Case Study Report

Case Study Report
School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) ,Singapore King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
Lau JehFarn 165538 and YeapLiSa 165539 ARC 4630 Sustainable Development Theories & Issues University Putra Malaysia Department of Architecture
Lau Jeh Farn & YeapLiSa
Abstract
Abstract
This report analyses and compares two selected case study projects that have applied sustainable design principles. One of the case study projects selected must be located in tropical climate region except in Malaysia while the other must be located in cold or temperate climate region. The nature of the selected case study projects are educational building typology thus the School of Art, Design and Media (AMD) of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia were chosen. Both projects were certified by Building Performance Assessment Systems (BPAS); NTUs AMD is a Green Mark Platinum certified project while KAUST is a LEEDs Platinum certified project. Sustainable design strategies of these projects are studied and not limited just to environmental aspects but including social and economic aspects which embodies the triple bottom line of sustainability. "Bill of Rights for the Planet" or known as "Hannover Principles that was presented EXPO 2000 by William McDonough is a model of the new design principles necessary for sustainability that was adopted by World Congress of the International Union of Architects (UIA) in June 1993 at the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) Expo 93 in Chicago. AIA and UIA signed a "Declaration of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future." The declaration stated that today's society is degrading its environment and that the AIA, UIA, and their members are committed to: Placing environmental and social sustainability at the core of practices and professional responsibilities Developing and continually improving practices, procedures, products, services, and standards for sustainable design Educating the building industry, clients, and the general public about the importance of sustainable design Working to change policies, regulations, and standards in government and business so that sustainable design will become the fully supported standard practice Bringing the existing built environment up to sustainable design standards (Sustainable By Design: Copenhagen Declaration, 2009) The selected projects are studies and reviewed based on how the sustainable design strategies used responds contextually and appropriateness of the strategies used. This report will provide valuable insight on how BPAS differ from the origins which will affect its evaluation emphasis and whether the strategies employed are suitable contextually.
Case Study Report: NTU-AMD & KAUST
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Abstract .............................................................................................................................................................. i Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................. ii Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Case Study I School of Art, Design and Media of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore ........................................ 2 1.1 Design intention/concept .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Site description/ site planning .................................................................................................................. 6 1.3 Sustainable Design Strategies .................................................................................................................. 8 1.4 Construction ............................................................................................................................................. 9 1.5 Operation &Maintenance ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.6 Post Occupancy ...................................................................................................................................... 11 1.7 Water management ................................................................................................................................. 12 1.8 Energy .................................................................................................................................................... 12 1.9 Material/ Resources ................................................................................................................................ 14 1.10 Indoor Environment Quality .................................................................................................................. 16 1.11 Performance/ Achievements/ Awards .................................................................................................... 17 2.0 Case Study II King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia ............................................ 18 2.1 Design intention/concept ........................................................................................................................ 19 2.2 Sustainable Design Strategies ................................................................................................................ 21 2.3 Site description/ site planning ................................................................................................................ 24 2.4 Construction ........................................................................................................................................... 24 2.5 Operation &Maintenance ....................................................................................................................... 25 2.6 Post Occupancy ...................................................................................................................................... 25 2.7 Water management ................................................................................................................................. 26 2.8 Energy .................................................................................................................................................... 27 2.9 Material/ Resources ................................................................................................................................ 29 2.10 Indoor Environment Quality .................................................................................................................. 30 2.11 Design adaptability for future use .......................................................................................................... 32 2.12 Performance/ Achievements/ Awards .................................................................................................... 33 2.12 Discussion .............................................................................................................................................. 35 3.0 Lessons Learned ....................................................................................................................................... 36 3.1 Similarities ............................................................................................................................................. 36 3.2 Difference ............................................................................................................................................... 36 3.3 Comparison ............................................................................................................................................ 37 3.4 Discussion .............................................................................................................................................. 38 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 40 Reference ......................................................................................................................................................... 41
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NTUs School of Art, Design and Media
Introduction
The notion of 'sustainability' emerged in the 1980s and has now become one of the key concepts for exploring the impact of human activity on the planet. At the Earth Summit, Agenda 21 (UN, 1992) it was first recognised that education, at all levels, had a crucial role to play in helping citizens understand and act on issues relating to the welfare of people and planet. The term 'education for sustainable development' (ESD) and 'education for sustainability' (EFS) then began to become part of educational vocabulary. Education would raise public awareness of the need to achieve sustainable development and inform people about what they ought to do individually, collectively and institutionally for the practical realisation of Agenda 21 objectives; hence, education at all levels is an essential tool for achieving sustainability. Since that, educational institutes have developed a more sustainable approach to managing educational environment and setting a green vision for the school. This can positively affect students' learning and benefits the school and the wider community. In addition, green design continues to gain momentum in the design of educational environments. With stretched capital and operational budgets, school organizations are looking to facilities to become more energy efficient in their daily operations. Educators are consistently interested in sustainable ideas that are not only environmentally responsible and good for the bottom line, but ultimately work hand-in-hand with the educational process. Daylighting is an important component in school design, and strategies that allow day lighting while controlling heat gain and glare will continue to creatively affect the planning of schools. Some schools are opting for green roofs to conserve water, control heat gain and expand educational spaces. Projects awarded in the program implement a wider range of sustainable ideas including day lighting, green roofs, natural ventilation, adaptive re-use of buildings, usage of recycled materials and responses to the local culture and traditions. In this case study report, the School of Art, Design and Media (AMD) of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia were analysed separately and then compared followed by a discussion derived from observation of the comparison. Then the report continues to determine the success of these educational institutions in raising public awareness on sustainability issues a part of being a sustainable project itself.
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1.0
CASE STUDY I: SCHOOL OF ART, DESIGN AND MEDIA NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Figure 1.0: Overview of the ADM building (School of Art, Designand Media Images, n.d.)
School of Art, Design and Media (SADM) is a 5-storeys teaching for Divisional Art, Design and Media inNanyang Technological University. The building is a combination of office, lecture theatre, library and auditorium. KEY PARAMETERS LOCATION: Singapore (at the mouth of the Singapore River on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula)
AD M
GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGE: 215,000 ft2 (20,000 m2)

Figure 2.1: NTUADM location map, Scale: N.T.S. (gothere, n.d.)
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COST: $36 million PROGRAM: Art gallery, auditorium, library, media labs, CGI labs, prototyping rooms, construction workshops, design studios, motion studios, lecture rooms, sound stage TEAM OWNER: Nanyang Technological University ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGNER: CPG Consultants LANDSCAPE: CPG Consultants ENGINEERS: CPG Consultants ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT: CPG Consultants GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Teambuild Construction SOURCES EXTERIOR CLADDING: Loose Stick by LHL International DOUBLE-GLAZED REFLECTIVE GLASS: LHL International PAINTS AND STAINS: Haruna Singapore WALLCOVERING: Echomaster by Siac Singapore CONVEYANCE: Mitsubishi energy saving VVVF & sleep mode function LIGHTING: recessed fluorescent interior and glare free exterior by Beta Lighting CHILLERS: Tranes EarthwiseCenTraVac PLUMBING: Rigel Technology
(Source:GreenSource, May 2009)
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1.1
DESIGN INTENTION/ CONCEPT
According to the master plan of the 200-hectare university campus, the site where the Nanyang Technological University School of Art, Design and Media (NTU-ADM) sits is a wooded valley which was supposed to be left as a green lung. In order to keep to the original intention of the master plan, the architect carved a habitat from the constraints of the valley and allowed the landscape to play a critical role in moulding the building. NTU-ADM is the creation of a non-building, allowing the original greenery of the site to creep and colonise. (CPG Consultants Pte Ltd, n.d.) As stated by DesignShare (2007), the design intentions of NTU-ADM are as described below. The unfolding arms of 2 blocks create a welcoming entry court to the school. (Figure 1.3 & Figure 1.4) The double volume entry porch provides a sheltered dropoff for cars which is a necessary feature in this tropical climate. A landscaped round-about in this entry court provides a soft contrast to the predominantly glass and concrete surfaces in this area.The neutral coloured walls and the expanse of space in the school is a suitable backdrop for students to display their creative works. From the foyer to the galleries, corridors and double volume spaces, tall columns and large walls, these provide endless opportunities for students' creativity and activities.The 450-seat auditorium is equipped with a large performance stage and support facilities and is the centre of the school. This is where students gather for lectures, talks, performances, debates and intellectual exchange. The high volume spaces, the use of glass walls and the fluidity of the interiors give a high level of transparency and visibility throughout the building. This quality helps a great deal to instil a sense of community to the staff and students.The organic shape of the building created by the 3 arms allows maximum frontages to the exterior. The various rooms provide extensive access for the students to visually and physically connect with the sunken plaza and the surrounding landscape.
