#Clerestory September 8

by Coach4aday · September 7, 2026

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September 2026 several of us are going to take on the 30-Day Architectural Coach4aday Challenge each day, we will define an architectural term and provide examples of where it is located. This challenge will let observation, travel, history, and photography all intersect. For Day 8 it is CLERESTORY windows.

At First Presbyterian Church in Lumberton, there is a building called the Fellowship Hall. Essentially, it is a gymnasium with a stage along one side. High above the floor are a series of windows that I have seen countless times.

This challenge has taught me the architectural name for them. They are called clerestory windows—windows positioned high on a wall to bring natural light into a large interior space.

Who knew those windows I had looked at for years actually had a name?

Here is a photo of those windows at the Fellowship Hall.

30-Day Architectural Challenge Guidelines

If you have ever watched Seinfeld, you know that George Constanza always wanted to pretend to be an architect.

Well, this month’s challenge let’s all of us that are not architects learn a little more about their language. To do that we have a simple challenge.

Every day we’ll learn one architectural term. Your challenge is to find an example—preferably one you’ve actually seen—and share a photograph, location and brief explanation.

Day 8-Clerestory

There is a specific reason that this architectural feature is found in gymnasiums/fellowship halls. It is to provide natural light high above the floor without sacrificing wall space or privacy.

During my career as a basketball coach there would be times I would at a game or practice where the sun would be blinding. Here are some reasons why that was happening

The windows face east or west, allowing low morning or afternoon sun to enter at a shallow angle.
The windows have large panes of clear glass without shades or blinds.
The gym has a highly reflective floor, such as polished hardwood, which can amplify glare.
The building’s design did not account for the sun’s seasonal path.

Here is the Speidel Gym at Elmira College that had lots of windows