FROM THE AIA:
The design of the BRB embraces the moderate climate of Ireland. By locating low-load spaces along the perimeter of the building, the project is able to take advantage of natural ventilation as the sole conditioning strategy for the majority of the year and is supplemented less than 10% of the year with radiant heating. Due to this approach, 45% of this intensive research building is able to function without mechanical ventilation. This is an extremely simple, yet radical approach and is rarely implemented to even a modest extent in similar laboratories in comparable U.S. climates.
JURY COMMENTS:
The jury was unanimous in its opinion that this building really knit design and performance together. Great performance on a tight budget that focused on elegant, passive solutions. This is not an easy project type in which to incorporate passive strategies. Separating the lab portion from the non-lab allowed 45 percent of the building to be naturally ventilated. A simple building with a clever parti; labs are surrounded by daylit corridors that function as a thermal sweater for the interior spaces.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Estimated percent of occupants using public transit, cycling or walking: 70%
- Daylighting at levels that allow lights to be off during daylight hours: 52%
- Lighting Power Density: 1.05 watts/sf
- Views to the Outdoors: 100%
- Percent reduction of regulated potable water: 75%
- Total EUI actual (kBtu/sf/yr): 147
- Net EUI actual (kBtu/sf/yr): 147
- Percent reduction from National Median EUI for Building Type (actual): 72%
