Project Title: Robert Gordon University, Faculty of Management, Aberdeen
Client: Robert Gordon University
This is a ‘lead’ building for the new Robert Gordon University Campus Development and comprises a mixture of Offices for Administration and Academics, Lecture and Seminar Rooms, Library and Catering functions extending to 12,500m2.
The project employed the same natural ventilation and night free cooling strategies described for the New Edinburgh Park Project. The building embodies a low energy design approach to make best use of fabric heat storage and mixed mode ventilation to combine natural ventilation for perimeter areas with supplementary mechanical ventilation. The supplementary ventilation strategy recognises that perimeter classrooms require supplementary ventilation in winter to avoid cold draughts and high infiltration heat losses from the cold winds. In mid-season and summer these areas are naturally ventilated to overcome solar and internal gains.
For the main part of the year the ‘green’ building, natural ventilation, night free cooling approach provides a comfortable low energy environment. For high occupancy during summer months and to provide ventilation needs of the occupants during cold windy winter weather, key areas have a supplementary mechanical ventilation system. This is based on a variable air volume displacement ventilation system (VAV-DV). Raised floors are not provided and supply air is delivered at a low level from specially designed displacement ventilation diffusers.
