Exploring the Masdar Institute Campus - Thampy...
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Exploring the Masdar Institute Campus
Transcript of Exploring the Masdar Institute Campus - Thampy...
Exploring the Masdar Institute Campus
Welcome to the Masdar Institute Campus
The first six buildings of the Masdar Institute Campus are complete and serve as a model of sustainability. This document provides an overview of the design strategies and materials used.
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Masdar City
Masdar City is an emerging global clean-technology cluster that inspires innovation and empowers business. With an infrastructure that meets the needs of the high-technology, knowledge-driven organisations operating in the renewable energy and clean technology sector and a live-work space that is at the cutting edge of sustainability.
Powered by renewable energy, the 7km2 special economic zone and business cluster places resident firms at the heart of the global renewable energy and cleantech industry. It provides an environment that unlocks creativity, offers business development
opportunities, provides a test-bed for new technologies, encourages informal knowledge sharing among likeminded professionals and serves as a magnet for, and source of world-class talent.
This unique environment is attracting regional and international companies and other organisations to set up sales, marketing, servicing and demonstration centres for their renewable energy and sustainability technologies, as well as research and development facilities, and regional headquarters in these fields.
The Masdar Institute Campus at dusk
Masdar Institute Campus integrated with Masdar City
The DNA of Masdar Institute
The Masdar institute is a key catalyst for the development of Masdar City and is located within the first phase of the project close to the central spine and adjacent to the first ‘green finger’
The urban form of the Masdar Institute Campus is a microcosm of the fabric of the city as a whole and provides examples of the goals of the built form strategy:
• The campus is bisected by the linear park.
• An environment intelligent orientation of the buildings that optimises the outdoor thermal comfort of the public realm.
• The creation of walkways inside the city which are always shaded through overhangs and narrow streets.
• The creation of a variety of façades which enrich the image of the city.
• The creation of an interesting variety of open public and private spaces.
Proposed Masterplan for the Masdar Institute Campus
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Mosque
ConferenceHall
Multi-UseHall
Library
Phase 3
Phase 2Phase 1B
Phase 1A - Completed
A view of the façade at the Masdar Institute Campus
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Why is the Masdar Institute Campus Sustainable?
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An Energy Efficient Design 6
How is the Masdar Institute Campus Powered? 12
Pilot Projects Thermal Energy 14
Pilot Projects Solar Cooling 15
How does the Masdar Institute Campus work with water? 16
How does the Masdar Institute Campus work with waste? 17
Transportation in the Masdar Institute Campus 18
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An Energy Efficient Design
North/South
The North-South orientation of streets allows sunlight penetration to the urban fabric with a subsequent increase in cooling loads.
East/West
An East-West alignment results in an increase in cooling load requirement due to the exposure of external walls to sunlight.
Northeast/Southwest
The Northeast-Southwest orientation of the city fabric provides optimal shading.
OrientationThe building height and orientation in relationship to the sun has been designed to minimise solar heat gain within the local environment. This has a direct impact on the immediate environment and the amount of energy consumed to air condition the space within.
Bringing such a project to life necessarily began at the design stage, long before the first shovel of sand was lifted. It will continue throughout the construction phase and will be maintained during the life of the city. This section provides an overview of the design strategies that have been incorporated in the Masdar Institute Campus.
Artistic impression highlighting the location of the Masdar Institute Campus within the Masdar City masterplan
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Contemporary re-interpretation of traditional Arabic Windtower brings cooling breezes to Courtyard. Rising 45m above the podium, this modern interpretation of one of the region’s most iconic traditional architectural features will be a landmark for the Masdar Institute neighbourhood. The tower’s height means it can capture the cooler upper-level winds and direct them to the open-air public square at its base. Sensors at the top of the steel structure will operate high-level louvers to open in the direction of prevailing winds and to close in other directions to divert wind down the tower.
A PTFE membrane will carry the wind downward, while mist generators at the top will add additional cooling to the air. PTFE is the scientific name for the well-known non-stick brand Teflon. Combinations of evaporative cooling and air movement techniques help to moderate perceived air temperatures, thereby improving personal comfort.
Masdar Institute will use the tower as a platform for their scientific instruments. This includes weather measuring equipment and air quality testing tools.
