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Environmental Preservation And Innovation Centre (EPIC)
The EPIC, located in the Seremban’s Waste Eco Park, is the brainchild of the
nation’s largest toxic waste collection and an integrated environmental solutions company. Amidst modern technological advancements, one of the key aspects at the heart of environmental sustainability is energy—how we extract it from our environment, how much we use and how to sustain it as our demand increases. Thus, the centre is a research and training institution, providing a platform to cultivate collaboration with major industries to develop innovative and reliable solutions for a complete spectrum of waste management and renewable energy.
Seemingly carved out of the very rocks it stands on, the EPIC’s design was inspired by the terrain upon which it was built. The team sought to create aspects of the building structure to reflect the importance of both Mother Earth and the minds that will come to heal her. Allowable by site terrain, one of the major understated design integration features is to partially embed the building into the ground to reduce heat gain, thus requiring less energy to cool the building mechanically.
The centre was built in two parts—the building emerges to form a hanging floating structure as visitors approach the main entrance. Where the building is anchored into its terrain, the team has designed a multi-purpose auditorium that cantilevers outwards and opens up to allow for a panoramic and telescopic view of the surrounding natural greenery. The administrative and management division of the building is an upward extension of its rooted anchor.
The project’s basis of construction espoused Green technologies from concept to completion, targeting GBI Platinum rating with a minimum of 45 per cent energy reduction as compared to a typical base building as defined by ASHRAE standards. The expected Building Energy Intensity (BEI) as defined by Malaysia Green Building Index is estimated to be 87.9kWh/m²/year.
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Some of the integrated key features to achieve high energy efficiencies with a lowered BEI include On Grid Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system, providing up to a total of 41.62kWp of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) to promote Green energy use and to supply continuous electricity to the building during daytime. A total of 161 PV panels are installed on the RC flat roof. The BIPV system is to generate approximately 10.6 per cent electricity per annum when the building is running at the maximum full load condition. Other Green features include EMS monitoring system; bioswale; grey water recycling; turbine ventilation; and an incorporation of recycled materials in the building’s construction. The rainwater and grey water harvesting features have capacities to provide for 100 per cent of irrigation requirements for the entire site. All the Green building features integrated into the centre’s design are meant to create a platform where research and innovation can converge to form an exemplary model for a more sustainable future.
COMFORTABLE, PRODUCTIVE AND HEALTHY INDOOR WORKING CONDITIONS The EPIC was designed with the wellness of its occupants in mind. Tucked at the fringe of a forest reserve, its architecture took full advantage of the view of its natural surroundings, harvesting natural daylight into all habitable spaces. The EPIC’s passive design strategies include having all glazed areas provided with sufficient shading to prevent heat gain from direct sunlight. This also improves the indoor environment by reducing eyestrain while providing a visual connection to the outdoors. There is natural ventilation in areas such as office corridors at level one, the cafeteria at the lower ground and other common areas to be cooled by the combination of fan and cool air-spill from adjacent air-conditioned spaces. The air-flow system was also designed to increase fresh air intake. By utilising fan, turbine exhaust and shading, all major circulation and breakout areas are naturally ventilated; only the workspaces and training rooms
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