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Building Envelope, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology

Urbandale’s Proud Foundations

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How an Ottawa builder is using exterior foundation insulation to build better basements.

Drive through a new Urbandale community in Ottawa, and you may notice something different about the houses.  With most houses built in Canada, the brick overhangs the foundation by a couple of inches. In new homes built by Urbandale, the foundation actually extends past the brick, hence their name for this new approach, Proud Foundations.

“What we’ve done is moved the insulation from the interior of the foundation to the exterior” says Matthew Sachs, General Manager of Urbandale Construction. “This keeps the concrete foundation from freezing, which has a number of benefits, including eliminating the chance of moisture problems due to condensation, and reducing the chance of foundation cracks.”

Exterior foundation insulation has been standard practice in commercial construction for years, but is rarely used in residential construction due to the higher cost and attention to detail needed to install it correctly. Urbandale has come up with an innovative way to install exterior insulation that’s cost effective and easy to replicate.

In order to ensure that condensation doesn’t occur on the inside face of the foundation, you need to have the correct ratio of internal and exterior insulation.  Urbandale studied the design criteria for building in Ottawa’s climate and determined that if two thirds of the insulation is placed on the exterior, then the inner face of the foundation wall will never be cold enough to experience condensation. All houses in Canada experience some condensation in the wall assembly throughout the year. In most cases the condensation will evaporate without causing problems, but in some cases, and especially in new homes with large amounts of moisture in the concrete, the condensation can build up which can easily lead to mould. “A poured concrete foundation holds literally thousands of liters of water and can take up to a year to fully dry out”, explains Sachs. “During the first year it’s critical to ensure that condensation doesn’t build up inside the wall assembly, and with our Proud Foundations the conditions are never there for condensation to occur.”

Urbandale’s approach also makes basements more comfortable.  A concrete foundation that is allowed to freeze in the winter will make the basement feel clammy and damp. If the concrete is never allowed to freeze, then it’s easier to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature in the basement. Urbandale also installs insulation underneath the slab, so that heat can’t escape through the floors and the floors are more comfortable to walk on.

Proud Foundation Close-Up

Cracks can occur in concrete foundations when the foundation is subject to repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Concrete is porous which means that the foundation can soak up water like a sponge. When the concrete freezes the water turns to ice and expands, putting extra internal pressures on the concrete. This process of freezing and thawing can make a small crack expand as the pressure literally rips the concrete from the inside out. If the concrete is never allowed to freeze, then this process cannot occur, which reduces the chance of foundation cracks. Urbandale’s approach to exterior insulation also includes a waterproof elastomeric coating on the outside of the insulation, further reducing the chance of moisture getting into the house through foundation cracks.

Urbandale is clearly proud of their new approach, and with good reason. With land prices rising, houses are being built on a smaller footprint, and homeowners are trying to get more out of their home. A more comfortable basement, thanks to Urbandale’s Proud Foundations and under-slab insulation, increases the amount of usable space.  Says Sachs, “We feel that the basement shouldn’t be just the space underneath your home, it should be more of your home.”

Urbandale’s Basement Wall Assembly

(Described from the inside-out)

-Drywall

-Batt insulation in stud cavity

-Poured concrete foundation

-Spray-on waterproof membrane/vapour barrier

-Rigid glass fibre insulation

-Elastomeric coating

 

 

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

Animated Apertures : Biomimicry in Architecture

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B+U Architects

Mixing Nature and Technology

Biomimicry or biomimetics is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems

Los Angeles based B+U Architects, a design office recognized internationally for its digital techniques and use of new technologies and material resources, is once again pushing the boundaries of architecture and urban design with its Animated Apertures Housing Tower project in Lima, Peru. The conceptual framework for the design arose from a “clear interest in emphasizing an architecture that can exist between nature and technology,” inspired by natural patterns, movements and colors with the overarching goal of creating an “interactive and intelligent building organism”. According to the architects, its design aesthetic embraces incongruence, disruption and deformation rather than homogeneity and parametric smoothness – a common solution in many digital designs that the firm wished to avoid.

