Natural ventilation louvres from Gilberts of Blackpool have been specified to help Bangor University’s new Arts & Innovation Centre to improve its energy efficiency by reducing its reliance on heating and air conditioning.
Bangor University has invested almost £50 million in its new Pontio Arts & Innovations Centre, which has been developed to provide a link between the university and the local community.
Offering provisions of cinema and theatre, the development aims to bridge the gap between art and science: a number of engineering technologies have been employed to achieve impressive environmental standards.
In its construction, the building used 30% less carbon than buildings of a comparable size. By producing its own electricity, it will continue to be ecological in its operation.
Natural ventilation louvres
Gilberts has enhanced the building’s environmental credentials: by supplying over 60 of its Mistrale 75 ventilation louvres, the company has helped Pontio to reduce its reliance on air conditioning and heating.
The louvres – which have been integrated into the building’s foyer, its social learning area, its energy centre and its theatre technical workshop – have been developed to offer a stable airflow, with low air leakage of 5m3/hour/m2.
When closed, the louvres also offer an identical U value to that of a double-glazed window: 0.93W/m2K. They surpass current Regulatory requirements.
Weather resistant louvres
To allow for easy integration into the building’s glazed atrium façade, Pontio’s units have been fitted with Gilberts’ WPX50 rain and weather resistant external louvres.
To maintain the centre’s internal air quality and temperature, a number of cross ventilation and passive stack principles have been carried out to ensure apt air changes. Night cooling has been heightened to enhance the building’s energy efficiency and ensure a comfortable environment for its occupants.