Figure 3.3: First Floor Plan, Scale: N.T.S. (School of Art, Designand Media Images, n.d.)
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Figure 4.4: Site Plan, Scale: N.T.S. (School of Art, Designand Media Images, n.d.)
Owing to the intertwining forms of the building and the predominantly glass facade, there are ample opportunities for users to look out towards the surrounding landscape. The strong connections between indoor and outdoor vistas are evident from the sunken plaza at the basement to the turfed roofs at the top.A variety of spaces, some formal and some informal, both outdoor and indoor, are provided in the school as part of the overall design. These spaces provide opportunities for students' exhibition and display, students' interaction, play, study, creative thinking and quiet contemplation. There is always a sense of discovery as one wanders through the school. The glass cladded building allows daylight into the interiors. In the studios, the daylight helps to give true colour renderings for the students' works. Daylight that filters through the foliage and trees give a sense of calm to the users.The high performance glass facade cuts out the heat while letting in light into the interiors. This is to ensure that energy to run the air-conditioning of the building is reduced. The roofs which are entirely turfed with zoysiamatrella grass provide excellent insulation to the spaces below. A water retention mat below the light weight soil helps to give a constant supply of moisture for turf growth. Rain water is also collected from the roofs and channelled into a storage tank for irrigation of the turf. The building design is inspired by the rolling hills of the generally undulating topography and wooded environment of the campus. This sensitive execution of the form, together with the turfed roofs, helps to merge the building with the landscape.The school is located in the geographical heart of the 495-acre campus. Besides being an environmentally friendly building in that it sits quietly in the site, the turf roofs and the landscaped plaza have become a gathering space for other students in the campus, thereby promoting a sense of community. The school is designed with certain fluidity in its spatial organisation. The entrance foyer connects to secondary spaces like the double volume atrium outside the auditorium and staff rooms; galleries, studios and library. These spaces flow from one to the other with the transparency offered by glass walls.
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1.2
SITE DESCRIPTION/ SITE PLANNING
Figure 6.5: Annual Temperature Range of Singapore (GreenSource Images, 2009)
Figure 5.6: Annual Precipitation of Singapore (GreenSource Images, 2009)
NTU-ADM located within a typical tropical climate zone with high humidity and high rainfall throughout a year (Figure 1.5 & Figure 1.6). Therefore, thepresence or tropical climate dealt with by provision of central court for cooling, slopes roofs avoid and assist run off of rainwater. (ArjunHosakere, 2006) Besides that, the building designed to retain woodlands that existed previously, by providing green to the edge of the building and on the roof. The building response to the context made it appeared as a non-building building. (Figure 1.7)
Figure 7.7: Response to Climate and Context, Scale: N.T.S. (Site Analysis Report, 2006)
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Overall response to program can be seen in the language of the inter-relationship between interior and exterior spaces, and variation of interior spaces to form additional programs.The building has no zones in terms of spaces or gathering spaces, but zones exist in terms of activities like academics and recreation etc.Community spaces exist at different levels in the whole building. At the roof, a central court with a water feature, within the building at walkway opening that all serve as community spaces. (Figure 1.8)
Figure 8.8: Public Spaces, Scale: N.T.S. (Site Analysis Report, 2006)
Primary circulation is along the periphery of the building, for vehicular circulation, secondary circulation is mainly within the building along internal corridors and walkways that for alternate community spaces. (Figure 1.9)
Figure 9.9: Circulation, Scale: N.T.S. (Site Analysis Report, 2006)
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1.3
SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES
NTU-ADM which built in 2006 received the highest recognition, Platinum Green Mark Awards form Singapore Building and Construction Authority (BCA) under category existing non-residential building in 2011. NTU-ADM adopted best practices in environmental sustainability in terms of its significant energy and water savings per annum. The major areas of achievement for the ADM building were its energy savings of almost 120,000 kWh per year (enough to power 27 4-room HDB flats a year) and more than 1,170 cubic metres of water saved per annum (equivalent to the average water consumption of 5 4-room HDB flats a year), leading to lower operation and maintenance costs. The savings are due to the buildings energy and water efficient features which include its high-efficient lights with motion and photo-cell sensors, retrofitted airconditioning system as well as rainwater collection with rain sensors and irrigation system. The green roof and high performance glass as well as the use of carbon dioxide sensors in its air-handling units help to reduce energy used and maintain a healthy indoor air quality. (BCA Green Mark, n.d.) Besides the evidence of statistic, the passive design strategies that implemented in the project are the building is oriented with its facades facing north and south to minimize solar gain.The curved building is embracing a courtyard with water features and plants. The semiopencourtyard functions more than aesthetics and provides views; it helps to cooling down the environment of the building though the carrying of water vapours by cross ventilation. Besides that, the open courtyard also maximised the daylighting entering the space. (Nanyang Technological University Green Website, 2011)
Figure 10.10: Daylighting enter the space (School of ADM, 2006)
Figure 11.11: Courtyard of ADM (School of ADM, 2006)
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1.4
CONSTRUCTION
Figure 12.12: Daylighting enter the space (School of ADM, 2006)
NTU-ADM came into completion in 2006. The most challenging aspect of the project was the construction of the roof. Conventionally, a turfed roof requires soil as a growing medium and the extent of its coverage imposes heavy load on the building structure and foundations. At the onset, the architects devised a unique turfing system that allowed the grass to grow and thrive on a thin layer of lightweight volcanic stones and sand. The entire composite section was barely 150mm thick and it could incorporate a water absorbing mat that constantly provided moisture to the roots, thus reducing the need to water the grass frequently. A local landscape contractor, Tropical Environment Landscape, took up the challenge of installing the roof garden. It took them four months to complete the installation process, having faced two challenges; first keep the planting material light, and second, turf a roof that slopes as much as 45 degrees. Mr R.B Jickky, Director of Tropical Environment Landscape says, This project was challenging for us because of the steepness of the roof at ADM. This is probably the first time in Southeast Asia that a green roof with such a steep curve has been built. The groundwork done by the landscaping firm before the installation of this green roof included several months of experimenting with mock-ups with the use of limited water. The architects have designed the turf on the roof to be eco-friendly so that it can combat the hot and sunny Singapore weather with little water. The landscapers used a water mat that could absorb water during showers and release it during dry spells. The media used in this extensive roof, made in-house at Tropical Environment Landscape, had the property of absorbing moisture as well as draining extra water. One of the ingredients of this media was
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vermiculite, a lightweight material that absorbs water. To prevent the shearing of steep roof the landscapers have used additional bracings on the roof. A fine grass called Zoysia Matrella, usually used on golf courses, was chosen for this project. With its heavily matted root network, this grass forms a thick mat and is ideal for tropical weather. That it can withstand heavy downpour was the most important reason it was chosen by the architects and the landscape contractor. To take advantage of this green roof it was decided that part of it be made accessible to students. The grass roof of this project not only enhances its visual appeal but also creates a communal space for students to interact. At night, the building lights up like a lampshade and interior lighting streams through the glass curtain wall giving it an ethereal feel. It would not be out of place to call this building a gem in the forest. (Roof and Faade Asia, 2006) The structure of the roof cast in heavily ribbed reinforced concrete. (Figure 1.14) The installation of the roof structure required precise site coordination, a complicated scaffolding system, and accurate setting-out for such curvilinear structures. (Hoong Bee Lok, cited in GreenSource 2009)
Figure 13.14: ADM in Construction Stage (School of ADM, 2006)
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1.5
MAINTENANCE
Energy and water efficiency of ADM building leading to lower operation and maintenance costs. High efficiency discharge lights are adopted throughout the building. Motion and photo-cell sensors are installed in area such as toilet and corridor; thus, increased the lifespan of the fittings and further contribute to reduction of maintenance cost. Refrigerant leak detection system reduces the maintenance cost and auto condenser tube cleaning system automatically cleans the condensing pipes in the chiller & prevents the build-up of dirt in the pipes. This will help to maintain the efficiency of the chiller. The greenest feature of the ADM building, the green roof is covered with 100% extensive greenery. (Figure 1.15) Green roofs can extend the life of their supporting structure and substrates. By preventing direct solar impact on water-proofing membranes, for instance, a green roof protects against damage from ultraviolet radiation and from constant heating and cooling of the membrane. A vegetated roof can extend the life of a conventional roof by at least 20 years and reduce regular maintenance costs. (Paul Downtown, n.d.)