What makes Animated Apertures so unique is its attempt to rethink and redesign the DNA of the window in terms of function, components, appearance and materiality and then its application to a 20-story tall housing typology. The apertures function as inhabitable spaces or thresholds between interior and exterior that respond to environmental forces such as sun and wind and exploit potential energetic exchanges between the natural and built environments. The exterior of the building is a direct result of the interior spaces and their relationships to specific points in the city, with linear extensions along the window frames that create a soft, blurred building edge that is always in flux rather than a traditionally sharp and rigid one.

Image converted using ifftoany

The building consists of underground parking for 90 cars, a ground floor entry with a cafe and L-shaped living units stacked on top of each other with a North-South orientation. Each unit occupies three levels, giving it a double height living room that is oriented to the San Isidro Golf Club with access to two gardens. Both living room and dining room areas have large foldable glass walls that can be opened to create a continuous indoor-outdoor living experience with plenty of cross-ventilation. The Housing Tower also has a penthouse unit and a rooftop with large pool and garden. The building consists of underground parking for 90 cars, a ground floor entry with a cafe and L-shaped living units stacked on top of each other with a North-South orientation. Each unit occupies three levels, giving it a double height living room that is oriented to the San Isidro Golf Club with access to two gardens. Both living room and dining room areas have large foldable glass walls that can be opened to create a continuous indoor-outdoor living experience with plenty of cross-ventilation. The Housing Tower also has a penthouse unit and a rooftop with large pool and garden.

The overall structure is a cast in place concrete slab and core structure with most of the exterior enclosure made of cast in place concrete. The rough textured concrete shell contrasts sharply with the highly articulated fiberglass composite apertures that are translucent and illuminated with LED’s from within, giving the tower a distinguished colorful glow at night. These apertures will be made out of advanced silicon composites that mix material properties on a molecular level, are able to move without mechanical parts and ultimately mimic systems found in nature. In addition, the new window frames will be coated with thin solar film that produce significant solar energy for the building. B+U’s hope is that with these special technological components, Animated Apertures will help revolutionize and redefine the built environment so that buildings become less invasive and instead become closer to functioning as adaptable organisms.

Project details

Title: Animated Apertures
Architect: Baumgartner+Uriu (B+U)
Location: Lima, Peru
Design Principals: Herwig Baumgartner, Scott Uriu
Project Team: Nema Ashjaee (lead), Aaron Ryan, Jack Gaumer, Ricardo Lledo, Anthony Morey
Type: Housing tower
Size: 5,000 sqm
Material: Advanced silicon composites, ETFE, concrete, glass
Photo credits: B+U, LLP – Herwig Baumgartner, Scott Uriu

 

Architecture, Green Energy, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

SUSTAINABLE.TO – RESILIENT HOUSE

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Three in a row

Third major passive house design award in as many years for architects at Sustainable.TO

By GREG McMILLAN

Paul Dowsett is waxing poetic and his passion has a way of jumping out at you.

The principal architect at Sustainable.TO Architecture + Building is discussing ‘green’ house  design, the future, and human impact on the environment; topics dear to him and at the heart of his life and work.

And he is linking them to his firm’s most recent, most high-profile project; the internationally-acclaimed Resilient House, which was designed specifically for the New York region ravaged by Superstorm Sandy.

“The Resilient House is simple to build and even simpler to operate,” Dowsett tells Green Building and Sustainable Strategies magazine. “It is grounded in building science; being passively heated and cooled, built of durable, environmentally-benign materials, and designed to have excellent indoor air quality without sacrificing energy-efficiency or thermal comfort.

“It is [as the name suggests] resilient, and it is a pleasant space to inhabit – both before, and after, an extreme weather event.  And equally importantly, it is a space that families can adapt to suit their changing needs.  In short, it is a home.”

06 back yard - logo

Sustainable.TO took top prize in a competition launched by the American Institute of Architects; a competition that solicited sustainable housing designs for disaster zones in New York, New Orleans and Joplin, Missouri.

The third major sustainable house design award in as many years for the Toronto-based firm, it follows others for their Low Cost /Low Energy Passive House for New Orleans, plus last year’s CMHC-recognized Willowdale Passive Solar House.

