High Performing Buildings - Fall 2011 - (Page 50)

Above Green roof overlooking Victoria’s downtown core. Green roofs are used extensively throughout Synergy. They provide residents with amenity spaces, and garden plots reduce storm water runoff and urban heat island effect. Below Synergy towers provide shade for adjacent townhouses. Taller buildings are oriented on an east/west axis to take advantage of passive solar gains. The shades are designed to automatically retract during a windstorm to ensure the fabric does not get damaged. water. Clearly labeled and accessible bins make it easy for residents to separate waste for recycling. The building masses have been oriented in an east/west direction to maximize the spaces between for light penetration while minimizing east/west building faces and solar heat gain. Open plazas are placed to maximize sun exposure while landscape is developed to maximize winter solar penetration while providing shading during the summer. Shadowing goes hand in hand with light penetration. Maximizing light penetration typically minimizes shadowing. However, sometimes shadowing is desired. To accommodate this and to reduce solar heat gain within buildings, horizontal sun shades and deciduous trees are used on south and south/west facing façades. Shading devices are designed to reflect light in winter and to provide shade in summer. Through a combination of thermally broken double glazed low-e Energy Reduction Strategies Central to Synergy’s energy efficiency are a selection of high performance building strategies coupled with district energy efficiencies. The design of a high performance envelope along with passive solar oriented buildings ensured that the heating and ventilation systems could be right sized. Daylight penetration through the whole site is enhanced by the stepped and broken building forms. 50 HigH Performing Buildings fa l l 2 0 1 1 © Perkins+Will Canada Architects Co. © Perkins+Will Canada Architects Co.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Fall 2011

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2011
Commentary
Contents
Manitoba Hydro Place
Maplewood Police and Court Building
Omega Center for Sustainable Living
Dockside Synergy at Dockside Green
Golden Hill Office Center
Letters to the Editor
Products
Advertisers Index

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2011