LRV (Light Reflectance Value)

A measurement commonly used by design professionals to identify the percentage of light that is reflected from a surface, light reflectance value (LRV) supports our understanding of the amount of light that will be reflected from the surface. Numerous studies attest to the benefits of views and light—particularly full spectrum light—in the educational environment.

LRV specifications have a great degree of variability. While the accompanying guide establishes what has been documented to support the specifier in determining LRV values, the designer must still balance LRV concepts with experience, knowledge, and expertise, and consider work surface reflectance values, which have a vast range due to the variety of tasks preformed in schools. Some desktops, for example, may require wood surfaces; some labs require dark counters; low lighting may require lighter counters; art surfaces may need to be near white. For optimum visual clarity, government safety guidelines specify that a 30 percent value difference should be maintained between ceiling, wall, doors, and floor surfaces.

AREA	LRV Percentage
Ceilings	70% - 90%
Walls	30% - 70%
General Wall Color in Classrooms	60% - 70%
Feature Walls	20% - 50%*
Work Surface	30% - 80%**
Floors	15% - 40%
*Research recommends classroom feature walls to be approximately 40 percent to 50 percent LRV; however, depending on the color, room lighting, size, window, and light exposure, a lower LRV may be considered for visual comfort. In the yellow family, these LRV values may be higher. **Work surface reflectance values have a vast range due to the variety of tasks performed in schools. Some desktops require wood surfaces; some labs require dark counters; low lighting may require lighter counters; art surfaces may need to be near white. Consider all elements of room design in specifying a work surface.

 

Color Preference by Age

Color supports a child's developmental process. Noted education planner, Kathie Engelbrecht, maintains that being sensitive to each age group's different responses to color is key in creating an environment stimulating to their educational experience.

Dr. Heinrich Frieling of the Institute of Color Psychology studied the color preferences of 10,000 children from around the world. He found that:

• Most children 5 – 14 rejected black, white, grey, and brown

• Children 5 – 8 preferred red, orange, yellow, and violet

• Children 9 – 10 preferred red, red-orange, and green-blue

• Children 11 – 12 preferred green and yellow

• Children 13 - 14 preferred blue, ultramarine, and orange

Frieling acknowledged that the pure hues noted above were not appropriate for large fields of color in the school environment. Frank Manhke, president of the International Association of Color Consultants, worked to convert the color preference test results into suitable colors to be used as a palette guideline, stressing that it was merely a guideline and not a formula, as color decisions will also depend on architectural conditions, light characteristics, geographic, and cultural situations.

Preschool

Today's young children spend many hours in a “new” environment—child care. Some children who begin attending child care in infancy may spend as much as 12,000 hours in this setting. This massive number of hours in one environment demands that the space be carefully designed to create the “best” place possible for young children.

Young children gravitate towards bright colors, primarily warm colors, such as red and yellow, orange, and violet. Dr. Frieling also notes that warm and bright color schemes seem to complement the active, energizing nature of children. However, they may be better used as accents as these colors may be too harsh on full walls. While color brightness and intensity are useful in attracting attention, they may not be conducive to learning. Other considerations in designing supportive environments are based on age-appropriate developmental patterns. Preschoolers, for instance, pretend they are doing adult activities, and their language ability explodes. Creation of learning centers is desirable to divide activities and clearly communicate areas for thoughtful activity, rest and private spaces, group activity, and role playing.

As younger students enter their school, the environment should embrace them, welcome them, and provide feelings of support and enrichment. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com