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the University of Southern California Since 1912
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Sun spota. The highly reflective surfaces of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles create glare on nearby apartments and on the streets, leading Marc Shiler, professor of archi tecture, to head a study that suggested hand-applied sanding on the surfaces to reduce the problem. Some "hot spots" caused by the glare can raise the temperature as high as 138 degrees.
GLARING
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By JOANNA LIN
Contributing Writer
The sparkling, curved stainless steel exterior of Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles will undergo renovation during the upcoming month to reduce glare on neighboring buildings.
Portions of Disney Hall's exterior produce glare and "hot spots” that can reach 138 degrees, according to a study led by Marc Schiler, a USC professor of architecture.
The study calls for hand-applied sanding on the surfaces to reduce the glare and heating problem.
Schiler said the study’s recommendation is based on the efforts to fix the
glare and heating but maintain the aesthetic appeal created by the building's architect, USC alumnus Frank 0. Gehry.
“This was a very cooperative effort; it was not antagonistic," Schiler said.
Los Angeles County owns Disney Hall and will likely be responsible for the estimated $100,000 cost, Schiler said.
Work on the building should be completed by March, when the sun’s reflection angles will become more problematic, Schiler said.
Some residents of Promenade Towers, whose southeast side faces Founders Room, a primary source of glare in Disney Hall, have complained about die discomforting effects of the glare.
But “there are other locations that are worse (in terms of glare) than Promenade,” Schiler said.
Until the sanding is finished, a temporary gray mesh fabric has been put in place to shield some of the glare.
“The temporary solutions have been very effective,” Schiler said, noting that the complaints about the glare have stopped.
Several students living in Promenade Towers said they had never noticed any glare from Disney Hall but said their apartments do not directly face the building.
“There is no glare from the concert hall that I notice, but there is some glare from other buildings downtown,”
said Michael Jarantilla, a senior majoring in electrical engineering.
Schiler’s study reinforced Jarantilla’s observation.
“In some instances, the impact (of Disney Hall) is greater than other buildings, especially since some of the specular surfaces are curved. But in many cases, the impact is actually smaller, especially when compared to other large urban buildings," Schiler said.
Regardless of what building produces the glare, many residents in Promenade Towers are experiencing problems.
“It is definitely very hot in the afternoon — uncomfortably hot, actually, even with the air conditioning at
the coldest temperature and (on) full blast. I never even thought to relate the source of heat to the Walt Disney Concert Hall,” said Laurie Ma, a senior majoring in communication.
But because of the location of her apartment, it is likely that Ma, like most residents, is experiencing glare from buildings other than Disney Hall.
The Disney Hall Glare Study refers other large downtown buildings — not only Disney Hall — and vehicles in everyday traffic as possible sources of glare and temperature rise.
But there have been no glare complaints made regarding other buildings.
“Disney Hall is the focus sometimes," Schiler said. “So it attracts attention."
Fire-safe cigarettes could become reality
Joel Zmh I Daily Trojan
She's taking a drag. Andrea Flores, a senior majoring in fine arts, takes a break from classes to smoke a cigarette outside Watt Hall.
Bill requires all cigarettes sold in California to self-extinguish, reducing fires.
By JORDAN WATROUS
Staff Writer
Taking a page out of New York law books that require all cigarettes sold in the state be self-extinguishing, a California legislature introduced a bill Monday that would call for the sale of only “fire-safe” cigarettes in the state beginning in 2006.
“Fire-safe" cigarettes are wrapped in a special paper with ultra-thin bands that slow the burning of the cigarette when not being used by the
smoker. Ridges in the paper make it less likely for an unattended cigarette to continue burning, lowering the risk of discarded cigarettes acci* dentally igniting bedding or upholstery.
Under the legislation proposed by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood), AB 178 would prohibit the sale, manufacture or distribution of cigarettes in the state that are not fire-safe.
The bill would require cigarette manufacturers to certify that their cigarettes meet the American Society of Testing and Materials protocol for measuring the ignition strength of cigarettes and self-extinguish at least 75 percent of the time.
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INDEX
The Legend cf Zelda: The Mimsh Cap simply does not disappoint. 5
Trojan Vision audition process is typically full of surprises. 5
News Digest......2 Sports____________12
Upcoming______2 Classifieds_________S
Opinions______,_____4 Lifestyle..............5
WEATHER
Today: Rain. High of 62, low of 47.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. High of 66, low of 45.