PLP actually used 400 skylights made of low-iron, triple-glazed glass from Interpane. The combination was framed and installed by Prater. For a balance of light and shade, the team gave the rooftop glazing a north angle pitch, McKiernan says, explaining, “Combined with deep beams, that enables a high degree of passive shading from the roof, as the majority of the roof skylights don’t have blinds.”

Another effective device adding natural light is the floor-to-ceiling glass composing the walls of the ground-floor café. Here, the architects specified 59-foot, slidingglass doors from Vitrosca because their minimal frames offer maximum sightlines.

A clear benefit of all this glazing is that users almost anywhere in the space can greatly reduce their reliance on artificial light. Then there are the perceived health perks. “Increased daylighting can reduce fatigue and increase happiness and alertness,” McKiernan says. It also allows for 27,000 indoor plants to thrive in the hub, which doesn’t hurt either.