Diagram showing working of traditional Arabian Windtower or Barajeel
MonitoringThe windtower is used as a platform for monitoring equipment by Masdar Institute.
Inner SockLighting of the inner sock acts as an indicator to the energy used collectively by students and faculty throughout the day.
Mist JetsThese jets located at
high level, humidify the air to make it cooler
on the ground. It’s an evaporative cooling
device.
LouvresAutomated louvres,
controlled by sensors , monitor the direction of the prevailing winds are controlled to direct wind
down the tower.
Diagram explaining working of the windtower at Masdar City
Windtower
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A typical street at the Masdar Institute Campus
ShadingPedestrian circulation at ground level within and around MIST is through shaded colonnades, that can be screened to provide shade to low-angle sun and protection from wind.
PlantingIrrigated by recycled water.
FinishesHeavyweight finishes
provide thermal mass at street level. These
surfaces cool over night and are protected from solar exposure during
the day. This stored ‘coolth’ is slowly released
to reduce the radiant temperature within the
street during the day.
Fire EscapesThe fire escapes to
the laboratories are located externally to
eliminate the need for air-conditioning. Solar
shading is provided through a horizontal
screen.
FaçadesLightweight, reflective
ETFE façades minimise heat gains during the day
and reflect daylight into residential apartments.
Desert
Central Abu Dhabi(unshaded)
71oC
51oC 47oC 46oC66oC
Masdar InstituteFully shaded colonnades
Masdar InstituteLush green garden
Masdar InstituteAdded active water feature
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Felt Temperatures
Central Abu Dhabi
Masdar Institute
The creation of shade routes encourages pedestrian activity at street level. Colonades have been incorporated into the design in all buildings within the Masdar Institute. These colonades are cooled by high thermal mass materials applied to soffits, walls and ceilings.
The comparative images below show the difference in radiant temperature that these design features generate. A typical central Abu Dhabi street photographed through a thermal imaging camera shows bright white hot spots and the street in Masdar Institute is cool in comparison. This difference in radiant temperature of up to 20oC is quite an achievement.
The emphasis in the choice of sustainable materials and products for the Masdar Institute buildings has been to have them locally sourced and manufactured. Where possible, consideration has been made to sustainable factors such as recyclability, low embodied energy properties, low emission materials and finishes, within the building’s specification in line with Masdar’s sustainability standards.
The building’s façades have been developed to passively mitigate heat transfer while also being highly sealed to minimise the energy required with conditioning the internal spaces. Materials with a low thermal mass act as fast responsive system which cools down very quickly at night to avoid radiantly heating the public realm. Materials with high thermal mass, if strategically used in shaded location, can help store “coolth” to radiantly cool shaded colonades.
Shading Thermal Analysis
Materials
Façade Construction
Example of flora at Masdar Institute
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FoliageThe delicate leaf
pattern of a Jacaranda mimosifolia provides dappled shade to the
podium landscape and contrasts with the
abstract patterns of the residential façade.
The native plant species sourced from local nurseries link Masdar Institute to its immediate context as well as providing practical benefits, which include reducing air temperature in public spaces. The strategically located water features provide indirect cooling and create a relaxing environment.
The Masdar Institute Campus consists of a series of courtyard and street spaces, each with a distinct theme derived from characteristics of the regional landscape. A dramatic main courtyard, ‘the Oasis’ provides the campus with a flexible space suitable for individuals, small groups or large gatherings, with numerous seating areas surrounded by lush planting and gently bubbling water features beneath the iconic wind-tower.
Key landscape design elements at the Masdar Institute Campus include:
• Reduced air temperature in public spaces through use of shading by buildings and planting.
• An attractive, high-quality, accessible environment for all users.
• A series of distinct visual character areas to aid wayfinding within the City.
• Extensive planting to bring colour, visual and sensory delight into the heart of the City.
• The Masdar City Landscape and Public Real Strategy has established an irrigation key performance indicator (KPI) of 6 litres per m2 per day (as an annual average).
• Reduced irrigation requirement fed by recycled water (treated sewerage effluent or TSE).
• Native species sourced from local nurseries to reduce environmental impact and directly link Masdar Institute to its immediate context.
• A planting scheme developed to provide year-round visual interest, with flowering grasses, shrubs and trees offering bursts of reds and yellows in contrast to the green oasis.
