The façade design maximizes the use of natural lighting to provide optimum visual comfort for occupants whilst minimizing the need for artificial lighting. The strategy adopted was to maximize window widths to the full width of the rooms and specify 6mm clear float glass that offers a high visual light transmittance and control. The entry of direct natural light is controlled by maximizing solar shading thereby ensuring occupant visual and thermal comfort.
Thermal mass
Thermal design studies completed during the building design phase proposed the use of heavy masonry or concrete walls to the external fabric. Further design development lead to high levels of internal thermal mass, protected from solar gain and high external temperatures by a lightweight façade cladding and insulation. The exposed concrete floor slabs and columns and the partly exposed soffits assist in stabilizing internal temperatures by absorbing internal heat generated during the day. Breezeways serve as cool islands providing cool air and air movement to the occupants and supplying the fan coil units to the adjacent rooms.