“The intention in entering this [New York] competition was very much to see these houses built,” says Dowsett, noting that an event in October 2013 commemorated the first anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, and initiated the construction of the first Resilient House. “Sustainable.TO is working closely with St. Bernard Project- New York and their affiliate, Friends of Rockaway, to develop a working model for what Sustainable.TO hopes will become the template for how to construct these high quality homes while adhering to a modest budget.”

exterior (alternate) - logo

 

The Resilient House design, he says, orients living spaces towards the sun, and minimizes interior partitions.  Structural insulated panels (SIPs) allow for a tightly sealed and highly insulated building enclosure.

It is designed to resist storm surges with a flood-proof foundation and to optimize use of the sun and wind for passive heating and ventilation, both greatly enhancing its everyday energy-efficiency and in the event of power loss – a common problem in post-disaster regions – the house would remain “livable” even without operating utilities. By using tried and true traditional construction materials and methods, Resilient House can be built for less than usual affordable-housing.

“At the core of our philosophy and practice is the belief that design and construction solutions should be simple, sensitive, and sustainable,” says Dowsett. “Green design has always been important to me.  Where it has changed is how important it is to our clients.”

“Awareness about our human impact on the environment is increasing, and people are taking pride in building responsible architecture.  I can only see this trend continuing as resources become more precious, and sustainable building materials become more accessible. “

Web: www.sustainable.to

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Uncategorized

TD BANK’S NEW CONCEPT BRANCH

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Banking on green

New concept branch in Mississauga showcases TD Bank Group’s commitment to environmental leadership

TD Bank Group customers could be in for a mild, yet pleasant, surprise next time they stop into the new Creditview Road branch in Mississauga.
Bank employees there, in addition to their regular duties, just might go into teaching mode and offer information about the sustainable qualities of the concept branch.

“Educating our customers on what makes this branch unique is very important and we achieve this is a number of ways,” says Scott Hite, head of architecture and design with TD Bank Group. “Employees working in the new branch have all gone through training to not only learn about their new environment, but to enable them to share the story with our customers.”

Customers, Hite says, can learn about the sustainable elements in many ways. Employees, while helping with their banking needs, can have conversations, or conduct tours. Scattered throughout the branch are “green leaves” containing sustainable facts. There are digital displays, including an interactive station providing details about all the green features.

And customers would be well-advised to take advantage of the in-house resources as the sustainable elements are both varied and plentiful.  The open concept and modular design will be immediately noticeable, but there are many more green features that have been incorporated.

TD Branch_2

From the raised floor system, to the geo-exchange heating and cooling, to solar panels to responsibly-sourced materials, attention to sustainable detail is everywhere.

A team from Integral Group – which offers green engineering solutions – provided innovative mechanical and electrical system designs which champion TD’s sustainability goals for the project. To that end, striving to reach a net-zero energy facility standing, the integration of architecture, engineering and operations is a study of aligning art, science and human factors. Turner Construction Company and Green Reason, a sustainable building consulting and project management company, also participated in the project.

A team from Brigholme Interiors Group focused on providing products and services that would allow the branch to be a net-zero energy building.

“Using Haworth’s Integrated Palette of products, manufactured in a zero-waste-to- landfill facility, ensures that the products are sustainable,” says Joe Williams, president of Brigholme Interiors Group.

Targeting LEED gold certification, the branch is an example of TD’s commitment to environmental leadership, Hite says.

“We strive to incorporate sustainable practices into every aspect of our business,” Hite says. “This extends to the spaces we design for our employees, our customers and the community. We’re committed to continuously finding ways to be more sustainable, efficient and reduce our [environmental] footprint. This takes shape through large-scale innovations, all the way to retrofits throughout out network.”

With the Mississauga pilot concept, Hite says TD has leveraged its past experiences to raise the bar.

“We’re taking this opportunity to test and learn from this prototype and really understand how this new design helps us deliver legendary customer service and provide a great workplace for our employees … all the while reducing our footprint.

“With this in mind we are already looking at how we can best utilize and incorporate features of this new concept into our renovation strategy to retrofit our existing network and future builds.”
TD Branch_6
The new TD branch in Mississauga relies on natural lighting and uses solar power to generate electricity. Geothermal systems help heat and cool the branch, while energy efficient LED bulbs and sensors reduce lighting energy. Recycled and recyclable materials have been used in the construction process wherever possible. The wood has been sourced responsibly. Throughout the building low flow fixtures have reduced water use, and low-energy technology has reduced paper use. Rainwater, as much as possible, will irrigate the community garden.