• Strategically located water features used to provide indirect cooling and create a relaxing environment.
An image showing landscaping in a courtyard at the Masdar Institute Campus
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LandscapingThe specification
of hard landscape materials with recycled content is an important
part of the approach to environmental
sustainability.
Landscaping
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How is the Masdar Institute Campus Powered?
10MW Solar Photovoltaic Farm
This plant, whose 87,777 polycrystalline and thin-film modules occupy a 22-hectare site at the outer boundary of Masdar City, is the largest grid-connected solar plant in the Middle East. Inaugurated in May 2009, the farm provides clean energy to the Masdar Institute Campus and Masdar’s temporary on-site offices, as well as some of the ongoing Masdar City construction activities.
The energy is fed into the Abu Dhabi power grid. Abu Dhabi-based Enviromena Power Systems, a leading developer of solar projects in the region, constructed the plant.
Roof Top PV array
The photovoltaic array above the buildings help provide 30% of the base electrical load of the campus. Raised above the laboratories and residential apartments, it also helps to provide additional shading to the streets and public realm while also reducing the amount of direct solar gain absorbed by the heavily insulated roofs.
Rooftop PV panels on the Masdar Institute building.
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Diagram explaining how the Masdar Institute Campus is powered
Roof Top PV(1MW)
PV array(10MW)
Masdar Institute
Excess powerreturned to theAbu Dhabi grid
70%30%
SHW
ETC
75%
ETC Evacuated Tube Collectors (Solar Thermal)
SHW Service Hot Water
PV Photovoltaic Panels
Aerial view of the 10MW Solar panels at Masdar City
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Pilot Projects Thermal Energy
Beam Down Project
The Beam Down Project - a joint pilot project of the Masdar Institute, Japan’s Cosmo Oil Company and the Tokyo Institute of Technology - takes the conventional concentrated solar power (CSP) design and literally turns it on its head.
Most CSP plants use mirrors (heliostats) to direct the sun’s rays onto a receiver at the top of a central tower, heating a heat-transfer fluid (molten salt, oil or water), which then is used to generate steam for a steam turbine.
Managed by Masdar Institute, the Beam Down Plant has the potential to convert sunlight into electricity in a more efficient, lower-cost way than other technologies. By placing the receiver at the base of the tower (ground level), the thesis is that it will eliminate the energy loss resulting from pumping the fluid to an elevated receiver.
Geothermal Testing
One of the most exciting projects at Masdar City was the exploratory drilling deep underground to test the availability of sufficient, and sufficiently hot, geothermal water to be used in thermal cooling and domestic hot water. Power production and desalination also constitute possible applications of geothermal energy, although in our case, purely thermal applications (cooling, domestic hot water, desalination) are the most advantageous. The amount of cooling, desalination and heating the geothermal resource can provide is being evaluated. This will be a direct geothermal plant relying on heat exchange with deep underground aquifers.
Initial results are promising and confirm Masdar City’s ability to address a significant portion of the base cooling load of the city’s first phase using absorption chillers continuously supplied with geothermal heat. The main focus initially is expected to be thermal cooling and, possibly, central provision of hot water.
Beam Down Project Geothermal Testing
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Pilot Projects Solar Cooling
Solar thermal cooling, which is likely to constitute a significant source of cooling in Masdar City, involves harnessing energy from solar thermal collectors to produce chilled water or dehumidified air (geothermal resources are an alternative energy source). This technology drastically reduces electricity consumption by using a thermo-chemical process that involves a mixture of water and special salts, such as lithium chloride or lithium bromide, to condition air – rather than electric-powered vapour compressors.
Solar thermal air-conditioning systems can generally be divided in two categories:
1. Low-temperature devices (i.e., single-effect absorption chillers, desiccant dehumidifiers), which are powered by low-grade hot water produced from non-concentrating flat-plate or evacuated tube solar collectors or geothermal sources.
2. High-temperature devices (i.e., multiple-effect absorption chillers), which require the use of concentrating solar collectors using reflective mirrors to focus and concentrate sunlight.
Solar Cooling system at Masdar City
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How does the Masdar Institute Campus work with waste?
