Bruin Café

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Bruin Café

March 25, 2025
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“Europe today has little desire to reproduce itself,
fight for itself or even take its own side in a argument.
By the end of the lifespans of most people currently alive,
Europe will not be Europe and the peoples of Europe
will have lost the only place in the world we had to call home”

– Douglas Murry (“The Strange Death of Europe”)

Nederland

Large European universities such as Rijksuniversiteit Groningen are integrated into the fabric of the surrounding city. There are several ways in which this integration takes place:

Physical location: Many European universities are located in the heart of the city, often in historic buildings that have been repurposed for educational use. This central location means that the university is easily accessible to students and the general public, and that it is often surrounded by other cultural institutions, such as museums, theaters, and libraries.

Student life: The presence of a large student population can have a significant impact on the city’s culture and economy. Many European cities have developed a vibrant student culture, with cafes, bars, and other venues catering to the needs and interests of young people. This can help to create a sense of community between the university and the city, and can also bring economic benefits to local businesses.

Facilities Organization

Research and innovation: Large European universities are often at the forefront of research and innovation, and they can be important drivers of economic growth in the surrounding region. Many universities work closely with local businesses and industries, and they may also collaborate with other universities and research institutions in the area.

Cultural exchange: Universities can be important centers of cultural exchange, both for international students and for local residents. Many European universities offer language classes and other cultural programs that are open to the public, and they may also host lectures, concerts, and other events that are designed to promote cross-cultural understanding.

Overall, the integration of large European universities into the city is a complex and multifaceted process that can have a significant impact on the social, cultural, and economic life of the surrounding region.

The origin of brown cafés can be traced back to the 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age. At that time, the Netherlands was a prosperous and influential trading nation, and Amsterdam was a bustling city with a thriving port. Sailors, merchants, and locals needed places to socialize, relax, and conduct business, leading to the emergence of taverns and pubs.

The term “brown café” is believed to have originated from the brownish stains that formed on the walls and ceilings due to tobacco smoke, candle soot, and other atmospheric elements. These stains gave the cafés a distinct, cozy ambiance and a sense of history.

Brown cafés became an integral part of Dutch culture, serving as communal gathering spots for people of all walks of life. They were places where locals would meet friends, engage in conversations, enjoy a drink, and sometimes play board games like chess or backgammon. Over time, brown cafés became associated with an authentic, unpretentious, and relaxed atmosphere, attracting both locals and tourists.

The unique charm of brown cafés lies in their preserved historical interiors, with old wooden furniture, dim lighting, and a wide selection of local beers and spirits. Many brown cafés still retain their original character, transporting visitors back in time and providing a cozy retreat from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

While the concept of brown cafés originated in the Netherlands, similar types of establishments can also be found in other European countries, such as Belgium and parts of Germany. However, the term “brown café” is primarily associated with the Dutch tradition of cozy, atmospheric, and convivial drinking establishments.

 


Nederland

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Phobia Phriday

March 25, 2025
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Kavárna u Rotlevů

March 25, 2025
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“Bureaucracy is the death of any achievement”

– Franz Kafka

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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UNMZ Czech Office for Standards, Metrology, and Testing 

Illumination 300

March 25, 2025
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IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee

Outdoor Sport Illumination Technical Issues & Representative Calculation

“Starry Night Over the Rhône” 1888 Vincent van Gogh

Today we refresh our understanding of the moment in illumination technologies for outdoor lighting systems— related but different from our exploration of building interior illumination systems in Illumination 200.  Later in 2023 we will roll out Illumination 500 which explores litigation related to public illumination technology.  As cities-within-cities the shared perimeter of a campus with the host municipality has proven rich in legal controversy and action.

Illumination technology was the original inspiration for the electric utility industry; providing night-time security and transforming every sector of every economy on earth.  Lighting load remains the largest component of any building’s electric load — about 35 percent– making it a large target for energy regulations.

Our inquiry begins with selections from the following documents…

International Electrotechnical Commission TC 34 Lighting

IEC 60364 Electrical Installations in Buildings

2023 National Electrical Safety Code

IEEE P3001.9 – Recommended Practice for the Design of Power Systems Supplying Lighting Systems in Commercial and Industrial Facilities

Institution of Engineering and Technology: Recommendations for Energy-efficient Exterior Lighting Systems

2023 National Electrical Code: Article 410  (While the bulk of the NEC concerns indoor wiring fire hazards, there are passages that inform outdoor lighting wiring safety)

2019 ASHRAE 90.1: Chapter 9 Lighting

Illumination Engineering Society: Various titles

ISO/TC 274 Light and lighting

Salt Water River Project: Outdoor Lighting Standards

US DOE-EERE Building Energy Codes Program

…and about 20 other accredited, consortia or ad hoc standards developers and publishers aligned principally with vertical incumbents.  Illumination was the original inspiration (i.e. the first “killer app”) for the electrical power industry in every nation.  Its best practice literature reflects a fast-moving, shape-changing domain.