 

Architecture, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

VELO TOWERS

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Pushing the envelope

Velo Towers in Seoul offers a glimpse into new design and construction strategies


 

What do the automotive, aerospace and marine industries have in common with a new tower planned for Seoul, South Korea?

In short – design strategies and techniques.

New York-based Asymptote Architecture, which has gained a reputation for pushing design boundaries, is responsible for this futuristic vision for Velo Towers. By merging technologies and new means of production and fabrication into the building’s design, the project offers a glimpse into the future of sustainable building.

 

 

Part of a master plan for the Yongsan District in Seoul, the reconfiguration of the traditional vertical tower form will have a combination of new horizontal and vertical shapes. This hybrid allows for the formation of a socially engaging and dynamic environmental landmark for the city’s commercial district.

There are eight distinct residential components which have been positioned to take full advantage of the building’s location next to the Yongsan Park, which overlooks the Han River.

 

 

The towers were designed by using a strategy of stacking cylindrical volumes, then utilizing rotation of each volume according to views, privacy and environment. The unique faceted façades of the Velo Towers consist of large prefabricated components made of glass (within custom-molded composite shells), finished in cyan-coloured automotive paint.

The stacked clusters are complemented by roof gardens, shared amenities and internal circulation around light-filled open atrium spaces. The goal – to achieve an alternative architectural and urbanity approach.

There are three major components which make up the architectural ensemble. At the base, a plinth connects the towers and provides space for parkside condominiums and a covered dropoff area underneath. Then, a second stage has stacked volumes that provide gardens, open-air stacks through the cores, and a discreet sense of community within the larger complex.

Finally, there’s a sky bridge, 30 storeys high, that not only structurally connects the two tower cores, but also provides public viewing access overlooking Seoul. In addition, at that level, there are fitness and recreation centres, lounges, pools, spas and cafes.

HIGH RES_Yon01

Asymptote Architecture, with principals Lise Anne Couture and Hani Rashid, has been awarded the prestigious Frederick Kiesler Prize for Architecture and the Arts in recognition of exceptional contributions to the progress and merging of art and architecture. They have also been named by TIME magazine as Leaders in Innovation for the 21st Century.

 
Web: www.asymptote.net

 

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology

The Horizontal Skyscraper

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Designed by Steven Holl Architects, the Vanke Center in China is first of its kind

By Greg McMillan

What happens when talented architects are given a free rein; when they are unencumbered by creative restrictions?

More often than not, especially in this day and age, when sustainable building is moving rapidly into mainstream development, those architectural freedoms result in a project such as the headquarters of Vanke Center in Shenzhen, China, also known as the Horizontal Skyscraper.

“The project is both a building and a landscape,” says Steven Holl, Principal for Steven Holl Architects, who designed the structure, which is as long as New York’s Empire State Building is tall. “It’s a delicate intertwining of sophisticated engineering and natural environment.”

The structure, which opened in 2009, bills itself as a large-scale, hybrid-use building, combining living cultural, working and commercial uses, augmented by a sprawling public tropical garden. And there are mounds containing a 500-seat auditorium and restaurants. It was also one of the first LEED platinum-rated buildings in Southern China.

Most noticeable, however, is the fact the building seems to actually ‘hover’ above the ground, which in turn allows for free public use and an aggressive eco-system restoration.

SHA Vanke 10-03 7031_2

The structure is suspended on eight cores, or ‘legs,’ about 50 metres part. The first of its kind, the Horizontal Skyscraper is a combination of cable-stay bridge technology and high-strength concrete framing, with tension cables carrying a load of 3,280 tons.

Additionally, a spa, conference centre and parking are located under the large public landscape.  Above the 60,000-square metre site, there is a green roof on the main building, which takes up approximately 15,000-square feet.

Several sustainable aspects are apparent. Fed by a greywater system, there is also rainwater harvesting and a micro-climate is created by cooling ponds. As mentioned, the building has a green roof, but there are also solar panels – supplying 12.5 per cent of the building’s total energy needs – and local materials, such as bamboo, are utilized throughout the Vanke headquarters.

