[@shylarah] Workrooms did have better lighting. It's more the living quarters that aren't 100% comfortable 100% of the time. The Seminary was inspired by Lanostran training academies in this regard. 

It was more the constant sound of the machinery that bothered Ragnar. He grew up in a particularly desolate region of Muraad, which itself is pretty desolate, so that's telling you something :p.