watching brief had to be adhered to . Having selected the KrugerRoos design based on its urban considerations , early environmental investigations indicated optimum efficiency was to be gained from a true north / south orientation . This deviation from the Portswood Ridge orthogonal alignment did not find support .
However , further development in the façade and building services designs revealed that the orientation was not that critical and that the façade treatment would be adjusted to suit the orientation . Hence the scheme that was taken to design development was a scheme that was aligned with the Portswood Ridge Platform , satisfied BP ’ s request for a broad footprint and consisted of 3 wings connected in T formation .
The Building A low-rise 3 storey campus-style building was developed . The building clearly had to demonstrate resource efficiency and express ‘ Green Architecture ’.
The environmental performance of any building is largely determined by the design of its envelope . The T-shaped building is orientated at a 45- degree angle to the north with the main entrance on the southeast corner . Elevations are modulated through adjusting each façade to its orientation by means of a kit of parts .
Ventilation stacks at the building ’ s outer edge allow the double-glazed windows to be deeply recessed , reducing solar heat gain in summer but allowing sun penetration to office space in winter . Light shelves in the recesses shade windows according to the season and reflect light into the deep plan . Balconies and the position of the solid terracotta wall panel complete the façade-ordering devices . The hollow external envelope allows the building to continue and expand the façade precedent of the Graduate School of Business framing the window and balcony recesses .
Visible from Western Boulevard and the city , the roof was designed as a fifth elevation . A series of lanterns along the circulation route provide natural light to the core in sufficient quantities for forest mahogany trees to grow below . Direct sunlight is eliminated by orientat-
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