Figure 14.15: Green Roof extend the roof life expectancy compared to normal roof (School of ADM, 2006)
1.6
POST OCCUPANCY
Post occupancy evaluation (POE) is one of the assessment criteria in BCA Green Mark. POE has to conduct yearly in Green Mark certified building to assess buildings occupants satisfaction with the indoor environment condition (e.g. lighting, temperature, cleanliness, etc.). However, due to the limited resources can be found on neither internet nor book, there are no statistics and evidence show the performance ADM building in POE.
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1.7
WATER MANAGEMENT/ USAGE
Water efficiency is important in ADM and estimated more than 1,170 cubic metres of water saved per annum. (equivalent to the average water consumption of 5 4-room HDB flats a year) The savings are due to the buildings water efficient features which include its rainwater collection with rain sensors and irrigation system on the roof. The rain sensors are installed on the green roof to automate the irrigation process whereby irrigation is ceased when it rains. Besides that, rainwater from collection system is condensate to top up cooling tower. (Nanyang Technological University, 2011) Green roofs of ADM also contribute in stormwater management. (Figure 1.16) Green roofs can reduce the costs of dealing with the increase in peak rainfall events associated with climate change in Singapore by providing storm-water retention and slowing the run-off of rainfall. A fine grass called Zoysia Matrella, usually used on golf courses, was chosen as the vegetation of the green roof. With its heavily matted root network, this grass forms a thick mat and is ideal for tropical weather. That it can withstand heavy downpour was the most important reason it was chosen by the architects and the landscape contractor. (Roof and Faade Asia, 2006) In addition, retention and binding of contaminants (bird droppings or atmospheric pollution) can assist removal of harmful pollution from run-off into aquatic ecosystems.
Figure 15.16: Green roof contribute to storm water management (School of ADM, 2006)
1.8
ENERGY
The major areas of achievement for the ADM building were its energy savings of almost 120,000 kWh per year (enough to power 27 4-room HDB flats a year), leading to lower operation and maintenance costs. (Nanyang Technological University, 2011) The energy efficiency features include its high-efficient lights with motion and photocell sensors, retrofitted air-conditioning system as well as rainwater collection with rain sensors and irrigation system. The green roof and high performance glass as well as the use of carbon dioxide sensors in its air-handling units help to reduce energy used and maintain a healthy indoor air quality. The ADM green roof is 100% covered with extensive greenery. (Figure 1.17)Green roof systems are recognized as providing grater thermal performance and roof insulation for the buildings they are laid on. This is due the layer of growing medium, which is soil contained moisture and vegetation will act as good insulation layers. On a macro level, green roof could effectively mitigate the Urban Heat Island Effect. The Urban Heat Island effect is caused by the absorption and retention of solar heat in buildings and hard structures in highly urbanised cities resulting in the air temperature in such
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areas becoming significantly warmer than in the rural areas. This higher temperature means that the buildings in the city will need to increase the air-conditioning load and therefore uses more energy than otherwise would. This in turns discharges warm exhaust air from the airconditioners into the outdoor air thus aggravating the Urban Heat Island phenomenon. (Figure 1.18) On a macro level, the increase in energy consumption means that more fossilised fuel will be used to generate the extra electricity and this increases the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants which directly impact the issue of global warming and higher pollution level. The use of roof gardens has been proven to lower the surface temperature by as much as 30C and air temperature by about 4C in tropical conditions through a field test conducted in Singapore by a research team supported by National University of Singapore, National Parks Board and the Building and Construction Authority, Singapore. (Figure 1.19) These reductions in temperature are due mainly to the shading of the heat absorbing roof surfaces as well as the evapo-transpirational cooling effects of the plants in the roof gardens. The field test further confirmed that a roof garden can have significant reduction on both solar radiation absorbed by the roof and the resultant heat gain. (Michael Wong, n.d.).
Figure 17.17: Green roof of ADM (School of ADM, 2006)
Figure 16.18: A typical profile showing the Urban Heat Island effect on increasing air temperature in the city by as much 4C comparedto rural areas. (Michael Wong, n.d.)
Figure 18.19: Comparison of measured surface temperature of hard surfaces, soil surface without vegetation cover, and soil surface covered with different kinds of plants. (N.H. Wong et al. /Energy and Buildings 35, 2003).
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1.9
MATERIAL/ RESOURCES
NTU-AMD building came into completion in 2006. The main structural components such as roof beam and column is mainly made from concrete. The structure that supported the green roof is reinforced concrete cast in heavily ribbed pattern. (Figure 1.20)
Figure 19.20: Main structural components id AMD (School of ADM, 2006)
The glass faade is a curtain wall system supported by steel mullion in the inner side of the ADM building. The low-emissive double glazed glass faade provides a high performance building envelope that reduces solar gain and heat load while allowing the benefits of natural views and daylight into creative spaces. Low-E coating are thin, metal oxide layers to suppress radiative heat flow.Coatings are faced inside the gaps and gas added for reinforcingthermal insulation. (Figure 1.21) The glass walls provide a visual exchange between indoors and out allowing students and teachers to experience the building, the surrounding landscape and the interior plaza as fluid spaces. Diffused natural daylight is abundant throughout studios and classrooms, filtered through the surrounding foliage.