Click in today with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

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McGill University: Before electricity, streets were filled with gas lights

Outdoor lighting systems can be owned and maintained by different entities depending on the context and location. Here are some examples of ownership regimes for outdoor lighting systems:

  1. Public ownership: In this case, outdoor lighting systems are owned and maintained by the local government or municipal authority. The lighting may be installed in public spaces such as parks, streets, and other outdoor areas for the safety and convenience of the public.
  2. Private ownership: Outdoor lighting systems may be owned by private individuals or organizations. For example, a business owner may install outdoor lighting for security or aesthetic reasons, or a homeowner may install outdoor lighting in their garden or yard.
  3. Co-owned: Outdoor lighting systems may be owned jointly by multiple entities. For example, a residential community may jointly own and maintain outdoor lighting in their shared spaces such as parking areas, community parks, or recreational facilities.
  4. Utility ownership: Outdoor lighting systems may be owned and maintained by utility companies such as electric or energy companies. These companies may install and maintain street lights or other lighting systems for the public good.
  5. Third-party ownership: In some cases, a third-party entity may own and maintain outdoor lighting systems on behalf of a public or private entity. For example, a lighting contractor may install and maintain lighting in a public park on behalf of a local government.

The ownership regime of an outdoor lighting system can have implications for issues such as installation, maintenance, and cost-sharing. It is important to consider ownership when designing and implementing outdoor lighting systems to ensure their long-term effectiveness and sustainability.

More

International Commission on Illumination

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

National Electrical Contractors Association

Representative Specifications

Sam Houston State University | Division 26500 Interior and Exterior Lighting

University of Delaware | Division 265100 Interior Lighting

Cal Poly University San Luis Obispo | Division 265100 Interior Lighting

Relevant Research

Enhancing the Sustainability of Outdoor Floodlighting for Cultural Heritage Buildings

The Performance and Impact of LED Floodlights in an Outdoor Electrical Substation During Misty Weather Conditions

Replacement of HPS Luminaires with LED Luminaires for the Lighting Requirements of an Outdoor Electrical Substation

 

Luminaires, Lampholders, and Lamps

March 25, 2025
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Best wiring safety practice for the illumination of educational settlement occupancies is scattered throughout the National Electrical Code with primary consideration for wiring fire safety:

  • Article 410 – Covers the installation of luminaires (fixtures), lampholders, and lamps, including requirements for wiring, grounding, and support.
  • Article 210 – Covers branch circuit requirements, including those for lighting circuits in dwellings and commercial buildings.
  • Article 220 – Provides guidelines for calculating lighting loads.
  • Article 225 – Addresses outside lighting installations.
  • Article 240 – Covers overcurrent protection for lighting circuits.
  • Article 250 – Deals with grounding and bonding, which is essential for lighting circuits.
  • Article 300 – Covers general wiring methods that apply to lighting circuits.

We have done a fair amount of work on this topic over the years, including writing the chapter on campus outdoor lighting for the soon-to-be-released IEEE 3001.9 Recommended Practice for the Design of Power Systems Supplying Lighting Systems in Commercial and Industrial Facilities.   

For our meeting please refer to the workspace we have set up for the 2026 Revision of the NEC:

2026 National Electrical Code Workspace

We will pick through specifics in the transcripts of Code Making Panels 10 and 18.

 

International Building Code: Chapter 12 Section 1204 Lighting

What is Happening to the Family, and Why?

March 25, 2025
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“The family is nature’s masterpiece”

— George Santayana

 

Educated at Yale College, Somerville College, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard Medical School and Columbia Law School, Amy Wax speaks to the Buckley Institute, founded by William F. Buckley (Yale 1950). Links to National Centers at Bowling Green State University, the University of Virginia and the University of Nebraska.