“Bamboo is highly renewable,” Holls tells Green Building & Sustainable Strategies magazine,“ and is easily available in China. We used it for doors, floors and furniture throughout the building, instead of using raw materials or exotic woods.”

SHA Vanke 10-03 7162_2

Holl also stressed that other renewable materials were incorporated, including a ‘green carpet’ containing recycled content, non-toxic paint, and GreenScreen solar shading fabrics, which do not “off-gas” during their lifetime and are easier to recycle and divert to landfills.

“Interface FLOR carpet tiles are used throughout the open office area,” Holl explains. “This carpet is a cradle-to-cradle product, meaning that it is not only produced from recycled materials, but that the manufacturer agrees to collect any damaged carpet and to recycle it into other carpet or products. This carpet contains a GlasBac RE backing that has an average of 55 per cent total recycled content with a minimum of 18 per cent post-consumer recycled content. It uses recycled vinyl backing from reclaimed carpet tiles and manufacturing waste.”

Seen as tsunami-proof, the building has a glass façade which is protected against the wind and sun by porous, controlled operable louvers.

“Also, by raising the building off the ground, “ Holl says, “an open, publicly-accessible park creates a new social space in an otherwise closed and privatized community.

“And with sky gardens, sunken courtyards, balconies at the ends of each floor, and terraces throughout the building, we create micro-climates that bring the landscape further indoors and create passively cooled tertiary zones.”

Web: www.stevenholl.com

Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Sustainability, Technology

LEDCOR RENEW

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More than meets the eye

Retrofit of office tower in Toronto’s commercial district generates bonus paybacks

By Greg McMillan

The retrofit of an existing office building in the heart of Toronto’s downtown business district uncovered a treasure trove of savings and new revenue streams.

Much more than a vintage Sixties’ building with a few energy upgrades, the 77 Bloor Street West project is testament to the kinds of bonus paybacks that can often be nurtured with such renewal projects.

Ledcor Renew, which specializes in retrofitting existing structures, started the ball rolling at 77 Bloor Street West, demonstrating to property manager Morguard Realty Holdings that a business case could be made showing how the 21-storey site would be rejuvenated for another 25-plus years.

There was more of an upside, as it turns out – much, much more. Most noticeably, Ledcor Renew was able to create an entirely new level of leasable office space by converting a mechanical plenum floor.

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“We were able to show that the mechanical room was redundant and could be modified to become office space,” said Ledcor Renew’s Project Director David Herlihey.

Discovered when Ledcor Renew did its initial building optimization studies, says Jonathan Westeinde, Ledcor Renew’s Vice President, the found floor serves as an example, of “the reality that no building is the same”.

“The proper analysis is only accurate when focusing on building-specific data and determining the appropriate individual building optimization metrics.”
He says energy, water and general operational efficiencies are the top-line items most clients gravitate to when considering a retrofit, but “generally we end up with at least 50 per cent of our business consisting of savings and 50 per cent from new revenues realized from space optimization.”
At 77 Bloor Street West, there were special challenges – none more obvious than the fact that all the renovations had to be done while the building was fully occupied.

Herlihey says Ledcor Renew met with the client, discussed methodologies and integrated some of the restraints needed regarding tenants and floor availabilities.

“We listened to the client’s wishes,” he explains. “Our program intent was to take a 1969 mechanical system and fully modify it from a constant volume, perimeter-induction and interior system to a VAV (variable air volume) controlled system with new DDC (direct digital controls) and perimeter radiators complete with new punch windows.

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The retrofitters circumvented many of the inconveniences associated with working in an occupied office building by following a night-time regimen.

“We had to work above occupants’ desks at night – open ceiling tiles and remove existing ductwork and install replacements, for example,” says Herlihey. “The mechanical system change was done in sections over eight nights per floor. We staggered the switch over from one area to the next so that at any time, part of the old and new systems were being utilized to maintain temperature. This methodology also had to be adjusted since some floors were completed in winter and others in summer, through the 11-month renovation.”

