Thinking Green:Layout 1 01/07/2009 16:27 Page 51
thinking green
“The ground floor rooms were to be
mechanically ventilated, but the Academy
wanted the first floor rooms to be
naturally ventilated. However, as the
envelope of the building was minimal and
the faculties’ classrooms, science
laboratories and meeting rooms have
glazed walls looking into the atrium to
maximise daylight, we could not use any
of the internal vertical surfaces to
introduce natural ventilation.
“We needed to find another way to
Drawing fresh air into the classrooms.
bring fresh air by natural ventilation into
the first floor and decided to use
Windcatchers systems since they were
Reap the wind
able to provide natural ventilation from a
sustainable source, namely the wind, and
they could easily be installed through the
C
ORBY Business Academy, a £23m Academy to control the systems, four roof slabs on the first floor.”
secondary school specialising in automatic temperature control panels
business and enterprise, houses a cover the 34 zones within the building’s Any direction
mix of classrooms, business boardrooms, first floor, allowing the Windcatchers to Windcatchers encapsulate the wind from
a performance theatre, hydrotherapy be linked to the building’s overall building any direction and use the natural wind
pool, and restaurant on two floors, management system. movement to introduce clean, fresh air
enclosed within self-contained atrium taken from above roof level. The prevailing
hubs that maximise natural light and Clean ceiling line wind pressure pushes a fresh air supply
ventilation and reduce energy Factors influencing the specification of through the system down into the
consumption. the building included a very tight carbon building below. This tends to slightly
Natural ventilation Windcatchers, footprint, as much natural ventilation as pressurise the space forcing out warmer
mounted on the roof to draw fresh air possible and a proviso that the ventilation stale air, which rises naturally to ceiling
into the classrooms and other spaces, units should have minimal visual impact on level and out through the leeward side of
were among the energy saving features the building. Since the architects did not the roof mounted Windcatcher.
chosen by the architects Foster + want to see any trunking or obstruction Natural buoyancy also plays an important
Partners. Thirty-three units were on the ceiling where the Windcatcher part since warm air will always rise to
installed to serve every internal ventilation grilles terminated, the volume ceiling level. Being linked to temperature
classroom, teaching space and meeting control dampers had to be located above sensors, the volume control dampers in
room on the first floor of the building. roof level with an access panel, in order the ceiling regulate both the incoming air
This means that almost 50% of the to produce a clean ceiling line. supply as well as controlling the exit.
educational space is served by the The layout of the building was a major
natural ventilation systems, which were influence in the specification says Foster
www.monodraught.com
provided by Monodraught. To enable the + Partners associate Graeme Laughlan.
Naturalistic in appearance
and self-sustaining
F
OLLOWING comprehensive
consultation with the community, staff,
parents and pupils, Sunderland City
Council developed a clear idea of how the
new Washington School should make a bold
architectural statement whilst remaining
sympathetic to the local landscape.
The subsequent 5,256 sqm green roof
installation is one of the largest in the
Northeast. For main contractors Balfour
Beatty, the specification of a green roof
was a carefully considered design option
that maintained the school’s long-term
Green roof at Washington School.
vision for a healthy, comfortable learning
environment and, in its construction, Horticultural Consultants will grow and can also help to reduce local ambient
incorporated a number of solutions develop to be naturalistic in appearance temperatures, filter out air-pollution and
designed to address the climate change and self-sustaining. Green roofs offer a assist with rainwater management.
issues that will impact most heavily on number of ecological and building
the next generation. performance benefits and provide a suitable
www.greenroof.co.uk
The roof installed by Blackdown habitat for plants and wildlife. Green roofs
edbmagazine.co.uk 51
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