Inside Higher Ed (September 24, 2024): Amy Wav Update


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Ring by Spring

March 25, 2025
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The Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences  at Colorado State University prepares students to enhance individual, family, and community well-being through an interdisciplinary curriculum. The program offers two concentrations: Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Interdisciplinary FCS. The Education concentration trains students to become licensed middle or high school teachers, meeting Colorado’s teaching licensure requirements and boasting high job placement rates.
The Interdisciplinary concentration provides a broad foundation for careers in areas like counseling, advocacy, or community services, focusing on skills such as resource management, nutrition, and interpersonal relationships. Students engage in hands-on learning, including internships and student teaching, and benefit from nationally recognized faculty and professional development opportunities. The curriculum covers topics like personal finance, family systems, and wellness, equipping graduates to address real-world challenges. CSU’s program is accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and students can pursue certification through the same organization.
best PTG

“One of the Family” 1880 | Frederick George Cotman

With a focus on leadership and civic engagement, the FCS degree ensures graduates are ready to make meaningful societal impacts. Scholarships and flexible online options are available, enhancing accessibility.

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Sport Lighting

March 25, 2025
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IES LP-6-2x Lighting Practice: Lighting Control Systems

 

Athletic and recreational sports enterprises are important features in education communities; supportive of brand identity and cohort creation.  Assuring the safety and sustainability of these assets is informed by several best practice titles; among them the Illuminating Engineering Society recommended practice RP-6-15 Sports and Recreational Area Lighting  From the project prospectus:

The purpose of RP-6-15  is to provide the reader with recommendations to aid in the design of sports lighting systems. Popular sports, such as baseball, tennis, basketball and football as well as recreational social activities, such as horseshoe pitching and croquet are covered. Venues for spectators of amateur, collegiate, and professional sports are complex facilities that should provide not only for the spectators, but also the equipment used in modern sports broadcasting. This document does not address those needs, so the reader should look for guidance from the sports league or the project consultant.
Sports lighting systems consume power which over time can be significant, and IES RP-6-15 defines methods for maximizing energy efficiency.

The IES-suite joins standards developed by the International Code Council (International Building Code), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE 3001.9) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70) that must be applied skillfully by design professionals and understood by athletic facility managers.  Other consensus standards developers such as the American Society of Heating and Refrigeration Engineers and the Entertainment Services and Technology Association were moving into this domain before the circumstances of the pandemic.

We always encourage our colleagues in the education industry to do so themselves; starting with the links below:

Committees

IES Standards Open for Public Review

"People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy" -- Anton Chekhov

Comments on proposed changes to IES LP-6-2x Lighting Practice: Lighting Control Systems – Properties, Selection, and Specification will be received until April 1st

Comments on Draft “IES TM-39  Technical Memorandum: Quantification and Specification of Flicker” will be received until August 12th
Keep in mind that the IES typically deals with the application of best practice in illumination.  It neither covers the reliability of the power systems nor the power chain to the luminaries.  Recommended practice for the power chain are now being developed by the IEEE Industrial Applications Society; specifically IEEE 3001.9 – Recommended Practice for the Design of Power Systems Supplying Lighting Systems in Commercial and Industrial Facilities.  The IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee pulls together ALL the standards — ICC, IEEE, IEC, NFPA, IES, ASHRAE, ASTM, ESTA and any other emergent consensus or open source documents that might set the standard of care for the education industry.

University of Michigan

The IEEE E&H Committee meets online 4 times monthly in Europe and the United States; and those meetings are open to the public (CLICK HERE).   Additionally, we set aside one hour every month to walk through the entire suite of standards for sports and recreation facilities.   See our CALENDAR for the date of our next Athletic & Recreation standards teleconference.  Login credential are at the upper right of our home page

Issue: [16-132]

Category: Electrical, Athletics & Recreation

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Kane Howard

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Designing Lighting for People and Buildings

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International Residential Code

March 25, 2025
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京都大学

Free Access: 2021 International Residential Code

Student housing on college campuses varies widely in form—ranging from traditional dormitories to apartment-style residences, townhouses, or single-family homes leased by students. The applicability of the IRC to these housing types depends on the building’s classification and the codes adopted by the jurisdiction. Here’s how the IRC may apply:

  • Types of Student Housing Potentially Covered by the IRC: 
    • Townhouse-style student housing: If campus housing is designed as townhouses (attached single-family units, each with its own entrance and not exceeding three stories), the IRC directly applies. For example, a row of townhouses built for student families or upperclassmen could fall under IRC requirements.
    • Single-family or duplex housing: Some campuses offer detached homes or duplexes for graduate students, faculty, or student families. These structures typically fall under the IRC’s scope.
    • Small-scale apartment conversions: In some cases, colleges may convert single-family homes or small multi-unit buildings (originally designed as one- or two-family dwellings) into student housing. If these buildings retain their original residential character, the IRC may govern renovations or maintenance.
  • Limitations of IRC Applicability: 
    • Dormitories and larger apartment buildings: Most college dormitories and multi-unit apartment-style residences (e.g., buildings with shared corridors or multiple units per floor) are classified as Group R-2 occupancies under the International Building Code (IBC), not the IRC. The IBC applies to residential buildings with more than two dwelling units or those exceeding the IRC’s height and size limits (e.g., more than three stories). Since many campus residence halls are multi-story buildings with numerous units, they typically fall under the IBC.
    • Mixed-use buildings: Some student housing includes commercial or institutional spaces (e.g., dining halls, study lounges, or administrative offices). These buildings are also governed by the IBC due to their mixed-use nature.
    • Institutional occupancies: Certain student housing, such as supervised living facilities for students with special needs, may be classified as Group I (Institutional) occupancies under the IBC, not the IRC. 
  • Key IRC Provisions Relevant to Student Housing: When the IRC applies to student housing (e.g., townhouses or single-family homes), it ensures safety, habitability, and efficiency through provisions such as:
    • Structural safety: Requirements for foundations, walls, roofs, and seismic or wind resistance, ensuring buildings can withstand environmental loads.
    • Fire safety: Specifications for fire-resistant construction, smoke alarms, and egress (e.g., windows and stairways), critical for student safety in densely occupied residences.
    • Energy efficiency: Insulation, window, and HVAC standards to reduce energy costs, which is important for sustainable campus operations.
    • Plumbing and electrical systems: Standards for safe water supply, sanitation, and electrical wiring to support student living needs.
    • Accessibility: Basic accessibility requirements for individuals with disabilities, though the IRC’s accessibility provisions are less stringent than the IBC’s or federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 
  • Jurisdictional Variations:
    • Colleges and universities operate within local building code jurisdictions, which may adopt the IRC, IBC, or a combination with local amendments. For example, a rural campus with townhouse-style student housing might fall under a jurisdiction that enforces the IRC, while an urban campus with high-rise dorms would likely follow the IBC.
    • Some states or localities exempt public institutions (like state universities) from local codes, instead requiring compliance with state-specific standards or the IBC. Private colleges are typically subject to local codes.
    • Campuses may also need to comply with federal regulations (e.g., ADA, Fair Housing Act) or campus-specific design standards, which can supplement or override IRC requirements. 
  • Practical Considerations for Colleges:
    • Cost and design: The IRC is often less stringent and costly to implement than the IBC, making it attractive for smaller-scale student housing projects like townhouses or single-family units. For budget-conscious institutions, IRC-compliant designs can be a cost-effective way to expand housing.
    • Student safety and density: College housing often accommodates more occupants than typical single-family homes, which may push buildings toward IBC classification. For example, a house leased to multiple students might require additional fire safety measures under the IBC or local ordinances if it’s reclassified as a boarding house or multi-unit dwelling.
    • Renovations and maintenance: For existing IRC-compliant buildings (e.g., older homes repurposed for student use), renovations must comply with the IRC or the International Existing Building Code (IEBC), depending on the extent of work. 
  • Challenges and Trends:
    • High-density housing needs: Modern campuses often prioritize high-density residence halls to accommodate large student populations, which typically fall under the IBC. The IRC’s focus on low-rise, single-family structures makes it less relevant for these projects.
    • Sustainability: Colleges increasingly aim for LEED certification or net-zero energy goals. While the IRC includes energy efficiency standards, campuses may adopt stricter sustainability requirements that align with the IBC or institutional policies.
    • Off-campus housing: Some students live in off-campus rentals (e.g., single-family homes or small apartment buildings) that may fall under the IRC. Colleges may work with local authorities to ensure these properties meet safety standards, indirectly involving the IRC.

2024 / 2025 / 2026 Code Development: Group A (2024)

The International Residential Code is relevant to student housing on college campuses primarily when the housing consists of one- and two-family dwellings or townhouses not exceeding three stories, such as family housing or small-scale student residences. However, most campus housing—especially dormitories and multi-unit apartment buildings—falls under the International Building Code (IBC) due to its scale, occupancy, or design. 

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