The waste management strategy at the Masdar Institute building seeks to minimise waste to landfill and maximise the resource potential of materials (i.e., recycling and reuse). As a first step, systems will be used and awareness will be raised to reduce the amount of waste generated in the city, i.e., by encouraging reusable bags and containers. The next step is to sort and collect the waste produced by those living and working here. Masdar Institute buildings have separate waste chutes to allow for the separation of waste.
Once collected, the waste is sorted into compostable, non-recyclable and recyclable waste. All appropriate bio-waste will be composted and the product used to enrich the landscaping. At a future date recyclable waste will be processed in the city or as close by as possible.
How does the Masdar Institute Campus work with water?
The Masdar Institute building has been designed to minimise water consumption and maximise the efficiency of treatment and production techniques. In the long term the goal is to reduce, in stages, the domestic water consumption to the target potable water consumption of 105 litres per person per day, with an initial target of 179 litres per person per day, far below business as usual. The improvement from 179 per person per day to 105 per person per day is expected to be achieved through increased environmental awareness to residents over time.
Water-use reduction technologies include high-efficiency appliances, low-flow showers, highly efficient laundry systems, a water tariff that promotes water efficiency, incentives, real-time monitoring, smart water metres that inform consumers of their consumption, reducing leakage ultimately to 1%, treated wastewater recycling, and high-efficiency irrigation and low-water use landscaping, particularly through use of indigenous desert flora.
The current wastewater system combines grey water and black water for processing and treatment at the city’s membrane bioreactor (MBR) plant. The treated sewage effluent produced at the MBR will be used for landscaping. The biosolids resulting from the wastewater treatment can be reused for compositing and in any future waste-to-energy plant.
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WasteStrategy
Recycling
Waste to-energy (planned pilot
project) Composting
Consumer
Waste collected and sorted
Products
Bio-products
Non-Recyclable
Recyclable
Diagram illustrating the waste strategy at the Masdar Institute Campus
Transportation
In answering one of the overriding priorities of Masdar City’s master plan – to be a pedestrian-focused community – a rich network of public and personal transportation options will ensure it is easy to move across the city in comfort and ease. As a result, walking and self-propelled transport will be the most convenient forms of transportation to many destinations within the city, as well as the most pleasant. This is the result of planners’ focus on created extensive shaded sidewalks and pathways throughout the city.
In addition, a public transport system of electric buses and other clean-energy vehicles will provide transport within the city, while Abu Dhabi’s light rail and Metro lines will pass through the centre of Masdar City, providing transport within the city and serving as a link to the wider metropolitan area. This extensive public transportation network means that no destination within the city will be more than 250-300m from some form of public transport. Most private vehicles will be kept at the city’s edge in a number of parking lots that will be linked by electric bus routes to other public transportation traversing the city.
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Transportation in the Masdar Institute
Shaded sidewalks and pathways at Masdar Institute
2x2= 4
Metro
Workplaces
Places ofWorship
ShopsPublicGreen Space
School
NeighbourhoodCentre
PRT/Bus Station
LRTStation
Airport
High-speedTrain
PublicGreen Space
Playground
Mass Transit
City Mobility
Diagram explaining the proximity of city landmarks to the Masdar Institute Campus.
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PRT at Masdar City
The Built Environment
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Climate Lobbies (Transitional Temperature Spaces) 22
Laboratories Exterior 24
Laboratories Interior 26
Residential Exterior 28
Residential Interior 30
Knowledge Centre 32
Knowledge Centre Interior 34
Outcomes 36
Achievements against UAE business as usual 37
Climate Lobbies (Transitional Temperature Spaces)
Reception at Masdar Institute
• Climate lobbies and Transitional temperature spaces are designed to control and limit the extent of the thermal shock that is felt by building users when they enter an leave the buildings. This occurs as a result of moving between the hot external environment to a colder air conditioned space; or visa versa.
• Transitional temperature spaces at the Masdar Institute include the main vertical and horizontal circulation route - for example the entrance lobbies and corridor walkways in the residential apartment atriums.
• The use of these transitional temperature spaces allow for the temperature of the fully occupied spaces (such as the laboratories) to be set at a higher temperature than typical buildings. This results in significant energy savings on the air conditioning requirements, as a result of the smooth transition in temperatures as people move between external and internal conditions.
