no room for doubt.
On one side: The current state with vision glass, showing the harsh glare and extreme light imbalances.
On the other side: The proposed design using Solera® engineered light diffusers, showing a beautifully and evenly lit space.
This visual evidence was so compelling that when the client asked about using cheaper window film, the models made the decision for them. They could see the superior performance of Solera®.
The Result: A Decisive Win and a Happy Client
Studio Hillier won the competition. Their ability to provide visual proof de-risked the decision for the university and demonstrated a deeper understanding of the problem.
Seamless Installation & Immediate Impact
The project moved forward smoothly. “Solera was a smooth application for this space. The installation was seamless, and everything went very well,” notes Felix.
The results were immediate. The glare was gone. The space was bright and comfortable. And for the first time, the Golden Falcons could properly record their games for training.
A Client for Life
The success of the project turned a one-time client into a long-term partner. Studio Hillier was so impressed with the process and the outcome that they are already planning to use the same solution again.