Figure 20.21: Low emissive double glazed faade of ADM (School of ADM, 2006)
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Finishes are intentionally raw to act as a backdrop for the art, media and design projects. (Figure 1.22) Concrete walls and columns, cement-sand screeded floors, timber railings and a neutral palette define the interior spaces which vary in shape and size. This amazing design seems to offer a new experience at every elevation or perspective fulfilling the intent that a school for art should inspire creativity. The minimize use of materials and finishes providing resiliency and an unprecious canvas for students to express their creativity. (Hoong Bee Lok, cited in GreenSource 2009)
Figure 21.22: Raw finishes appearance of ADM (School of ADM, 2006)
Planted grasses on the rooftop, Zoysia Matrella, usually used on golf courses, mix with native greenery to colonize the building and bond it to the setting. (Figure 1.23) With its heavily matted root network, this grass forms a thick mat and is ideal for tropical weather. That it can withstand heavy downpour was the most important reason it was chosen by the architects and the landscape contractor. (Roof and Faade Asia, 2006)
Figure 22.23: Zoysia Matrella, which is usually used on golf courses, is introduced on the ADM green roof (School of ADM, 2006)
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1.10 INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QAULITY

To achieve good indoor environment quality, active equipment carbon dioxide censors in air-handling units will monitor the content of carbon dioxide in the ADM building and ensure optimum fresh air intake throughout the day. This will maintain the good indoor air quality of ADM building. (Nanyang Technological University, 2011) Besides that, roof vegetation can improve the air quality by acting as a filter to trap airborne dust particles. In a study carried out in Frankfurt, Germany, streets without trees were noted to have an air pollutant count of 10,000 to 20,000 dirt particles per litre of air compared to one with trees in the same neighbourhood where only 3,000 particles per litre of air were noted A higher temperature at roof level tends to create a thermal draft drawing up dust particles from street level. Roof greening has been found to be effective in moderating the thermal draft by reducing the temperature differences between rooftop and street level. As the formation of smog is highly sensitive to air temperatures; thus, the higher the temperature, the greater the concentration of smog. In a field test conducted in Los Angeles, it was noted that the concentration of smog measured as low atmospheric ozone is below national standard at temperatures below 21C. However at temperatures of about 35C, all days are smoggy. Cooling the city by about 5C would have a dramatic impact on smog concentration. (Michael Wong, n.d.). Plants through the photosynthesis process can absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere, thus improving the air quality. About 155m2 of planted surface area will produce enough oxygen for one person for 24 hours (Kuhn, 1996). Power generation and air-conditioning collectively can contribute to the emission of about 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person per year in a highly urbanised city state like Singapore (WWF, 1999). With roof gardens reducing the surface and air temperature thereby lowering the air conditioning load, the emission of carbon dioxide can be cut back by as much as 2%. (Akbari et al., 1990). The full height glass faade may face the problem of glare during sunny day. Therefore, the sun roller shade is integrated in the curtain wall system to manually control the level of desired daylight in the building. (Figure 1.24)
Figure 23.24: Sun roller shade integrated in the faade system of ADM (School of ADM, 2006)
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1.11 PERFORMANCE/ ACHIEVEMENT/ AWARD

NTUs School of Art, Design & Media (ADM), received the Green Mark Platinum Award from the Singapore Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for adopting best practices in environmental sustainability in May, 2011. The highest award presented to selected organisation each year, it is recognition of NTUs commitment towards sustainability. This is not the first award for the ADM building. It was one of the four international entries that received the Honour Award in the 2007 DesignShare Awards Programme for Innovative Learning Environments.(Nanyang Technological University, 2011) 1.11.1 Green Mark Platinum Award 2011 (Existing non-residential building) The BCA Green Mark scheme was launched in 2005 as a key strategic programme to raise the awareness of sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings. It evaluates buildings for their environmental impact and performance. The benefits of Green Mark buildings include cost savings from efficient use of key resources such as energy and water, leading to lower operation and maintenance costs. Other less tangible benefits include enhanced occupant productivity and health due to good indoor environmental quality Green Mark for Buildings Award includes the following categories: Non-Residential Buildings (New & Existing) Residential Buildings (New & Existing) Landed Houses Overseas projects for above categories. (BCA, 2011) The case study building which built in 2006 obtained its Green Mark certification in 2011 under category existing non-residential building. The BCA Green Mark is a green building rating system to evaluate a building for its environmental impact and performance. The ADM building has been designed to realise this vision by letting the landscape play a critical role in moulding the building instead of imposing the building onto the landscape, allowing the original greenery of the site to creep and colonise the building, creating a nonbuilding in the overall setting. 1.11.2 Year 2007 DesignShare Awards Programme for Innovative Learning Environments (Honour Award) The DesignShare Awards Program is one of the worlds most widely recognized programs focusing on the design of innovative learning environments.The annual awards program recognizes projects thatby designsupport the learning process, anticipate change, and inspire unimagined possibilities. The 2007 Award, also the 8thAnnual DesignShare Awards Program pushes the concept one-step further by combining two disciplineseducation and designto focus on designing innovative environments for the future of learning. The case study building was one of the four international entries that received the highest Honour Award in the 2007 Design Share Awards Programme for Innovative Learning Environments. The building was cited for its simple yet unique design at the annual awards. (DesignShare, 2007)
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King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
2.0
CASE STUDY II: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KAUST)
Figure 2.1: Image showing the library of the campus at dawn. (Kolleeny, 2010)
Overview Location: Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Building type(s): Campus (New construction, including 20 buildings) Project size: 5,340,000 ft2 (496,000 m2) Project scope: multiple buildings Setting: Suburban setting (On previously undeveloped land) From design to completion: 28 months (Completed in September 2009) Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC, v.2.2--Level: Platinum Team Owner: Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Architect, Lab Planner, Lead MEP Engineer, Interiors: HOK Architect of Record: Oger International, Paris MEP (Fire Protection): R.G. Vanderweil Engineers, Boston MEP (Energy Modeling): Affiliated Engineers Inc., Seattle Structural Engineer: HOK and Walter P. Moore, Houston Environmental Consultant: RWDI, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Civil Engineer: LJA Engineering, Houston Landscape Architect: HOK Planning Group, Atlanta Lighting Design and Consulting: HOK and Pivotal Lighting Design, Seattle Advanced Fabrication Cleanroom Consultant: Abbie Gregg, Inc., Tempe, Ariz King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a new international, graduate-level research university established to drive innovation in science and technology and to support world-class research in areas such as energy and the environment. KAUST's new campus is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's first LEED certified project and the world's largest LEED Platinum project (AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects, 2010).
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The design team was set to respond to a series of extraordinary challenges. In the context of an extremely hot, humid climate, they were asked to create a low-energy, highly sustainable project. The team was challenged to create a contemporary work of architecture that would reflect the global scientific community and also the roots local Saudi culture. KAUST's research agenda is primarily on research and development of renewable resources that drives sustainable development is integral to KAUST campus's design intention.
Figure 2.2: Image of the campus floor plan at plaza level (HOK-Designed King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2010)
2.1
DESIGN INTENTION AND CONCEPT
The architecture grounds KAUST in its climate and local culture while presenting the university to the world in terms that are progressive, forward-looking and heroic. The campus is located a half mile from dense urban living for faculty, researchers and their families and includes a total of about 20 buildings arranged in a semi-circle, which border a harbor on the Red Sea. Shaded walkways and paths give students and faculty opportunities for biking and walking. KAUSTs comprehensive alternative transportation plan includes walkable nodes of development and an infrastructure that strongly supports public and alternative forms of transportation including bicycles, Segway scooters, community-shared electric vehicles, and buses. Preferred parking is provided for each alternative vehicle while the provisions of secure bike racks and shower/changing facilities encourages alternative modes of transportation. In an effort to condense the space and reduce outdoor walking distances, they located the labs around a grand plaza called University Square, which is the hub of the complex and links it with a full range of community services and amenities (Kolleeny, 2010).
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Figure 2.3: Image showing design teams conceptual sketch on the sustainable design approach. (ISCN-GULF Conference, 2011)
The buildings are brought closely together on campus introduces shade, passive ventilation, and the tempered exterior microclimate critical to encourage people to be outdoors rather than constantly cooped up in actively-cooled spaces. At night when the sun goes down and the breezes pick up, it encourages people to go out, fostering activity and interaction. Conceived as an Arabian market, the central zones pedestrian scale and series of interlaced plazas, walkways, and connector streets feature open spaces and bridges that provide access to dining and retail, and places for people to gather. This square hugs the harbor, where a coral reef, marine sanctuary, and research area are located.