Ultimately, operating costs were reduced through energy conservation and the project, completed in September, 2013, is now targeting LEED® Gold status. The mechanical and electrical system upgrades and window retrofit improve energy performance and increased tenant comfort. Aesthetic upgrades to the ground floor, including a new canopy, upgraded entrance and dramatic lighting, added architectural interest.

“Morguard was an excellent client to work with,” says Westeinde. “They understood the value of a holistic integrated building retrofit that would deliver the best short, and long, term returns for their investors.”

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This innovative project at 77 Bloor Street West included the renovation and optimization of a 21-storey office building with ground floor retail at the corner of Bay and Bloor Streets, one of Canada’s most prominent retail shopping districts. Amenities included are shopping, entertainment, , banking, professional suites, high-end fashion design studios and two levels of underground parking. The goal was to reposition the building as Class A calibre, improving the overall long-term returns as well as tenant comfort and retention. Ledcor Renew, a Ledcor Group business division that specializes in retrofitting existing structures, was chosen as a partner to help measure, examine, analyze and implement a building retrofit to achieve those goals.

Web: www.ledcor.com/renew

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

SOLARLEAF

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World’s first algae-based bioreactive facade

RODUCT OVERVIEW

Purpose of this product:

Bioreactor Façade – A dynamic façade system for the production of renewable energy using algal biomass and solar thermal heat. Building Integration:

The system is suitable for both new buildings and existing buildings, and for industrial, commercial,

existing buildings, and for industrial, commercial, residential and public buildings.

Features and benefits:

Full integration of low energy design for energy efficient buildings with a Passivhaus standard;

conversion of natural light to biomass and heat; local storage and use of solar thermal

energy; sustainable energy design – near to CO2 neutral; dynamic and adaptive shading, since

with the increasing intensity of solar radiation the transparency and the degree of total energy

transmission (g-value) decrease; living and dynamic user experience created by the emerging

air bubbles and the variations of colour of the SolarLeaf elements; also applicable as a primary

façade system with additional benefits in terms of high thermal and acoustic insulation.

SOLARLEAF – THE BIOREACTOR FAÇADE

PBR-Pilot Project BIQ_01

The vertical glass louvres are filled with water containing nutrients which conver

daylight and CO2 to algal biomass through the bio-chemical process of photosynthesis

at the same time the water is heated up by solar-thermal effects. The biomass and

heat generated by the façade elements are transported by a closed loop system to the

plant room, where both forms of energy are exchanged by a separator and a heat

exchanger respectively. The temperature levels of the heat generated can be increased by

of the heat generated can be increased by using a hot water pump for the supply of hot

water and for heating the building. Excess heat can be stored by use of a geothermal system.

The biomass has high energy content, and can therefore not only be used for generating

energy but also processed and used by the food and pharmaceutical industries.

To be able to benefit from the synergies of the system, a holistic and comprehensive

design approach is required right from the beginning.

From 2020 onwards, zero-energy houses will be obligatory in Germany and in some

other European countries. Every new building will need to produce the same amount of

will need to produce the same amount of energy as it consumes. In 2012, the energy

generated by photovoltaic systems and solar thermal systems in Germany provided 1.5%

thermal systems in Germany provided 1.5% of the total energy supply, while biomass

as a renewable energy source provided 8%.

The advantage of biomass compared to photovoltaic is that it is a form of solar energy

that can be easily stored and therefore doesn’t require expensive storage technologies

like batteries. The bioreactor façade is the first building integrated system to generate

biomass.

The conversion of light to heat is a well first building integrated system to generate

design. In contrast, the conversion of light to biomass is a biochemical process facilitated by

microscopically small algae, called microalgae.

Microalgae, like other higher level plants, use sunlight for the photosynthetic process and

this is linked to the process of conversion of much more efficient in the conversion of light

to biomass than higher-level plants, because they consist only of single cells, each of whic

is capable of photosynthesis. Microalgae can divide themselves up to two times a day and

thus increase their biomass by a factor of four.

Their biomass contains 23-27 kJ of energy per gram dry weight. This biomass can be used as

raw material for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products or is used for animal food or dietary

supplements. By varying the cell density in the culture medium the transparency can be

varied between 10 and 80%

PBR-Pilot Project BIQ_11

HOW DOES SOLARLEAF WORK?

