T4a: Project Related Study: Technological Report
Candidate: Damien Mc Gonigle
Candidate No: 08/1/8130
Date: September 2010
Contents 1. Introduction 2. Performance Objectives 3. Environmental Issues & Solutions 4. Materials: Structural and Finishes 5. Conclusion 6. Bibliography
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Introduction
The Liberties Is a portion of the South West Inner City of Dublin which has a mixed use character and a strong sense of physical and social identity. By the 1990s the area had suffered from lack of investment, rationalization of industry and the loss of a middle-income population. Concentrations of social disadvantage within the area have contributed to its poor image. Despite this image the area retains a rich archaeological, historical and architectural heritage as well a strong sense of community. The sense of community has suffered however in recent years with the introduction of new developments. Life in the Liberties has become fragmented with the lack of interaction between the traditional residents, and those of the gated new developments. The dance centre is designed to facilitate the professional contemporary dancer through the provision of rehearsal spaces, and will also act as a centre for community outreach with public dance programmes. The building is designed to engage the public with the medium of dance, creating communication and interaction similar to that experienced daily between the street markets vendors and the public. In this report I explore the technologies, methods and materials which will contribute to the success of this project as sustainable cultural amenity which interacts with its users and surroundings and enhances the daily life in the Liberties with a minimal effect on the environment.
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Performance Objectives
The performance objectives of the dance centre stem from the concept of creating a building which interacts and communicates with those who use it. Like the interaction between market vendor and the public, the building shall connect with its environment in a positive manner with minimal negative impact. The building aims to achieve this through a combination of sustainable materials and construction methods. In instances where the required performance cannot be met by natural means, sustainable technologies will be utilised. The materials used will be locally sourced, and in some cases reclaimed in an effort to cut down on the impact of embodied energy in the product. The construction methods employed are intended to accelerate the build and reduce the impact on the locale. The choice of materials and technologies for the dance centre will also take into account the requirements of the user. This will include the provision of diffused natural lighting, natural heating and ventilation, sound insulation to studio spaces, and floors suitable for performance. The performance objective is ultimately to create a healthy natural building which integrates with its surroundings and reduces the impact on the environment.
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Environmental Issues & Solutions
Lighting
Lighting is a key feature in any building. A good lighting strategy can have a positive affect on all spaces. The dance studios in particular can benefit from the use of natural lighting as a means of relaxing participants. Concentration is a key element in relation to the rehearsal and performance of a professional dancer, or a novice taking part in a group. Whilst the provision of good natural light is key to the enjoyment of the space and activity, care must be taken to avoid creating distractions, such as large windows opening on to busy streets and thoroughfares.
For this reason the daylighting strategy for the studios will consist predominately of toplighting and above eye-level lighting. The building façade which fronts onto the busy Thomas Street would benefit from providing semi-opaque glazing. This element will solve a twofold purpose. It will provided diffused natural light without creating a distraction for the dancer, and will offer the street user an intriguing glimpse of the performance within, thus encouraging local participation and interaction with the building. Toplighting will be achieved by referencing the double gabled Dutch Billy form which was once common throughout the Liberties area. The studios are to be located on the top floor and will be directly lit in this way. There also exists the opportunity to utilise these elements via lightwells which will serve the levels below.
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Sun & Shadow Diagram – Summer
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Sun & Shadow Diagram – Winter
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Schematic showing natural lighting strategy
Natural lighting will not provide all lighting to the building and will require supplementary help from an electrical lighting system. A more environmentally friendly approach to electrical lighting can be achieved using measures to reduce electricity consumption. This can be achieved in various ways, from the choice of luminaire, their location, and the introduction of a building management system which is automated and controlled based on current daylight factors. Light sources can be maximised by the choice of materials and finish applied to the building internally. Selection of surface finishes and textures which can reflect light internally combined with good spatial design can enhance the lighting effect, and ultimately the user experience.
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Henley Rowing Museum, David Chipperfield. Use of toplighting in pitched section
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Visual Arts Centre Carlow, by Terry pawson . Opaque Glazing
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Heating & Ventilation
The heating of the building is provided through the use of direct and indirect solar gains, and is supplemented seasonally by an energy efficient condenser boiler. The location of the building in an urban site precludes the use of a ground source heat pump coil, while bored heat sink pumps are not seen as being cost effective. Direct solar gain will be harnessed at roof level in the shape of active solar panels. Given the scale of the building the solar panel output will be used solely for the buildings hot water requirements. The building sits on a North/South axis. The south and west elevations offer opportunities for solar gain through glazing elements. As the building will be of a highly insulated nature, these gains can be harnessed for heating and ventilation purposes. A south facing atrium will be utilised for this purpose. Studio 2 which will back onto the atrium will be separated from the daytime gains by a concrete buffer wall. This in turn will release heat at night acting in much the same manner as a trombe wall. The use of an exposed concrete slab and panels throughout the building enables the offsetting of radiant gains during the day which are released when temperatures drop at night. The studio spaces are located away from south facing facade to promote thermal comfort while activity takes place.
