Hulley and Kirkwood

Project Title: RGU Faculty of Management & Design, Aberdeen

Client: Robert Gordon University

Project Value: £17m

Hulley contact: Gordon McInnes

This Project was a major New Build Development at Garthdee, Aberdeen to provide some 12,500m² for Teaching, Research, Library and Support Function Accommodation.

The Building embodies a low energy design approach to make best use of fabric heat storage and mixed mode ventilation to combine natural ventilation for perimeter areas with supplementary mechanical ventilation. The supplementary ventilation strategy recognises that perimeter classrooms require supplementary ventilation in Winter to avoid cold draughts and high infiltration heat losses from cold winds. In mid-season and Summer these areas are naturally ventilated to overcome solar and internal gains.

For the major part of the year the ‘green’ building, natural ventilation, night free cooling approach provides a comfortable low energy environment. For high occupancy during Summer months and to provide ventilation needs of the occupants during cold windy Winter weather, key areas have a supplementary mechanical ventilation system. This is based on a variable air volume displacement ventilation system (VAV-DV). Raised floors are not provided and supply air is delivered at a low level from specially designed displacement ventilation diffusers.