When used as a secondary façade the bioreactor elements form a rainscreen system

of the outer layer of a double-skin façade. The vertical elements have a size of 2.5m x 0.7m

and can span across a full storey if required. In addition they can rotate along its vertical axis

to track the position of the sun. When fully closed the SolarLeaf forms a continuous outer

skin providing a thermal buffer.

Each SolarLeaf element features a multiple glass assembly, designed to meet the latest

performance criteria of modern façade engineering. The two inner layers form an

18mm wide cavity with a capacity of 24 litres for the circulation of water and growth of

algae. For safety and thermal insulation the photobioreactor is clad on both sides with

laminated safety glass.

Compressed air is introduced to the bottom of each bioreactor at certain time

intervals. The gas emerges as large air bubbles and generates an upstream water flow and

turbulence to stimulate the intake of CO2 and light by the algae. At the same time, the

inner surfaces of the panels are washed by to the naked eye. The flat photobioreactors

are thus very efficient for algal growth and need minimal maintenance. All servicing pipes

for the inflow and outflow of the culture medium and the air are integrated into the

substructure of the SolarLeaf elements. At the BIQ pilot project in Hamburg 32 elements

are combined into a closed loop system and

connected to the plant room.

A central building management system controls all the processes necessary to

operate the bioreactor façade and to fully integrate it with the energy management

system of the building. This includes the control of the algal cell density and the

temperature in the culture medium.

The heat obtained from the façade has a temperature of about 40°C and is either

used directly to heat water or is stored in the ground by use of a geothermal system. The

system can be operated all year long.

The efficiency of the conversion of light to biomass is 10% and to heat 38%. For

comparison, photovoltaic systems have an efficiency of 12-15% and solar thermal

systems 60-65%.

So the bioreactor façade is competitive relative to these other technologies. In

addition, bioreactor façades remove CO2 from flue gas at quantities equivalent to th

build-up of biomass and thus reduce the CO2 emissions from buildings and help to improve

the overall CO2 balance.

PBR-Pilot Project BIQ_05

“The “SolarLeaf ”

bioreactor façade is

pointing the way ahead

for the future of the

façade and low energy

engineering for Green

Buildings”

SOLARLEAF in OVERVIEW

A Solarleaf bioreactor façade:

– produces high value biomass (10% ECS*)

– produces solar thermal heat (38% ECS*)

– provides dynamic shading

– increases the thermal and acoustic

performance

Optimal conditions for building integration:

– Production of a constant flue gas or source

of carbon

– Production of heat throughout the year

– Ideal for south facing façades (>200 m²)

* ECS = energy conversion efficiency ratio, which indicates the percentage of the incoming light

energy converted to biomass or heat.

PBR-Pilot Project BIQ_03

Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

Innovations with Old Tires Transforming Green Building Design

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By: Andrew Horsman, Executive Director, Ontario Tire Stewardship

To create highly functional, award-winning facilities and community spaces, it’s important for builders, architects and designers to understand how users interact with these spaces. But it’s equally important to understand the enhancing role that eco-friendly building materials – such as innovative products made from recycled tires – can play to create industry-leading sustainable facilities.

An increasing number of builders and designers are seeing the value of high performance recycled tire products across all facets of new development projects, from indoor applications to roofing and rooftop patio solutions to surrounding outdoor space design. Various recycled tire products that are available on the market today are highly regarded as environmentally sustainable ways of managing tire waste, while addressing developer and property management considerations around LEED certification, durability, safety and long-term cost effectiveness.

To bring these sustainable solutions to market, Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) – a non-profit organization that operates the Used Tires Program in Ontario – works with product manufacturers and members of Ontario’s tire recycling community to convert old tires into high value recycled tire products. To date, OTS has diverted more than 50 million tires in the province and helped the industry transform tire waste into eco-friendly solutions such as landscaping mulch, flooring underlay, brick pavers, patio tiles and more.