Night
Day
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Schematic showing heating and ventilation strategy
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Passive stack ventilation is used to control temperature and cool the building. This system of natural convection operates on basic climatic conditions. As air warms within the space it becomes less dense and rises. Automated air vents located at external wall locations provide a supply of cool air based on the conditions inside and the process is repeated. It is imperative that the air inlets are attenuated to meet sound requirements as is outlined further on in this document. This system is utilised by Scott Tallon Walker Architects in their recent scheme at St. Patricks Place, Cork, which received the RIAI Best Sustainable Project 2010.
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Environmental Strategy, St. Patricks Place, Cork, by Scott Tallon Walker Architects
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Sound
Sound is an integral part of the medium of dance. Music is more often than not used as an accompaniment to the movement. For this reason control of sound within a dance studio space is important. Given the urban location of the building, in particular its setting on the busy Thomas Street, noise will ultimately be a key consideration. The main studio / performance area faces on to Thomas Street. Due to the concept design and daylighting requirements this studio will include a glazed ope onto the street. Windows can be the weakest point in the faรงade so it is essential for the success of the space that the glazing meets a specific requirement for noise reduction. This can be achieved using a product such as Pilkington Optilam, glazing with a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) which enhances the performance of the glazing unit. The specification can achieve noise reductions for vehicular traffic quite easily.
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Thomas Street, view from East
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Entrance Archway to site
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Pilkington Optilam Glazing
As well as reducing noise from external factors, the building must also ensure that noise transmission within the building itself does not occur. As both studios are located on the same level there exists the opportunity for concurrent programmes to run in both spaces. It is important that no sound bleeding occurs between both spaces. The simplest way of achieving this is to create a buffer space between both studios. The walls of the space will be of solid construction to maximise noise reduction. The floor construction will also play a key role in this. As the structure of the floor slab will be a continuous concrete base there exists the potential for flanking noise transmission. This is noise which travels between rooms via an indirect source. The spatial buffer between the studios will reduce this effect. This combined with the sprung floor construction of the studio floors will ensure that any floor impact and its subsequent knock-on impact on the floor is minimal. Adequate sound protection from circulation and warm-up spaces is also required as these are essentially social spaces and will have experience high levels of foot traffic. Floor treatment will be the same as in the studios for the areas adjacent these. Wall construction will be of a lightweight make-up with a noise reducing insulation infill. The design of these noise reducing elements will be carried out in consultation with an acoustic engineer.
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Detail of sprung timber floor
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Flanking sound transmission diagram
Water
Water is essential for life. Buildings also share this need for water. By evaluating the building’s water use a strategy can be formulated to reduce the amount of water consumed. Water can be divided into potable and non-potable uses. This in turn can be examined and methods developed for the consumption of each. Simple methods to directly reduce consumption such as low or dual flush toilets can be implemented quite easily. Other measures such as flush sensors on urinals can reduce the amounts of water used, or wasted. Given the urban setting of the site it does not appear feasible to use greywater filtering systems such as reed beds. Instead the focus is on rainwater collection at site. Surface water will be collected from roof areas and stored in subterranean tanks. A sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) will be utilised for the hard paving areas in the external public space. This can take the form of permeable paving and collection pipes which can distribute the excess to planted areas and a filtered harvesting tank. Filtered surface water can be reused throughout the building for flushing toilets, etc. thus reducing the consumption of fresh water, and reducing the volumes on public drains.
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Materials: Structural and Finishes
Structural
When examining the structure of the building one is first presented with the dilemma of which method to use. Traditionally the choice comes down to steel or concrete. Steel tends to be viewed as an unsustainable building product due to the high embodied energy associated with it. Brian Edwards however makes the argument that through the recycling of steel the embodied energy can be spread over generations thus reducing the overall impact. In my research I have decided to use concrete as my main structure. There are several products available at present which reduce the carbon output of standard concrete. Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag (GGBS) is used in lieu of portland cement. GGBS is a byproduct of the steel industry and is almost white in colour. The product is currently available in over 70% of Irish concrete batching plants. The selection of concrete also allows greater scope when employing thermal massing as a method of passive heating in the building. This material is utilised by Scott Tallon Walker Architects in their recent scheme at St. Patricks Place, Cork, which received the RIAI Best Sustainable Project 2010.
As the concrete structure is acting in its capacity as a thermal massing element, much of this structure will remain exposed within the building. GGBS is white in colour and as such can achieve a much lighter appearance than standard Portland cement mixes. A high quality finish can be obtained with the use of heavy duty overlay plywood as shuttering. The product comprises a phenolic resin- impregnated cellulose fibre sheet bonded to the surface of the plywood, and is not in make up particularly environmentally friendly. However this shuttering can be re-used up to approximately 50 times making it a sustainable method for formworking.
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GGSB concrete, Dept. of Finance, Merrion Row, Dublin, by Grafton Architects.
