High Performing Buildings - Spring 2009 - (Page 20) This interior view of the atrium shows the back of the blades shading the space. Windows separate the atrium from the office spaces to allow daylight. The natural ventilation system uses motorized inlets and outlets in the atrium (left). Multistory skylights (center) and operable windows in the office spaces (right) enhance ventilation and daylighting. reduction of 17% of the outside air requirements in the occupied space. Thermally, this translates with higher return air temperature, reducing cooling loads since more sensible and less latent cooling is required at the coil. Many verifications of underfloor airtightness were made to ensure construction quality and limit leakage, ensuring adequate ventilation and air conditioning in all spaces. By opting for this type of air distribution, future repurposing of the spaces is simplified, and there is no duct to consider. Heating/Cooling The heating and cooling of the spaces is mainly done with fluidbased radiant ceiling slabs. These systems have reduced power needs for the transportation of heat and cold compared to air-based systems. Additionally, all of the exposed areas of the slabs are radiant emitters that help maintain the fluid temperature required to heat and cool the space very close to the actual room temper20 HigH Performing ature (more active surfaces, less temperature differential needed). This enables a low-temperature heating loop and helps prevent condensation when cooling. The slab also acts as a thermal mass, storing energy and reducing the peak heating and cooling loads, delaying them until 12 hours later. Since the ventilation is an underfloor system and the indoor architectural design called for exposed ceilings, the piping was installed in the lower portion of the 12-in. slabs to better c e n t r a l t h e r m a l p l a n t ( day t i m e w i n t e r m o d e ) Buildings spring 2009 Photo © Beauchamp-Bourbeau
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