• The Residential building atriums spaces can be kept at approximately 30oC for a large part of the year. This is achieved by taking advantage of the day / night time temperature variation that occurs year
round - typically a difference of 6-8oC. Night time air is ventilated through the transitional spaces cooling high thermal mass walls to the night time temperatures. During the day the transitional spaces are sealed from the external air and the high thermal mass walls radiate ‘coolth’ into the spaces; resulting in minimal of no additional air conditioning required to the spaces for much of the year.
- The residential atriums are naturally lit during the day with indirect north light, and extensive computer modelling ensures that window shading and orientation eliminates direct sunlight, and its associate heat gains.
• Use of lowered blinds in the residential colonnades during the hot summer months help trap radiant “coolth” from the colonnade soffit to provide shaded cool pedestrian routes.
• Use of high performance double glazed glass units and solar control coatings, to all glass ensures thermal heat gains are minimised and also provide greater visual connection due to reduced condensation that typically occurs on external faces of glazing in the region.
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Folding DoorsClosed during the hot summer months to “trap” residual conditioned air and “coolth” but opened during cooler winter months.
Folding DoorsClosed during the hot summer months to “trap” residual conditioned air and “coolth” but opened during cooler winter months.
Exposed Thermal MassConcrete surfaces and soffits in shaded locations to provide free radiant cooling.
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Pathways at the residential areas of the Masdar Institute Campus
SkylightsThe roof skylights have been computer modelled to ensure direct sunlight is eliminated and lit naturally during the day with indirect north light.
Residential AtriumsMaintained at a steady 30oC through passive design utilising thermal mass and avoiding direct solar gain.
GrillesAt the base of the atrium Grilles are used to ventilate the space during the night to cool the thermal mass of the walls. These grilles are then closed during the day where the walls then radiate “coolth,” conditioning the space.
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Laboratories Exterior
The Masdar Institute Phase 1A laboratories are a unique super flexible laboratories that have been designed in response to the Masdar Institute vision for cutting edge research to be carried out there. Mixing all five initial academic research programmes within the same laboratory spaces on interdisciplinary programs represents the future for how research - and scientific breakthroughs will occur; particularly in the realm of sustainable research programmes where standard practice science types are only just emerging.
The laboratory façade has to mitigate between the requirements of the internal lab space and the high temperatures of the region. A key aspect of this is to have a building façade which is highly insulated and as air tight as possible. Any glass used in the elevation creates a weak link in the façade’s thermal performance and therefore need to be located and utilised as effectively as possible.
Windows are used to introduce natural controlled daylight into the laboratories via clerestoreys ensuring views out when either standing or sat at a workbench. These windows throughout the laboratories are then shaded with a combination of horizontal and vertical fins eliminating high and low level angled sunlight.
The solid areas of the façade incorporate a silver frit pattern to the external surface and a thin aluminium mirror finish or “solar surface” to the inner that reflects light in a controlled way down to the streets below.
Based on a modular solution, the prefabrication and repitition of the individual cladding units help to minimise waste during the fabrication process while also providing a greater degree of finish to minimise infiltration/exfiltration which the Masdar sustainability parameters demand.
Laboratory courtyard at the Masdar Institute Campus (upward view)
A view of the laboratory building at the Masdar Institute Campus
FaçadePassive shading elements designed to eliminate the direct solar gain to reduce cooling loads within the laboratory spaces.
AccommodationAccommodation at podium level set back as defined within the masterplan guidelines to provide year-round shaded pedestrian colonades for walking around campus.
PV PanelsElevated and overhung to maximise area for energy generation and provide shading to the street below.
External ETFE and Foil Cushions
Reflective inner layer to bounce daylight down
to street level while increasing daylight
levels in residential apartments.
Passive Shading ElementPassive shading element
density and distribution optimised through
computer modelling to maximise daylighting and
visual connection within the open laboratories.
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Low-energy Lighting SystemsIntelligent controls maximise daylight utilisation, energy savings and enhanced occupant control.
LayoutsThe open laboratories and lab support areas are designed to a vibration criteria VC-A to ensure flexibility of layouts.
Active Chilled BeamsProvide fresh air and cooling with fresh air volumes reduced by over 40% through the use of advanced air management systems.