Brick Brick is synonymous with the character of Dublin City, and features on many buildings along Thomas Street. Whilst not recognised as a sustainable building product, the use of reclaimed brick on portions of the building is considered. Recycled brick is readily available, and with the use of a lime mortar, has the potential for re-use in the future. The relatively high embodied energy component of brick can be offset by its versatility, and long life cycle. It can be utilised in structural solutions. It also possesses good thermal massing properties, and as mentioned can be recycled easily. These properties combined with it’s aesthetic and tactile qualities make reclaimed brick a viable material choice.
Timber Timber will be used in the dance centre on the north and west facades of the building. Timber is a highly desirable building product. Timber can only be considered sustainable when extracted from forests which are maintained using proper forestry practices. Such forests minimise the threat to natural habitats by practicing proper management and conservation. Wood from these sustainable forests are certified by the Forest Stewardship
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Council (FSC) only after they are satisfied that their place of origin is run to the FSC’s stringent principles. Coillte maintains sustainable forests in Ireland and operates a nature conservation strategy for its estates meeting the requirements of FSC Certification. The preferred finish for the cladding is larch. This depends however on the ability to source FSC accredited larch locally in an effort to maintain a low embodied energy factor. Larch is a moderately durable timber with good impact resistance, and requires no preservative treatment, eliminating chemicals and reducing health and pollution risks.
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Larch cladding at Monaghan Wetlands Centre, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, by Solearth Architects
Conclusion The performance of the building and the enjoyment of the user is dependent on attaining the highest possible standards in construction. This can be achieved through the combination of technology and sustainable building products and methods. The design of the dance centre aims to strike a balance between the building and nature which will minimise its impact on the local and global environment. The selection of materials in both the structure and the finish make best use modern methods, recycled material, locally sourced, and renewable resources. These elements combined contribute to a healthy building, and ultimately a dance centre that integrates with its surroundings, and the Liberties community as a whole.
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Bibliography Space for Dance. An architectural Design Guide. Leslie Armstrong & Roger Morgan, (Publishing Centre for Cultural Resources, 1984) The Green Studio Handbook – Environmental Strategies for Schematic Design G. Kwok, A. and Grondzik, W. T. (Architectural Press; Oxford, 2007) Big and Green, Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century Gissen, D. (Princeton Architectural Press; New York, 1st ed, 2002) Ten Shades of Green – Architecture and the Natural World. Peter Buchanan (The Architectural League of New York) A Rough Guide to Sustainability Edwards, B (RIBA Publishing;2010 ) Energy Efficient Architecture Roberto Gonzalo / Karl J. Habernmann (Birkhauser) Ecocem – Architectural Factsheet [Online] Retrieved on 16th July 2010 from: http://www.ecocem.ie/index.php?p=architectural&PHPSESSID=84e2424d4a73ea4fef4c5242d5bb79d3
National dance Teachers Association - Advice & Information - Dance Studio Specification [Online] Retrieved on 28th August 2010 from: http://www.ndta.org.uk/advice-information/dance-studio-specification/
National dance Teachers Association - Advice & Information - Dance Studio Specification [Online] Retrieved on 28th August 2010 from: http://www.ndta.org.uk/advice-information/dance-studio-specification/
Bedzed, by Chris Twinn, The Arup Journal, 1/2003 [Online] Retrieved on 16th July 2010 from: http://www.arup.com/_assets/_download/download68.pdf
Author: Lenny Anonelli Year of Publication: 2009 Title of Article: Walking on WaterMonaghan Wetlands Centre Title of Journal: Construct Ireland-For a Sustainable Future Volume Number: Volume 4 Issue No/Date: Issue 6. March 2009 Page numbers: 24 - 31
Author: Professor J. Owen Lewis Year of Publication: 2010 Title of Article: Manitoba Hydro Place, Winnipeg Title of Journal: Construct Ireland-For a Sustainable Future Volume Number: Volume 5 Issue No/Date: Issue 2. July 2010 Page numbers: 22- 25
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Sourced by author of report
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David Shipperfield Architects th
[Online] Retrieved on 11 August 2010 from:
http://www.davidchipperfield.co.uk/ v
Visual Arts Centre Carlow
th [Online] Retrieved on 11 August 2010 from:
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Sourced by author of report
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Scott Tallon Walker Architects. St. Patrick's Place Development, Cork / Sustainability
th [Online] Retrieved on 17 August 2010 from:
http://www.stwarchitects.com/project-sustainability.php?p=05121 viii
Photo image by author of report
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Photo image by author of report
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Pilkington Group. Pilkington Optiphon: Noise Control
th [Online] Retrieved on 30 August 2010 from:
http://www.pilkington.com/europe/uk+and+ireland/english/products/bp/bybenefit/noisecontrol/optiphon/d efault.htm xi
Sourced by author of report
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Grafton Architects nd
[Online] Retrieved on 2
September 2010 from:
http://www.graftonarchitects.ie/work/projects/project.php?resource_id=541&image_id=587 xiv
Solearth Architects nd
[Online] Retrieved on 2
September 2010 from:
http://www.solearth.com/pages/projcivic.htm
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