Newington College AJ Rae and LRD Pyke Centres - Maximising facilities within a limited location

A solar control system incorporated into a noise control solution

June 2013

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Client - Newington College

Architects - Budden Nangle Michael Hudson

Builder - AW Edwards

Project Management - Cadence Australia

Hydraulic & Civil Engineer - SEMF

Structural Engineer - M & G Consulting

Mechanical & Electrical Engineer - Shelmerdines

Forward thinking provides long term benefits.

Newington College at Stanmore, is a private boysschool, steeped in a long history of traditional values and education excellence. As part of celebrating the college’s sesquicentenaryyear, a 4 storey building was planned and constructed, befitting the 150th year of this auspicious educational facility.

Newington College stands on a large estate once owned by John Jones, a saddlery business proprietor from George Street, Sydney.

John bequethed his estate to the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1848, that had already established the Newington Boys College at Silverwater, in 1863. However it was not until the death of John’s widow, Catherine who died in 1873, that the title deeds were obtained by the church. At the suggestion by Catherine’s nephew Edmund Webb, Newington College was relocated from Silverwater, to facilitate the ever increasing student enrolments at the school.

“The advanced twin wall cavity facade with integral solar tracking louvres provides an energy efficient, acoustically sealed and visually transparent solution generating impressive views into and out of the building.” Ray Hudson, Architect - Budden Nangle Michael Hudson

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Today, Newington College occupies an area of 325 acres surrounded by a mixture of residential homes, industrial and commercial businesses. A very different environment from the early sheep and cattle district that once existed. The college caters for approximately 1,600 day students as well as around 50 boarders and boasts a large sports ground, squash, gymnasium and swimming facilities. Planes persistently fly low over the college, their destination the nearby Kingsford-Smith Airport and it was this ongoing problematic factor that prompted the new building project as well as other improvements to the college.

Collaborative planning discussionsThe architectural firm Budden Nangle Michael Hudson; specialists in school and university constructions; were commissioned in 2011 by the College Council to design an “educational hub” as part of the college’s Sesquicentanary projects and overall masterplan. Ray Hudson the principal conceptual architect, and the Council determined the building objectives.

One existing building was replaced by two new college facilities, the LRD Pyke Centre and the AJ Rae Centre.The building required the incorporation of a “specialist lecture theatre, innovative sciencefacilities, integrated library/resource/IT facilities to support current research and learning technology plus student cafeteria and function spaces to enhance and upgrade the functionality of the existing campus.”

The architects also believed the concept had to besensitive to the historic site. “To respect the Founders building as the predominant building on the campus.” The building was not to impact on the views to and from Founders. Catering for all the prerequisites the new construction was built into the ground to ensure the historic building “did remain the tallest and most dominant building.”

The architects’ final building design was submitted in late 2011. It entailed a 4 storey free standing contruction, its footprint of 1,210 square metres, exceeded the original building’s foootprint by 598 square metres, however, the “careful integration of circulation nodes linked all academic buildings on the campus for the first time.” The entire lower ground floor was to be clad in sawn sandstone while the upper floors on the north, east, south and west incorporated a combined facade of approximately 600 square metres of double skin glazing.

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Top left and right: Newington College Thomas Rowe Founders’ Wing 1880. Courtesy of State Library of NSW.

Left: Reflections appear on the double-skin facade glazing.

“To create an

educational hub as

part of the college’s

overall masterplan.”Newington College Council.

“.... a modern,

inspirational symbol of

Newington’s future.”

Ray Hudson, Architect

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Above: Architect’s elevation drawings showing the main double skin facade of the new building and its relationship with the old.Bottom left: The western double skin facade overlooking the quadrangle / social area. Bottom right: Specialty Louvres on the eastern facade.

Each high glazed panel, 2 metres wide by 4.7 metre, would weigh a hefty 300 kilograms, and fit into the overall height of 9.7 metres high. The glass would be supported by glazing channels top and bottom, and incorporate 15 mm annealed vertical glass fins. The internal glazing would be frame fitted, flush face to the inside with jockey sashes inline with the fixed glass for access and maintenance. The cantileverd design, would provide a 1 metre wide cavity.

The architects’ concept for the adjacent Pyke Centre western facade that housed the science labs was a non ventilated closed cavity facade.

Altogether, this new construction required effective solar control, maximium natural light and excellent noise insulation. The expansive glazing on the western facade would reflect the beautiful historic sandstone building with its elaborate tower, also creating an interesting vista from the new seating designed on the quadrangle below.

The Rae Centre’s four double skin facades over

2 storeys were to house the main solar control systems, namely 174 horizontal aluminium louvres and 240 vertical louvres, both 600 mm wide. The non-ventilated closed cavity facade of the Pyke Centre would involve an installation of 24 external venetian blinds.

Top: The joint AJ Rae and LRD Pyke Centres.

Right middle: The southern side roller blinds; part of the existing interior refurbishment; and below the closed cavity facade of the Pyke Centre featuring the Specialty Venetian Blinds.

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Horiso’s and Turner Bros. timely interventionsThe team from Turner Bros. presented the

architects with three solutions, involving the solar control operation, the installation of the system and the product itself - the louvres. If agreed and implemented these solutions would make significant improvements to the overall efficiency, effectiveness and appearance of the north, east, south and west facing double skin facades.

