There is an appreciable literature exploring environmental design strategies for low-energy, naturally ventilated and
cooled buildings, but less is recorded about their implementation in practice. The commissioning and monitoring of
the passive downdraught-cooled UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), London, is reported.
The building contractor, his suppliers and subcontractors experienced considerable difficulty in achieving defect-free
environmental systems, adversely affecting the practical delivery of the strategy for an extended period. The design
team was closely involved throughout this period to assist in establishing a stable controls regime reflecting the design
intent. However, this intent was itself modified by feedback provided by monitoring. The widely used professional
appointment and construction contracts employed for this project do not envisage the need for such extensive
commissioning. However, it is argued here that the new generation of advanced naturally ventilated buildings, much
encouraged by policy-makers worldwide, will require just such a comprehensive commissioning exercise to deliver
anything like their full designed performance.
History
School
Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Citation
SHORT, C.A., COOK, M.J. and LOMAS, K.J., 2009. Delivery and performance of a low-energy ventilation and cooling strategy. Building Research & Information, 37 (1), pp. 1-30