Figure 2.4: Image showing the cultural references incorporated in the design as well as formative environmental strategies. (HOK-Designed King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2010)
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2.2
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES
The design team accelerated the process with a Racing the Sun design charrette in which planners from 10 offices across multiple time zones contributed to the plan over one 24-hour period. Each office was given a two-hour window to create its ideas and post them on a server. In the end, each contributed an idea that ultimately found its way into the final plan. As such, the teams came up with five strategies taking cues from local culture and traditions to solve environmental issues: 1. Structured like traditional Arabic cities, the campus is compressed as much as possible to minimize the amount of exterior envelope exposed to the sun and reduce outdoor walking distances. 2. As found in a traditional souk, or Arabic market, shaded and passively cooled circulation thoroughfares are characterized by dramatic light and social spaces. 3. The Arabic Bedouin tent inspired designers to create a monumental roof system that spans across building masses to block sun on building facades and into the pedestrian spine, to facilitate natural ventilation and to filter light. Solar panels covering the surface capture the sun's energy. 4. Passive ventilation strategies of the traditional Arabic house influenced the design of iconic, solar-powered wind towers that harness energy from the sun and wind to passively create airflow in pedestrian walkways. 5. Similar to Arabic screening called 'mashrabiya,' the campus shades windows and skylights with an integral shading system that reduces heat loads while creating dramatic dappled light. (AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects, 2010)
Figure 2.5: Showing series of images that sustainable design strategies are used. 1. A large roof supported by treelike columns shades the plaza leading into the pedestrian spine. KAUST's roof system alludes to Bedouin tent design by blocking out the intense sun and encouraging airflow. 2. Roof perforations enhance the character of light and generate shadow patterns inside buildings. 3. The integrated terra-cotta solar shading on the lab buildings emulates the traditional mashrabiya screen. 4. During the day, the library provides a soothing, protective environment away from the harsh sun. 5. Strong accent colors contrast with the earth tones of the building exteriors.
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The high temperatures and humidity levels of the site had tremendous effects on the projects design strategies. The buildings were orientated to limit harsh eastern and western sun exposure while manipulating harsh morning and evening solar gain from the northeast and northwest were mitigated using appropriate shading of the corresponding facades. While the design attempted to reduce sun exposure, it also sought to maximize day lighting to improve occupant comfort and to reduce lighting demand. The compact form of the campus, therefore, took the form of fingers with shallow floor plates, allowing natural day lighting to access all perimeter spaces well as some of the interior spaces. In addition to shading and day lighting, the campus design encouraged natural ventilation. A pre-design analysis of the wind direction in the northern Red Sea showed a consistent northwesterly wind direction with a speed of 6 m/s, however, a more detailed analysis of the site showed that its microclimate includes wind coming directly from the Red Sea in a northeasterly direction. The buildings solar orientation helped take advantage of prevailing Red Sea winds and to use wind as a cooling mechanism.
Figure 2.6: Chart showing the annual climatic conditions of Jeddah where Thuwal is located. (BBC Weather, n.d.)
While many of the sustainable strategies are invisible, but two very prominent sustainable features are the 195-foot-tall solar towers have become campus icons. The glazed towers serve an important, role in terms of comfort by passively ventilating the courtyard spaces between the lab clusters. Since some of the labs are expected to be wet labs where chemicals and biological materials are tested, designers had to ensure that the particles that come out of those labs do not go back into the buildings. The towers act as chimneys in which the sun and wind work together to draw the tainted air out with additional help of mechanical fans. Dampers located near the top of the towers regulate airflow and prevent downdraft in negative pressure conditions.
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Figure 2.7: Showing the interior of the solar tower with the mechanical fans installed at the top. (Minutillo, 2010)
2.3
SITE DESCRIPTION AND PLANNING
Figure 2.8: Image of the campus site plan
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(HOK-Designed King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2010)
The campus is located a mere 800 meters from the dense new city of 10,000-12,000 people allocated for faculty and researchers. The two zones are connected with shaded walkways created through 55-feet cantilevered roof thus giving students and faculty opportunities for biking and walking to the campus. The site sits on two major sensitive marine habitats which is the coral and mangrove ecosystems that are protected through a 50meter buffer zone established in the master plan that limits development and construction activity within the coral and mangrove boundaries. The physical campus and its operations reinforce sustainable patterns of living to Saudi Arabia's population. The project's sensitivity to the natural environment and fragile ecosystems along the Red Sea coastal plain has set a strong regional precedent for creating environmentally responsible large-scale developments.
2.4
CONSTRUCTION
In sustainable design, construction plays an important role in determining how it marks up to its performance because construction contributes greatly to carbon footprint. Sustainable buildings is relatively a new concept to Saudi Arabia at the time, hence the little knowledge that the local construction community has in relation on how to carry out sustainable construction that manages the site most efficiently and produces less construction wastage. To combat such scenario, the contractor was commissioned to train and coordinate 25,000 on-site workers to follow LEED requirements for construction waste management, the indoor air quality management plan, commissioning and erosion control (Minutillo, 2010). This effort is an exemplary project on how education of sustainable design and development does not rely solely on the authorities or hindered by boundaries but an initiative taken by the designer and contractor to do so. An effort like this will expedite the effort to educate people about sustainability regardless of boundaries and policies. The buildings' primary structure is cast-in-place concrete, the construction method of which draws from a labor pool that is abundant in the area (Minutillo, 2010). Though cement replacement for high-performance concrete is preferred when constructing environmentallysensitive structures, more sustainable substitutes like fly ash and silica fume were not readily available in the kingdom. The usage of aluminum fares better than steel in this environment and does not require as skilled a labor force, therefore it was used extensively in the shading roofs and special space-frame structures.
2.5
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Building a sustainable building would render it useless if the maintenance and operation of the building does not reflect its intentions. Achieving sustainability in its operation and maintenance is crucial because the focus on sustainability should not stop after the design and construction phase. It is crucial to constantly track the use and cost of energy, water, and other resources regularly to establish operation and maintenance practices that improve performance is an important component of a sustainable building. A building's best benchmark is its performance after being occupied a certain amount of time or by a percentage of users because they are constantly in flux as their use, occupancy, systems and other factors change over time. These ongoing performance evaluations will provide relevant and actionable feedback on how to actually operate the designed systems because the operations and how the systems markup is dependent on how the occupants operate the designed systems.
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The entire university subscribes to a sustainable operations plan where green cleaning materials and an extensive recycling program that includes composting of all food waste was put in place. Maintenance staffs are mobilized around the campus on electric vehicles and users are encouraged to walk or cycle by providing bicycle sheds and showering facilities. To ensure that the MEP systems are operating efficiently, annual thermal comfort surveys will be facilitated. Integrated building automation also allows the facilities staff to make changes to the systems to achieve these efficiencies suited to changes in climate and indoor environment.
2.6
POST-OCCUPANCY
Continued thermal comfort surveys are conducted to assess the effectiveness of MEP systems which allows the users adjust the settings to ensure maximum occupant comfort and energy efficiencies. Comprehensive campus automation system that measures all energy and water use was included to monitor in case of any system failure and monitoring. Sub-meters and controls have been built-in to allow for future increase in efficiencies for all energy-using systems. Commissioning and advanced commissioning were executed for the project. Upon occupancy, re-commissioning is being completed on an ongoing basis to ensure that systems are operating appropriately. This ongoing maintenance and evaluation will continue throughout the campus lifetime.
Figure 2.9: Annual Psychometric Chart (HOK-Designed King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2010)
2.7
WATER MANAGEMENT
Water conservation is critical in Saudi Arabia as well as in most of the Middle East because of its desert settings where water scarcity is a major issue. The average rain fall on the site of KAUST is recorded as low as 54mm annually, with much of it occurring in the winter. Most of potable water use in Saudi Arabia is desalinated sea water, with Saudi Arabia desalinating more sea water than any other country. Given the shortage of water and the high energy use associated with desalination, water conservation is an equally pressing issue in Saudi Arabia as energy conservation.