Plug and PlayLabs offer unparalleled ‘plug and play’ flexibility
and adaptability for researchers, with
each lab bay having separate overhead lab
and environmental ‘multi service beams’.
These provide dedicated connectivity to power, comms, lab gases and
fluids, lighting, fresh air and cooling
Occupant SensorsCommunicate with
lighting, cooling and fresh air systems to
match supply to demand.
LightingIndirect lighting enhances visual
comfort for researchers.
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Interior of Laboratory at Masdar Institute
Laboratories Interior
The concept for flexible laboratories has meant that the Masdar Institute design does not fall into any normal laboratory building ‘type’ where lab buildings are designed around specific science / research requirements.
At the Masdar Institute the flexible ‘plug and play’ base build services and flexible casework / office pod systems allow for the building interiors to be easily reconfigured to suit changing needs of the research programmes accommodated. This required investment in a robust building fabric - including low vibration
floor plates and open plan spaces free of columns within the laboratories. Services are all provided from overhead on a grid system - with a robust resin floor that allows for the laboratories to be used wet lab research programmes also. The labs have been designed such that they could be converted to biotech / bio science laboratories with minimal conversion costs. Thus minimising the environmental impact associated typically with building retrofitting to suit the ever changing needs of the science and researchers.
Open Lab Layout Plan – Option 1
Open Lab Layout Plan – Option 3
Open Lab Layout Plan – Option 2
Open Lab Layout Plan – Option 4
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Laboratory
Example laboratories furniture configuration.
Residential Exterior
Caption to be confirmedCaption to be confirmedA view of the residential façade at the Masdar Institute Campus
The residential concept for the Masdar Institute focuses on the creation of lively energetic neighbourhoods. The university campus is conceptualised around a hierarchy of streets and squares that form the backdrop to an environment of integration, communication and co-operation; a place active day or night.
The high density low-rise living is a major component of this low impact development and is vital in achieving a balanced socially and commercially sustainable campus. The marriage of traditional Arabic building practice and modern technologies satisfy demands for style, adaptability and flexibility while keeping a sustainable footprint.
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Shaded BalconyEach apartment has its own shaded balcony, screened for privacy and solar control
Residential BalconiesPre-fabricated for ease of installation and quality.
WindowsArea vary in response to daylight availability, and
are positioned to wash walls and ceilings with
daylight.
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Façade of residential at Masdar Institute
FaçadesThe form of the residential façades were influenced not only by the surrounding dunes for their form but also the use of sand as the aggregate to the Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) which gives the cladding their distinctive colour.
Wall InsulationLevels over three times better than ASHRAE benchmark.
Linoleum Floor• Floor covering
consisting mainly of Linseed Oil.
• Ranked first as Nature friendly Floor covering.
High CeilingsTo keep rooms cool.
White Surfacesto maximise reflection of daylight and reduce usage of artificial lighting.
FramesFSC timber frames provide enhanced thermal performance at the lowest possible ecological impact.
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Residential Interior at Masdar Institute
Living Area Bathroom Study Area
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Residential Interior
A typical layout of a one bedroom apartment in the Masdar Institute Campus
• Apartments are accessed via a fully shaded, atrium space that exploits thermal mass and natural ventilation to provide free cooling – atrium rooflights allow diffuse daylight, blocking direct sunlight and providing additional roof area for PVs.
• FSC timber-framed high performance low-e double glazing system, with openable windows positioned to maximise natural ventilation effectiveness.
• Acoustic separation ensures privacy and peaceful study.
• Metering for each unit provides feedback to the building facilities manager and individual occupants on energy and water and cooling demand.
• The first phase of the Institute campus has 102 residential apartments spread between four residential blocks; one of which is a female block.
• Laminate for Furniture, Operable Walls and Doors is made of Unbleached Cellulose Fibrous Material and Water based Resins.
• Adhesives between Particle Board and Laminate are Water based and less than 3.5% VOC.
• Particle Board is FSC, contain less than 8mg/100gr formaldehyde and is made of 100% recycled post-consumption materials.
• Varnishes for Door Handles are water base.
• Extruded Aluminium for Door Handle + Structure of Wall Panelling: is 100% Recycled Aluminium.
• Kitchen Work-top and Splash-back are made of 100% Recycled Waste Stone.
• Water saving specification will enable a reduction of up to 54% in potable water consumption compared to UAE baseline.