The first solution to debate was the non-ventilated double skin facade. Horiso believed a partially ventilated double skin facade on the north face would contribute to expelling the build up of heat within the cavity and ensure this heat would not permeate the main library area.

Second solution, manufacturing the louvres out of aluminium rather than timber. Horiso knew that the weight of timber louvres of this size would increase the load bearing on any motorised operating system. Alternatively, the use of aluminium together with the choice of a partially ventilated double skin facade would dramatically reduce the heat within the facade and increase the longevity of the system. Furthermore, an aluminium colour finish was available to achieve a sympathetic appearance alongside the historic sandstone building.

Their third solution, the operating system and its “invisible” housing.

Getting it right To finalise the double skin facade solar control component of the building, the architects investigated and invited quotes from several louvre manufacturing companies including Horiso, a local manufacturer. It was a Horiso brochure that initially gave the architects inspiration for this particular project. After viewing all their options they believed Horiso had the optimum louvre product with an operating system to be designed specifically for this building.

Following the initial reference, Horiso represenative Greg Petterson together with Jason Turner, a product manager from Turner Bros., were invited to discuss with the architects their three main concerns. How to design and install the louvre system within the glazing design, how to achieve a warm appearance on the louvres and how to make the operating system invisible.

During their initial discussion, their meeting ventured into talking through other solar control options. Namely, a fully ventilated facade utilising venetians; which wouldn’t combat the excessive noise from overhead aircraft; and the use of natural timber louvres which wouldn’t maximise the longevity of the shading system, particularly on the northern facade.

Outside discussions took place between Horiso, its engineering specialists and the commissioned Specialty Louvre System installers, Turner Bros. The team went back to the architects with ideas to resolve their concerns.

Top left: The north and west facing facades showing the vertical and horizontal louvres respectively. Top right: The southern facade of the buiding.

Breaking new ground The Horiso engineering team had designed an operating system particularly for this project, not noticeable and without the normally heavy duty motors required for this system. Structural load bearing extruded aluminium encasements were devised, housing a common drive shaft with heavy duty gears connected to standard box motors. In addition, specially designed heavy duty, friction free PTFE (Teflon) bearings would enable the individual 120 kilogram louvres to operate under the high compression loads. These would sit in the extruded aluminium drive adaptors to engage the drive shaft.

The encasements would be situated neatly at the bottom of each bay of vertical louvres and at one end of the horizontal louvre bays and between the vertical glass separating each bay. It would become part of the structure of the solar shading system and integrate with the design of the glazing framework. The encasements would also be manufactured with a detachable access panel for easy maintenance if required.

“The clients were

ecstatic with the look

and functionality of

the facade.”

Alex De Belin, Architect

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Above: View inside the building facing west.Bottom: The simple designed encasements house the operating system at the both ends of the horizontal louvres.

Solar path calculations would be programmed into the facade operating system to initiate the opening of the louvres and blinds, maximising daylight harvesting while minimising solar glare within the building.

The architects were enthusiastic about the skill and input provided by the Horiso and Turner Bros. teams and the solutions were approved.

Behind the scenes Once the solar shading systems were installed the Horiso engineering team commenced the commissioning of the operating system. Mathematically based astronomical solar path calculations were determined with a 10% overlap ratio included. These calculations were then programmed into the facade operating system to maximise the harvesting of daylight inside the building. The installation of a brightness sensor also ensures that the solar shading systems do not close on over cast days, reducing the need and costs of artificial lighting.

Outcomes accommplished Ray Hudson briefly summarised his thoughts on completion of the project. “Detailed cost planning met by re-use of existing refurbished

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Newington College Library Environmentally Sustainable Design achievements

• Double skin facade and high fabric insulation levels reduce energy usage.

• Spill air from the library air conditioning draws into the open area at the bottom of the double glazed facade - cooling and reducing condensation.

• Grey water re-use of storm water.

• Gas boosted solar hot water.

• High natural light levels with controlled building depths.

Key building facts

• Building footprint - 1,210 square metres.

• 4 levels - L1 - 1,004, L2 - 1,115, L3 - 1,166, L4 - 788 square metres.

• State of the art Library with video conferencing capabilities.

• Lecture Theatre specifically designed for oral presentations.

• State of the art science facilities.

• Double skin facade accounted for 60% of the overall new building facade.

facilities, maximising integration of new and existing building elements and use of cost and energy efficient facade system meeting acoustic and thermal objectives.”

Once the students had some time to experience the new building functions and facilities, Ray concluded his final notes on the project. “The building meets the brief in functional terms with high levels of student usage and interest in the new library/resource/IT centre. Efficient servicing and teaching of science is conducted in innovative facilities with linked preparation and research areas, ‘superlab’ practical areas and adjoining but flexible theory rooms. The Lecture Theatre is a well used facility adjacent to seminar room areas for expert teacher/breakout group work opportunities.”

Left: The view through the Specialty Venetian Blinds onto the cricket oval. Above left: Detail of the quality components of the Specialty Venetian Blinds. Above right: Blinds are opened to maximise internal daylight conditions by the intelliegence of the operating system.

www.horiso.com.au

Plans and content references: Budden Nangle Michael Hudson/ Alex De Belin.

Photography: Horiso.