The design team implemented numerous strategies to reduce the amount of nonpotable water needed to irrigate the campus. The comprehensive irrigation plan allocates water reclamation loads from condensate, storm, gray, and black water to satisfy a majority of the irrigation requirements (Kolleeny, 2010). Native vegetation and adaptive planting result in decreased irrigation demands is a commendable move because instead of planting vegetation that does not responds contextually will account for constant and higher maintenance. Drip irrigation systems with time and moisture sensors are employed to reduce the amount of potable water lost to evaporation and runoff. The drip irrigation system is employed because it is the most efficient irrigation system available currently. The high efficiency of drip irrigation results from two primary factors. The first is that the water soaks into the soil before it can evaporate or run off. The second is that the water is only applied where it is needed rather than sprayed everywhere. The design team determined the base water demands and water-saving strategies have been incorporated to reduce the demand for the campus buildings by 40% (Kolleeny, 2010).
Figure 2.10: Image showing the water management system 1. Seawater drawn into development for use in the university toilets. 2. Black water from the toilets are treated in the water treatment works 3. Clean water is allowed to run through the wadi 4. The water management plant transports water to existing golf course 5. Treated water is then used to irrigate desired areas of the golf course (Battle McCarthy: Consulting Engineers and Landscape Architects, n.d.)
2.8
ENERGY
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia subsidizes all the electricity in the country thus energy is very inexpensive and the payback period for all sustainable strategies implemented for this project was of little concern. However, the client sought to implement strategies that would provide an innovative building that would serve as an example for the region and be as environmentally friendly.
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Figure 2.11: Image showing the sustainability strategies (both active and passive) of the campus design (HOK-Designed King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2010)
After employing many passive strategies as possible to reduce energy loads, the design team selected the most climate appropriate and efficient mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems to further decrease energy demands. Chilled beams, heat recovery wheels, displacement ventilation, smart lighting controls, variable frequency drives and lowflow duct design were all incorporated. The design employs large solar PV and solar thermal with a total of 1, 152 units of solar thermal panels with a 4, 134 square meter arrays on the site and campus roof surfaces. The solar thermal system will provide to all domestic hot water usage for the lab buildings. With rising energy costs and potential shortages in fossil fuels in the distant future, KAUST is ensuring its energy future through the installation of a large solar farm. The 900,000 square feet solar farm will be a research area for breakthroughs in solar technology and has the ability to be plugged directly into the energy grid. Together, the two systems produce a total of 7.8% of the energy requirements on-site. Seventy percent of the energy load was purchased through Renewable Energy Credits (REC). (Note: Renewable energy credits, also called Green tags or Tradable Renewable Certificates, are certificates issued by a government agency to a power company or private company generating power itself, which utilizes environmentally friendly methods to generate electricity such as solar power).
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KAUST's overall energy savings is 27.1% better than ASHRAE 90.1-2004 standards. Though the library, support services and university center reduce energy consumption by 3540%, the energy-intensive lab buildings weighed heavily on the overall reduction. A comprehensive building automation system will collect energy flows and allow KAUST staff to compare design use versus actual use. (Elegendy, 2010) The strategy reduces of 1,700 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The biggest challenge for a PV installation in desert setting like Saudi Arabia lies in its operation and maintenance. High amounts of dust and strong winds cause solar panels to become coated with sand very quickly. Therefore, two operation teams are scheduled to clean the panels once every 6 days in order to maintain efficiency and output of the system. (Kaust Builds The Largest PV Installation in Saudi Arabia, n.d.)
Figure 2.12: Image showing the rooftops of KAUST campus buildings installed with PV panels. (KAUST Named Winner of 2010 COTE Award, 2011)
2.9
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
As part of the requirements to be eligible for LEED certification, the materials used must meet the requirements imposed. At the time of construction, there were few local products that met LEED requirements. It was nearly impossible or economically not feasible to import due to the massive scale of project from abroad. Thus the designers and contractors took the responsibility to themselves the education of subcontractors and manufacturers on producing such materials creating a new market and driving future sustainable projects. Twenty-one percent of the material installed contains recycled content and 38% comes from within 500 miles of the site. Ninety-nine percent of the wood installed was FSC certified while all indoor materials with low-VOC content were specified for all campus buildings to ensure occupants comfort. It was recorded that 80% of the construction waste has been recycled or donated for further use. (Note: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, not for profit, non-government organization based in Germany whose mission is to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests.)
Since the project was to be completed considerably short for such scale, a straightforward palette was chosen to create contrast between lights and shadows, taking advantage of the sun's movement. Most building enclosures uses terra-cotta, stone, glass and aluminium were used to ensure subtle changes in the hue, texture and relief of the terra-cotta provide a dynamic basic enclosure system. Aluminium was chosen in preference to steel because the high salt content on the air since the site sits closely to the Red Sea will expose steel to corrosion much faster.
2.10
INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY (IEQ)
IEQ addresses the subtle issues that influence how occupants feel in a space and are scientifically proven. This factor affects greatly how the occupants perform in such settings including higher productivity and heightened academic enthusiasm among students. Buildings enhance peoples lives when they permit ample air circulation, maintain clean air and comfortable temperatures, and allow individuals to have a sense of control over their own indoor experience. The campus design includes a pedestrian spine which is an active outdoor concourse interconnecting all buildings to reinforce the feeling that KAUST is one continuous building. The placement of solar towers introduces air into the spine creating a naturally-ventilated space while water features and vegetation were designed to help clean air brought into the spine.
Figure 2.13: Image showing the pedestrian spine looking out to the Red Sea. (HOK-Designed King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2010)
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Figure 2.14: Image showing schematic section of how air is regulated through the introduction of solar tower. (Battle McCarthy: Consulting Engineers and Landscape Architects, n.d.)
Figure 2.15: Image showing schematic section of passive cooling technique via atria vegetation and solar tower. (Battle McCarthy: Consulting Engineers and Landscape Architects, n.d.)
The abundance of natural daylight gives spaces a special richness and character and provides the ambient light necessary as well as reducing the lighting load drastically. The MEP design improves ventilation rates and incorporates air delivery to remove harmful pollutants and carbon dioxide together with the incorporation of solar towers. Internal courtyards and spaces are introduced throughout the campus to create healthy green enjoyable space while dispersing dust and air pollutants by 100-3000 PPM per liter to improve the local air quality. ((Battle McCarthy: Consulting Engineers and Landscape Architects, n.d.)
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Figure 2.16: Image showing that increased vegetation is enclosed space reduces airborne pollution and thermal environment. (Battle McCarthy: Consulting Engineers and Landscape d)
In terms of lighting, all campus building users have access to personal light and thermal controls. Having access to these controls ensures that building users have sufficient light for their task at hand and are thermally comfortable depending on their level of activity. All lighting is controlled by a centralized lighting control system that allows manual dimming in offices and conference rooms with occupancy-sensors, sensor based daylight harvesting in appropriate locations, time of day switching, and astronomic time-clock control in appropriate areas. This demonstrates the effort of humanizing the buildings rather than relying on rigid, centralized systems which does not allow flexibility in determining how much light one needs for a space and in return contributes significantly to energy wastage as observed in many large buildings or multiple buildings development.
2.11 DESIGN ADAPTABILITY FOR FUTURE USE

KAUST was designed to be a 100-year old building thus the vision of adapting to future use and expansion. To ensure that future rising sea levels and changing climate patterns will not affect the campus after the course of time, the entire campus was built 6 meters above the existing ground level. Ninety-five percent of the labs are incorporated with flexible lab-planning modules with 10-foot high interstitial space between lab floors. This provision of interstitial space allows the labs be serviced mechanically and allows for experiments with extra vertical clearance requirements to be extended into the interstitial space above. It also includes a lab casework system which is flexible and modular that allowed KAUST to construct labs while still recruiting its initial researchers. The design allowed flexibility in the types of laboratories accommodated, how these labs can be arranged and the research they can support. Longevity and durability are also part of the requirements when materials were selected.
