Beyond blue and red arrows : optimizing natural ventilation in large buildings

Abstract

Our growing understanding of technology and environment has expanded the complexities of producing large naturally ventilated buildings. While it may be argued that designing for natural ventilation is a straightforward, intuitive process, somewhere between the simple diagrams and signing off on the building, the designer must be able to verify that the design will be effective -- essentially that people will be comfortable, and that the system is robust. Today, professional experience is the only methodology to understand the broad considerations behind these new structures. Literature reviews and interviews with industry professional illustrate the lack of information available to the academic and practicing audiences describing the series of calculated decisions and challenges surrounding the design of large naturally ventilated buildings. Architecture professionals and students desiring to engage in these recent, innovative practices would therefore benefit from a resource describing the options available to evaluate a proposed design and optimize a completed building. The thesis examines the strategic decisions in evaluation and monitoring of three case study buildings (Morphosis' San Francisco Federal building, Fosters & Partners' Swiss Re building, and Behnisch & Behnisch's Genzyme building) and derives principles influencing future architecture practice.