Indoor Applications

Sound absorption, durability and low maintenance materials are important areas for consideration when selecting quality building materials. Old tires are now being recycled into a variety of sustainable flooring solutions to meet these indoor design demands. For example, Toronto’s Corus Entertainment Centre recently incorporated a flooring underlay made from recycled tires to improve sound absorption in the company’s multi-level buildings, soundproof its studios for daily recording purposes, and meet the building guidelines for Impact Insulation Class (IIC) and Sound Transmission Class (STC) requirements to reduce sound that travels between floors and ceilings.
Toronto-based not-for-profit, Earth Rangers Centre for Sustainable Technologies used recycled tire products to serve a completely different purpose. Promoting healthy lifestyle choices for its employees and community members, Earth Rangers re-designed a space within its facility into an accessible gym. Since environmental sustainability was an important element of its organizational culture, work and values, the Pro-Fit athletic flooring provided by manufacturer National Rubber Technologies was a natural fit. The athletic flooring is highly durable to withstand rigorous fitness use, low maintenance and slip resistant, addressing Earth Rangers’ safety standards. It also contributed to the facility’s Platinum status under LEED for Existing Buildings .

Tires on the Roof

It seems an unlikely place to house our old tires, but recycled tire products have been used by many residential and commercial builders across North America as roofing shingles and eco-friendly patio tile solutions for green rooftop spaces. High quality composite roof shakes made from recycled tires are far more durable than traditional cedar and other wood shakes. When applied to an average sized 4,000 sq. ft. roof, recycled rubber shingles can also keep up to 64 scrap tires out of harmful landfills.

Designers of the Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP) in Kitchener, Ontario saw great value in using these roof shingles. A winner of the 2011 Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the non-governmental organization category, the REEP House serves as a public learning centre, educating homeowners on ways to make their homes more energy efficient and sustainable. Consistent with its objectives to be a leading example in sustainable design, REEP House chose Enviroshake’s composite roof shingles made from 95% recycled materials, which features fire and hail resistant qualities, do not decay, blister or peel, and can last more than 50 years without losing its aesthetic appeal when compared to the shorter life span of cedar shakes.

As a result of using Enviroshake’s roof shingles, the REEP House not only gained LEED industry rating points, but these points have contributed to its pursuit of a Platinum industry certification under the LEED Canada for Homes program.

Outdoor Applications

When designing award-winning buildings, what surrounds them is just as important to creating the desired atmosphere as what is inside the buildings. This includes accessible parking lots, landscaping and pedestrian walkways.

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Using recycled tire products in high-traffic pedestrian and vehicle zones is highly beneficial from a design aesthetic, development quality and environmental perspective.  Many of these surfacing solutions are highly durable, safer for pedestrian use from its slip resistant qualities, and easier to maintain as rubber bricks. Meanwhile, pavers are easier to install, remove and re-align if necessary. Due to their recycled rubber composition, rubber pavers and bricks won’t have cracking and warping damages due to extreme Canadian temperature fluctuations in the summer and winter months when compared to traditional alternatives such as concrete and asphalt.

Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughan, Ontario and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) recently partnered with OTS to use recycled tire products in a new way that makes the facility more sustainable, while creatively addressing municipal storm water management issues. TRCA replaced Kortright’s old asphalt parking lot with Eco-Flex Churchill Brick Pavers and IOWAT’s AZEK VAST permeable recycled tire paver systems, to test and showcase a sustainable storm water management solution, reduce the amount of runoff and improve the overall aesthetics and long-term maintenance of its frequently used parking lot.

Highly shock absorbent playground surfacing solutions made from recycled rubber are also being featured in outdoor play areas where builders must adhere to high safety standards. In North America, playground standards require surfaces to pass a minimum safety performance not exceeding 1000 Head Injury Criteria (HIC). Recycled tire products, such as those manufactured by SofSurfaces can provide an HIC rating below 570, which is the threshold considered safe for children in an automobile crash. Since playground surfaces may harden over time, this extremely safe rating ensures the surface remains compliant to the standard for the long-term.

In addition to leading builders and architects, consumers are also showing their support for the use of eco-friendly alternatives. In fact, a recent study conducted by OTS found that 94 per cent of Ontarians felt that commercial and residential developers and builders should be more active in using environmentally sustainable building materials. As this demand for high quality, environmentally sustainable building solutions rises, so too will the relevance and use of innovative recycled tire products to transform everyday spaces into leading examples of the latest in green design.