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Flexible Lab Design
Figure 2.17: Illustrations showing the flexibility of the labs (KAUST on Campus Presentation 01708, n.d.)
2.12
PERFORMANCE/SCALING/ACHIEVEMENT/AWARD
2.121 Awards (according to year time of award) 2011 Laboratory of the Year Award R&D Magazine 2011 Sustain Award Building of the Year, International Prize, KAUST Library Sustain Magazine 2011 Architecture Award, KAUST Library AIA San Francisco 2011 Sustainability Award, KAUST Library AIA San Francisco 2011 Design Awards - Architecture Over 50,000 sf, KAUST Library AIA Houston
2011 Design Awards - Devine Detail, KAUST Library AIA Houston 2011 Honor Awards, "Serve" Merit Award, KAUST Library International Interior Design Society San Francisco 2011 Library Building Award, KAUST Library American Library Association 2010 Green Good Design Architecture Award Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies 2010 International Architecture Award Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies 2010 Top Ten Green Projects Award AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) 2010 Honor Award, Architecture Category, KAUST Library AIA St. Louis 2010 Top Ten LEED Projects, Number 1 Ranking Interiors & Sources 2.122 Ratings U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC, v.2.2 in 2009 Achievement level: Platinum (New building category) Sustainable Sites, 11 of 14 possible points SS Prerequisite 1, Construction Activity Pollution Prevention SS Credit 4.1, Alternative Transportation, Public Transportation Access SS Credit 4.2, Alternative Transportation, Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms SS Credit 4.3, Alternative Transportation, Low Emitting & Fuel-Efficient Vehicles SS Credit 4.4, Alternative Transportation, Parking Capacity SS Credit 5.1, Site Development, Protect or Restore Habitat SS Credit 5.2, Site Development, Maximize Open Space SS Credit 6.1, Stormwater Design, Quantity Control SS Credit 6.2, Stormwater Design, Quality Control SS Credit 7.1, Heat Island Effect, Non-Roof SS Credit 7.2, Heat Island Effect, Roof SS Credit 8, Light Pollution Reduction Water Efficiency, 5 of 5 possible points WE Credit 1.1, Water Efficient Landscaping, Reduce by 50% WE Credit 1.2, Water Efficient Landscaping, No Potable Use or No Irrigation WE Credit 2, Innovative Wastewater Technologies WE Credit 3.1, Water Use Reduction, 20% Reduction
WE Credit 3.2, Water Use Reduction, 30% Reduction Energy and Atmosphere, 11 of 17 possible points EA Prerequisite 1, Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems EA Prerequisite 2, Minimum Energy Performance EA Prerequisite 3, Fundamental Refrigerant Management EA Credit 1.1, Optimize Energy Performance, 10.5% New / 3.5% Existing EA Credit 1.2, Optimize Energy Performance, 14.5% New / 7% Existing EA Credit 1.3, Optimize Energy Performance, 17.5% New / 10.5% Existing EA Credit 1.4, Optimize Energy Performance, 21% New / 14% Existing EA Credit 1.5, Optimize Energy Performance, 24.5% New / 17.5% Existing EA Credit 2.1, Renewable Energy, 2.5% EA Credit 2.2, Renewable Energy, 7.5% EA Credit 3, Enhanced Commissioning EA Credit 4, Enhanced Refrigerant Management EA Credit 5, Measurement & Verification EA Credit 6, Green Power Materials and Resources, 7 of 13 possible points MR Prerequisite 1, Storage and Collection of Recyclables MR Credit 2.1, Construction Waste Management, Divert 50% from Disposal MR Credit 2.2, Construction Waste Management, Divert 75% from Disposal MR Credit 4.1, Recycled Content, 10% MR Credit 4.2, Recycled Content, 20% MR Credit 5.1, Regional Materials, 10% MR Credit 5.2, Regional Materials, 20% MR Credit 7, Certified Wood Indoor Environmental Quality, 13 of 15 possible points EQ Prerequisite 1, Minimum IAQ Performance EQ Prerequisite 2, Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control EQ Credit 1, Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring EQ Credit 2, Increase Ventilation EQ Credit 3.1, Construction IAQ Management Plan, During Construction EQ Credit 3.2, Construction IAQ Management Plan, Before Occupancy EQ Credit 4.1, Low-Emitting Materials, Adhesives & Sealants EQ Credit 4.2, Low-Emitting Materials, Paints & Coatings EQ Credit 4.3, Low-Emitting Materials, Carpet Systems EQ Credit 4.4, Low-Emitting Materials, Composite Wood & Agrofiber Products EQ Credit 5, Indoor Chemical Pollutant Source Control EQ Credit 6.1, Controllability of Systems, Lighting EQ Credit 6.2, Controllability of Systems, Thermal Comfort EQ Credit 7.1, Thermal Comfort, Design EQ Credit 7.2, Thermal Comfort, Verification Innovation and Design Process, 5 of 5 possible points ID Credit 1.1, Innovation in Design: "WEc3 Water Use Reduction" ID Credit 1.2, Innovation in Design: "SSc7.1 Heat Island Effect: Non-Roof" ID Credit 1.3, Innovation in Design: "Sustainable Design Education" ID Credit 1.4, Innovation in Design: "MRc7 Certified Wood"
ID Credit 2, LEED Accredited Professional (AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects, 2010) Note: Most awards were given on the basis on environmental sustainability ratings.
2.13 DISCUSSION
Operating since September 2009, KAUST has become the first built project in Saudi Arabia to achieve LEED certification and the largest in the world to attain LEED Platinum. Although it is hailed as a major accomplishment in some respects and definitely a step in the right direction for a country whose oil-based economy has served it very well until now, there is an inherent irony in the story. Creating a city out of nothing so remote from much of its own country's population, and farther still from the professors and students with whom it wishes to collaborate, defies the very notion of sustainability. Filling the campus with highenergy-intensity lab buildings - despite the well-intentioned research conducted within them in one of the world's most extreme climates, seems counterintuitive. Including a golf course and blanketing the desert site with turf grass seems downright absurd. However, these were decisions beyond the design teams control since it commissioned with making the design, construction, and operation of the buildings themselves as sustainable as possible within the project's augmented time frame. Despite the fact that construction of the buildings used more than 16 million cubic feet of conventional concrete and all of the buildings' interior spaces require air-conditioning, the project still managed to garner the highest possible LEED rating, which speaks to obvious shortcomings of LEED, not the designers sustainable design efforts. KAUST's administrative buildings are said to use up to 40% less energy than the U.S. standard, its lab buildings 20-25% less - statistics that clearly point to deficiencies in construction in the United States where LEED was formed, not in Saudi Arabia and is fixed to the ASHRAE standards and the US way of thinking. For example, credits are awarded for having enough car parking spaces, rather than minimizing them. This shows that LEED is an isolated evaluation of a buildings design, which ignores context and performance (Alter, 2008). LEED evaluation has always been criticized as focusing on the green rather than the sustainability of a project and also on the end product. However on the contrary, this project showed the designers efforts in including several components in social and economic sustainability pillars although the weightage has been observed as much lesser on the latter considering that this project sits on the scale of high design and consultation costs that does not benefit the local community.
3.0 3.1
LESSON LEARNED Similarities
3.11 Passive strategy: Building orientation Both case studies employed passive design strategies that include minimizing the heat gain and increasing illumination of space through according to east-west orientation. This strategy is successfully used in the case studies as not only to reduce heat gain and glare but concurrently reduces the energy loading since less energy is required to cool down the buildings and to light up the internal spaces.
