CASE STUDY | BOOLA KATITJIN BUILDING COLOUR MAPPING DRAWINGS NDY has produced a colour-mapping process linking spreadsheet data to Revit models so it can start developing the design while the architect is still creating layouts and moving rooms around. It uses colour mapping on the drawings to graphically depict various building services design solutions and parameters during the early design phases. NDY assigns parameters in a spreadsheet format, which it connects to the digital model of the building to convey to the architect how it is planning to service the building from each specific disciplines perspective. Specific parameters are assigned to a room for example, lux levels, mechanical temperature bands, or a servicing philosophy so that, if the room is moved in the Revit model, the parameters move with it. It enables us to very quickly adapt to architectural changes early in the design development, says Fourie. The colour-mapping system also makes it easier for non-technical clients and user groups to sign off a scheme. Instead of having to sign off a lighting layout, they can sign off a colour-mapped space that might have, say, yellow areas showing office-type fittings delivering 300lux and blue areas where the lighting is designed to deliver 150lux. Rain water harvesting faade and natural ventilation pathways in order to minimise cooling energy demands, says Fourie. We carried out extensive energy modelling with the architect and faade engineer [Inhabit] from very early in design development, which continued throughout the design process to ensure the optimum faade solution. Alex Rodger, chief engineer and project director at NDY, explains: Our approach was to work with Lyons to enable the building to take advantage of the climate, where this was beneficial, while protecting the building against the extremes of summer heat to produce the best possible sustainable outcomes for the building. As a result, the design has been developed to take advantage of the Fremantle Doctor, Western Australian vernacular for the cooling afternoon sea breeze that blows in from the west during the summer months. It gives respite from the summer heat, so weve designed the building to have automatic openable walls and louvres to take advantage of that; we were not looking to create a triple-glazed, sealed box, and the concept from inception was to create a permeable building, Rodger says. The motorised louvres open up to allow outside air to enter what Rodger calls breezeways. These are formed by the circulation corridors and informal meeting areas, which operate as elevated Offset new build energy usage Summer sun Winter sun Mix-mode ventilation Stairs to minimise lift usage Rainwater treatment pumps Rainwater harvest tanks 22 July 2023 www.cibsejournal.com To Murdoch energy grid Figure 1: Sustainability features Corridors double as informal teaching and gathering spaces temperature-controlled spaces. When conditions allow, they can be naturally ventilated for up to 40% of the year. To inform the faade and natural ventilation design, NDY undertook detailed wind microclimate and thermal comfort studies. A rooftop weather station provides information to determine when and how the natural ventilation mode will operate by controlling which faade louvres open and close, and by how much. We look at wind speeds and direction, air temperatures, and periods of time for when temperatures are within the natural ventilation band or the wind speeds are below or above a certain criteria. Then the actuators on the faade or the auto-doors will operate, Fourie explains. Over time, if the users determine that these bands are too tight or not tight enough, that can be easily adjusted. When the temperatures are detected outside of the design parameters (currently between 19C and 26C), or if the wind speed or rain increases to uncomfortable levels, the ventilation louvres will close and the traditional air conditioning systems will operate. The system then checks periodically to determine whether the outside air conditions have returned to that which are favourable for natural ventilation. Digital modelling was also used to develop the form of the buildings asymmetric roof. This is designed to provide shading to the east and west faades in response to the suns path. In addition, the roof is used to house a substantial PV array. This is currently predicted to generate up to 450kWp of electrical energy, which will offset up to 60% of the buildings total annual electrical demand. The roof has the space to add another 100kW of PV in the future. Unusually, the building, which is built into