Funding body: Technology Strategy Board (2012-2014).
Principal Investigator (at Kent): Prof Marialena Nikolopoulou
Co-Investigators: Dr Richard Watkins, Dr Keith Bothwell and Dr Girdharan Renganathan
Research Associate: Alkis Kotopouleas
Partners: University of Kent Estates Department, Hawkins/Brown Architects, Arup
Summary
The aim was to evaluate the energy performance and user satisfaction of the Jarman Building School of Arts, a 2,500m2 floor area, three-storey building, conceived as a flexible area for the varied uses in the School; the Departments of Drama, Films and Visual Arts.
The zinc-clad building is constructed with blockwork cavity walls, a heavyweight steel structure and exposed pre-cast concrete soffits internally providing thermal mass, allowing natural ventilation and passive cooling. The aim was to maximise use of passive means of design. The ventilation strategy has a particularly important influence on energy use; challenging given the external noise intrusion and noise break-out in the School. Except for certain internal rooms, natural ventilation is used in all teaching, office, circulation and social spaces, as well as the dance, drama and arts studios, where high internal heat loads and deep plan spaces normally prohibit its use. This was made possible through the use of low-level acoustic openings, combined with chimneys that harness the stack effect and prevailing winds to drive the airflow. Shading these spaces from direct sunlight and making use of exposed thermal mass, it has been possible to control heat gains passively, without the need for mechanical cooling.