• Dedicated potable and recycled water supplies, with separate grey and blackwater drainage.
• Latest low-energy lighting specification including the latest LED systems.
• When unoccupied, each apartment enters a ‘sleep’ mode to minimise energy consumption.
• iBMS control of cooling and lighting provided for Masdar Institute demand response ‘smart appliance’ pilot project.
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Knowledge Centre
Evolution of Knowledge Centre design
The slightly flattened spherical shape of the university’s Knowledge Centre reflects the designers’ efforts to optimise the building’s photovoltaic (PV) energy harvesting – based on its orientation, the inclination of the PV panels and maximisation of the roof’s surface area. As well, a large self-shading overhang allows for a full wall of glass. Generally, in order to reduce building cooling loads, all windows in Masdar City must be shaded to prevent direct sunlight from reaching inside. This window not only provides a large amount of natural light to enter the study areas of the centre, but it also offers views on to one of the city’s “green finger” linear parks that passes close by the centre.
The glulam (glued laminated) timber roof is graceful and beautiful, and it was chosen over steel because by using FSC- and PEFC-certified timber, it has a lower embodied energy coefficient. On the northeast section of the building’s exterior roof, the eye-catching flat and folded zinc cladding provides ventilated shading to parts of the building and the Family Square.
The diagram below shows how the design of the Knowledge Centre evolved to produce not only a striking architectural statement, but an efficient, practical building.
South
FACE SOUTH
1) ORIENT SOUTH 2) BRING CORNERS DOWN
3) RAISE CORNER/LOWER OVERHANG
Section Section
Section Perspective
4) ANGLE OVERHANG AND FACADE
• Maximizes Energy Generation
• Faces Linear Park
• Shades Facade to Allow Glazing/Views
• 10 Degrees Roof Angle Optimizes Energy Generation
• Improves Natural Ventilation
• Allows for Indirect Natural Light
Angle Overhangto 41.2 degrees
Winter SolsticeNoon Sun[41.2 degrees]
Evening Sun
Bring Corners Down
RaiseCorner
Raise
Lower Facade Overhang
Lower
• Self-Shades Facade/Blocks Low-Angle Sun/Allows Glazing and Views
• Increase Roof Surface Area/ Improves Energy Generation
• Maximizes Self-Shading/ Allows Glazing and Views
• Creates Colonnade
• Back of Shell Can Be Open to Indirect Natural Light
Roof ShellOversailing roof shell shades the overall building to minimise the cooling load and control the natural daylight levels of the study spaces within.
GlazingHigh performance glazing optimises daylight transmission whilst reducing glare and preventing external heat gains entering the building.
Building OrientationThree-dimensional form developed using computational solar analysis to maximise the efficiency of the PV array and thermal tubes. The performance data regards the PV panels stated in the roof shell fact.
Roof ShellConstructed from
engineered timber harvested from
sustainable forests.
EntranceShaded environment
at street level.
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A view of the Knowledge Centre at the Masdar Institute Campus
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Knowledge Centre Interior
Interior of Knowledge Centre at Masdar Institute
The interior of the Knowledge Centre is divided into a vertical hierarchy of spaces, with social gathering on the ground floor, group study and technology-driven research in the central level, and private, quieter research areas dedicated to individual use on the upper level away from the noise and activity of the active ground floor.
The interior of the knowledge centre is conditioned by displacement ventilation from the raised floor air plenum.
• Laminate is made of Unbleached Cellulose Fibrous Material and Water based Resins.
• Adhesives between Particle Board and Laminate are Water based and less than 3.5% VOC.
• Particle Board is FSC, contain less than 8mg/100gr formaldehyde and is made of 100% recycled post-consumption materials.
• Varnishes are water based.
• Extruded Aluminium + trims is 100% Recycled Aluminium.
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Diagram showing the environmental concept behind the Knowledge Centre
Natural Ventilation
Shading to seated areaArranged around central water feature to provide localized cooling.
Roof Lights
Maximise Views to the Park
Displacement Cooling
Detail of staircase at the Knowledge Centre
Natural ventilation of the Knowledge Centre Roof
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Outcomes
“The Masdar Institute campus gives an insight into the ways the future city will pursue sustainability, and a wander through the complex is illuminating. The campus, which consists of a main building, a knowledge centre and student quarters, will use significantly less energy and water than business as usual. In particular, residential quarters of the complex is designed to use around 51 percent less energy than average buildings in the UAE, and 54 percent less water.