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3.12 Passive strategy: Introduction of internal spaces From the study, both projects were designed with internal spaces that encourages occupants to not be held up within confined spaces as well as a strategy to cool the spaces that allows stack effect to work. In order to ensure that the spaces work, it was observed that both case studies engaged introduction of vegetation and water features that cools the spaces while improving the air quality. 3.13 Active strategy: Building management and automation systems From motion-sensor light to automated irrigation systems, the case studies demonstrated on methods to ensure that efficiency of MEP systems and that resource like water and electricity is not wasted. Both ADM and KAUST showed that manipulation of data collected from these systems allow the MEP systems to operate and maintain more efficiently.
3.2
Differences
3.21 Design intentions and responses to users Both case studies, although similar in its nature of usage, differs greatly on how the designs was conceptualized and reflects. ADM was designed to reflect its intended function to the users by varying heights in internal spaces while KAUST was envisioned to echo the local cultures and tradition of Saudi Arabia. This resulted in differences of the final product which the former resonates much of contemporary architecture while the latter incorporates visible traditional elements in the design. 3.22 Passive strategy emphasis KAUST and ADM demonstrated the usage of passive strategies but differing in the emphasis on how it was executed and what was emphasized. KAUST used permanent sun shading devices that was on the outside of the buildings while ADM has operable sun shading devices that were installed within the interiors of the building. This is closely related to the functions of the buildings as ADM is mainly for design studio purposes where constant lighting is important while KAUST only demands the sun light to only light the interiors adequately and also as ambient lighting. ADM passive strategies focuses mainly on cooling and reducing heat gain while KAUST focuses more on ventilating the spaces between. Alternately, ADM uses active strategies to ventilate the interiors while KAUST uses air-conditioning systems to cool the interiors. 3.23 Site planning and construction management (including EIA) From initiation to its completion, KAUST was dictated to be a sustainable project. This resulted in many consideration efforts that manage the site and construction to ensure minimal carbon footprint, construction wastage. ADM sits on the end of smaller scale sustainable projects in comparison to KAUST. Thus the site and construction management efforts might not be much on influence in the overall sustainable evaluation. Also, BCA Green Mark certification was awarded after the building was completed which takes into account that this criterion is not critical in its assessment. KAUST included a comprehensive EIA that functioned as reference during design stage which affects the passive building strategies and the projects effect on surrounding environment and ecosystems. KAUST takes pride in conserving the marine habitats that surrounds the site. On the contrary, ADM 3.24 Renewable energy strategy
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While KAUST heavily emphasis on harnessing the solar energy, ADM demonstrates no such strategy used. One of the reasons conjectured is that ADM is a building project in comparison to KAUST which is much bigger in scale and thus energy consumption. ADM gained certification much later after it was occupied elucidates that it was never meant to be a sustainable project at the time of design and conception thus explaining the reasoning behind the loss of renewable energy efforts. 3.25 Post occupancy ADM was certified by BCA Green Mark after it was completed and this not part of the assessment criterion. There was no evidence on post occupancy surveys that were done to monitor and adjust the MEP systems. On the other hand, KAUST conducts annual psychometric test to determine indoor environment quality used to manipulate the building automation systems that prevents energy and resources wastage as well as cost management that contributes to life cycle-costing. It also shows how the MEP systems fare in a real setting in comparison to design.
3.3
Comparison
The 3 tables shown below compared figuratively on how each project fared in the three aspects of sustainability. LEED and BCA Green Mark have been regarded as on focusing on environmental aspects on sustainability. However in the case studies selected demonstrated at least some amount of attention paid to social and economic sustainability because sustainable design must first comply with principles of sustainability. Thus, these tables are to demonstrate how each project fare in the categories mentioned. Note: These categories in the table may not include all the categories that are available in comprehensive BPAS. The criterions selected are demonstrated in at least one case study or both and does not cover full spectrum of the sub-categories or is deemed necessary. (Y = yes, N = no) 3.31 SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY Education and awareness Fair or equitable distribution of social benefits from construction Improve quality of human life Involvement of society Respond to local culture, tradition and history 3.32 ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY ADM Employment creation (labor and manufacturing) Preference of environmentally responsible supplier and/or contractor Enhance market competitiveness Ensure financial affordability for the benefactors
ADM Y Y Y Y Y
KAUST Y N Y N N
KAUST Y Y Y N
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N N N N
3.33 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Renewable resources (usage) Non-renewable resources (management) Site management and planning Surrounding ecosystem conservation and preservation Materials and resource (including recycling and/or reuse) Minimize pollution (air and/or noise and/or water) Creation of healthy, non-toxic environment ADM N Y N N Y Y Y KAUST Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
3.4
Discussion
Both ADM and KAUST demonstrated their in responding well to environmental aspects through passive and active strategies that ensures occupants comfort, water and energy management. Though so, each case study differs on the emphasis which arises from whether or not it was conceptualized to be a sustainable project from the beginning. Such observation was made because ADM only focuses on much narrower scope of strategies used and fulfilled lesser categories in the general BPAS assessment, i.e. site planning and management. In comparison to ADM, KAUST showed many immensely thought-out strategies that were executed from project initialization to post occupancy. In terms of embodying the true sense of sustainability, it was identified that KAUST fared much better since it incorporated strategies that responded to social sustainability and economic sustainability. KAUST responded to these categories of sustainability because as discussed earlier on it was meant to be a sustainable project from the very beginning. This observation was made from the demonstration of how the project educated the local manufacturing industry on producing sustainable materials and in return creating a new market for such products in Saudi Arabia. It also allows the local community to benefit from the project for instance, the construction created job opportunities for labors and manufacturers. ADM did not show strategies or perhaps very minutely on these spectrums of sustainability. Rather it focuses much on the environmental aspect. From comparing the case studies, it is obvious that both assessment systems (BPAS) give emphasis on different aspects of sustainability. Both LEED and BCA Green Mark are viewed as focusing more on the environmental aspect as no evaluation categories were allocated to assess social and economic sustainability of a project. However, efforts of responding to social and economic sustainability were shown by although no assessment points were given to these criterions. Although each case study has showed creditable performance, both lacked in responses that was suited in respected contexts. However, it is also rather important to take note that each BPAS gives different weightage on the assessment categories which varies for different project type that is adjusted according to region and as well as context. Thus comparing and contrasting can only be done mainly through theoretical comparison of how these strategies fare in context.
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LEED (USA) 1. SUSTAINABLE SITE 2. WATER EFFICIENCY 3. ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE 4. MATERIALS & RESOURCES 5. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 6. INNOVATION DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
BCA GREEN MARK (SINGAPORE) 1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY 2. WATER EFFICENCY 3. ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION 4. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 5. OTHER GREEN FEATURES
Figure 3.1: Table showing comparison of categories of evaluation in LEED and Green Mark. (PAM & ACEM Design Forum, 2009)
As both case studies showed similarity in instigating efforts to educate and raise awareness on sustainability issues to the public through incorporating sustainability in design, it is hard to determine the success because there are no concrete assessments available or known. Furthermore, such evaluation can only be done figuratively and is tangible on how these projects impacted the society. In fact, there are no clearly defined parameters. It is often challenging to measure actual effects of a given building on social, community, and health categories. Perhaps the only viable method of doing so is through extensive survey and behavioral study.
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Conclusion
4.0
CONCLUSION
The overall objective of the analysis was achieved through understanding the sustainable design strategies employed by the selected case studies that include the triple bottom line - planet, people and profit. It also allowed understanding of the appropriateness of design strategies used and how each BPAS differ in emphasis on design strategy categories. Another thing that was achieved is the understanding on the availability of parameters used to assess sustainability and the constraints.
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References
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