Foster + Partners choose Monodraught Windcatchers for natural ventilation
Every internal classroom, teaching space and meeting room on the first floor of Corby Business Academy, designed by Foster + Partners, is naturally ventilated by Monodraught Windcatchers. The 33 units serve nearly half of the educational space. Rooms on the ground floor are mechanically ventilated.
Corby Business Academy is a £23 million secondary school specialising in business and enterprise. It houses a diverse mix of business board rooms, classrooms, hydrotherapy pool, performance theatre and restaurant on two floors. An atrium maximises natural light and ventilation to reduce energy consumption.
Monodraught also provided four automatic temperature control panels to cover the 34 zones on the first floor, enabling the Windcatcher systems to be linked to the BMS.
The architect’s requirements included the proviso that the natural-ventilation units should have minimal visual impact on the building. The architects also did not want to see any trunking or obstruction on the ceiling where the Windcatcher ventilation grilles terminated, so the volume-control dampers are mounted above roof level, with an access panel, to produce a clean ceiling line.
