The C3 approach has been to understand and
interpret the College requirements from the
very start of the process - engaging with the
College at every opportunity to understand
and help develop the brief.
INTERVEIW
We caught up with Ryan
Sylvester, Divisional Director
at Keppie Design and Project
Architect for the new Ayrshire
College campus.
Tell us about the final design and what will
make it an inspiring learning environment?
Our proposal captures the College’s
requirements for a unique building which will
be brought to life by the talents of students
providing a 21st century state of the art
teaching facility.
We believe the design offers efficiency, value
for money and flexibility to ensure this is a
dynamic, vibrant campus accessible to all.
How have you created an energy efficient
building?
The proposed philosophy for the design is a
‘form and fabric first’ approach, maximising
the use of natural ventilation and natural light
where possible and implementing energy
efficient building services solutions.
Key drivers have influenced the building
services design solutions for the College. An
assessment of suitability and operating costs
of appropriate technologies was carried out to
determine the most appropriate combination
of renewables to meet key requirements.
The following design strategies are key to
achieving these:
What was the brief?
The college’s vision from the outset was
to provide a ‘beacon for learning and
regeneration which is fully accessible to all.
C3 was tasked to provide a high quality,
clearly distinguishable and architecturally
recognisable facility for the College as part
of the new campus proposals. The striking
architectural form and choice of high
quality material selection both externally
and internally together with the creation of
dynamic internal spaces, we believe meet the
brief requirements in terms of performance
and aesthetics.
Colleges can be noisy busy places – what
acoustic work has been done to reduce
noise?
Public spaces in the building have been
carefully reviewed in relation to acoustic
treatment so as to ensure there is a balance
between the extent of hard surfaces offset by
highly acoustic absorbent treatments.
Can you give us some examples of
technology at work to make this a modern
working environment?
Section 6 of the Scottish Technical Standards
addresses energy efficiency of buildings. It
sets minimum standards for various building
elements, such as insulation performance,
glazing performance, boiler efficiency and fan
efficiency.
Furthermore, the building must be shown
to have a lower predicted carbon emission
overall than a notional model of the same size
and usage based on a standardised National
Calculation Methodology NCM.
The selected renewable technologies, based
on the results of this study, are 600kW
Biofuel, 400sqm Photovoltaic Panels and Air
Source Heat Pumps.
How are you using lighting to create a
whole range of different ambiance?
All the core public spaces within the building
have been designed with individual identity in
mind – with artificial lighting as one element
which will help achieve this approach.
• Natural ventilation to classrooms and offices
How will you use natural daylight in the
with external windows through manually
design/energy efficiency?
openable windows.
By rotating the atrium through 90 degrees to
• Use of exposed concrete soffits to reduce
face East, which allows solar gain and glare
overheating adopting a night cooling strategy to be minimised, an increased glazed solution
using opening windows.
is possible providing greater levels of light.
• Where thermal comfort cannot be achieved We believe this will provide a more vibrant,
welcoming and inviting atrium and entrance
through natural means, cooling is provided
using a high efficiency heat recovery variable to be created.
refrigerant flow (VRF) system. Heating is also
By positioning the primary feature stair
provided via the VRF system in these areas.
central of the atrium, providing a focus for
• Low energy lighting systems using LED fittings
vertical circulation, this will further enhance
where possible along with efficient lighting
the concept of the ‘retail mall’. By the varying
controls and daylight dimming.
nature of increased natural light to the heart