Waterloo helps to boost MMU’s green credentials
Waterloo Air Products has met the diverse air-distribution requirements of Manchester Metropolitan University’s (MMU) £75 million Business School and Student Hub with a wide range of equipment. Perforated-face diffusers, airline linear grilles, louvre-faced diffusers and over 1273 floor swirl diffusers have been used throughout this award-winning building.
The 20 000 m2 jewel-shaped building along the Mancunian Way comprises three separate administration and teaching blocks. They range in height from four to eight storeys and are linked by two full-height atria. At the upper levels, bridges connect the blocks, providing additional teaching and break-out spaces.
Sustainability features include maximising the amount of daylight entering the building, the extensive use of solar panels, heat pumps and rainwater harvesting. MMU was named in 2013 as one of the most environmentally sustainable academic buildings in the UK by People & Planet.
The internal environment and comfort of occupants were addressed using a low-energy solution. Cooling and heating are delivered by a controlled ventilation system. Free cooling is achieved for most of the year using displacement ventilation and integrated slab cooling.
Rick Edmondson, chairman of Waterloo, comments, ‘Building Regulations are increasingly influencing building design, as well as encouraging increased efficiencies. Architects are favouring more natural-ventilation solutions, and the effectiveness of a well-controlled internal environment can be determined by the correct specification of the appropriate air-terminal devices.’
The building uses an extensive range of 2- and 4-way perforated-face diffusers, which are particularly suitable for high air-change rates and high cooling differentials. Aircell polymer floor diffusers, linear grilles and louvred-face diffusers have resulted in a very effective ventilation system that is helping MMU to meet its energy-saving targets.
Energy usage at all MMU sites is monitored by a university-wide scheme, whereby data is evaluated and best practice shared.
