Environmental Building
Built around a central atrium that rises up the entire height of the building and acts as an 'air shaft', the building effectively has two halves – one housing office and meeting spaces and the other made up of laboratories.
The building was constructed so the office side of the building is south-facing, which is designed to help keep those areas warm, whereas the laboratory side of the building is north-facing, helping to keep the laboratories cool.
Other environmental features of the building include:
- photovoltaic (solar) panels;
- rainwater collection for flushing the building’s toilets;
- electronic displays on the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions provided by the building;
- information on the amount of energy generated;
- climate-responsive ‘brise soleil’ shutters which react to levels of sunlight;
- heat exchanger to use excess heat to the benefit of the building.