Around 30 percent of the campus’s energy will be covered by solar panels on the roof, with 75 percent of hot water also being heated by the sun”.
• Further refine the use of prefabrication where possible, for environmental gains provided by minimising waste during production and also allow ease of installation on site.
• Ensure the delivery of all passive design features in a building design - to help to ensure a good sustainable base for the buildings performance, before seeking additional energy savings delivered by active technology and behavioural change of the building users.
• Further develop and refine local production and use of locally sourced materials, providing a long term investment in the local workforce and industry; providing sustainable products that further reduce embodied energy associated in the procurement of products.
• Learning from the architectural heritage of the past in the region to help inform the contemporary architectural future.
• Further thermal imaging analysis for strategically locating water features in shaded areas and planting of trees and vegetation to provide localised cooling, without wasting recycled water.
• Further develop the position and optimisation of strategic use of thermal mass to provide free radiant cooling, from night time ‘purge’.
• Maximising use of diffuse daylight to provide natural lighting to internal spaces and avoiding direct solar gain from sunlight.
• Encourage the appointed contractors to implement on-site recycling and minimise the extent of packaging to procurred products delivered to reduce the overall quantity of waste going to landfill/incineration in line with Masdar City’s vision of low waste.
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Achievements against UAE business as usual
Water consumption
Water
Business as usual 390 litres per person per day
Masdar Institute Campus 179 litres per person per day 54%Savings
Annual energy consumption
Technologies providing % annual energy savings against UAE business as usual (incremental contribution)
3% 15% 18% 45%
Solar hot water system
Efficient lighting Reduced cooling demand and efficient
cooling systems
Efficient fans and pumps
Proposed designAdditional contribution from PV’s
51%66%
The Next Phase
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39
Next Steps - Phase 1B of the Masdar Institute 40
Proposed Masterplan of Masdar City 42
40 41
Next Steps - Phase 1B of the Masdar Institute
Phase 1B is the second phase of the Masdar Institute which is due to start construction shortly. It aims to continue the vision for the research to be carried out there set by the first phase and re-enforcing the UAE’s vision in creating a sustainable research hub. - primarily the desire to mix an extended academic research programme within the same laboratory spaces.
This second phase compliments the facilities just completed on site by adding more residential accommodation (219 1-bed apartments), laboratory space and laboratory core facilities (such as hi-bays, imaging suite and radio frequency shielding laboratories) in addition to a Multi-Use Hall. The latter provides the fledgling campus a new iconic building to go with the Knowledge Centre in the first phase and the City overall with additional recreational activities with the introduction of a swimming pool and a multiple function hall which can be arranged for sport or as a flexible conference facility.
Phase 1B sq m
Classroom 573
Common Facilities (including Multi-Use Hall) 5,860
Laboratory 20,098
Office 710
Residential 17,199
Retail 366
Landscape 15,221
Roof 12,282
Other Areas (Building Services, External Circulation, External Balconies etc.)
13,829
Total 86,138
Detail showing the master plan of the Masdar Institute Campus phase 1B
Residential
Undercroft
Residential
Multi-Use HallPodium
Residential, female block (R3)
Laboratories
41
LaboratoriesOpen Plan Labs
Lab Support
Academic Offices
Atrium Cafe
PodiumMajlis (Male and Female)
Prayer Rooms
Canteen
Classrooms
Retail
Student Union
F+B Outlets
Multi-Use Hall25m Swimming Pool
Gym
Prefunction Room
Sports Hall
Undercroft7no. Hi-bay Labs
(inc. Radio Frequency shielded hi-bays, Imaging Lab)
Satellite Workshop
2no. FRT Loading Bay
Residential MixMale block (R1) - 54
1 bed - 50
1 bed disabled - 4
Male block (R2) - 115
1 bed - 117
1 bed disabled - 0
Female block (R3) - 50
1 bed - 46
1 bed disabled - 4
Total – 219 Residential Apartments
Detail showing the master plan of the Masdar Institute Campus phase 1B
42
Proposed Masterplan of Masdar City
43
