Feel-good factor

Designing the building services for Albany Senior High School presented a number of interesting challenges for the team at Norman Disney & Young. Services were designed to be exposed, contribute to a 5-star Green Star rating, and meet or exceed the client expectations.

Associate Anita Milne says the result was a collaborative effort between the NDY team, the architect and builder, Arrow International. "There were complexities with the design," she says. "For example, maximising natural light, and minimising heat gain through the windows were both high priorities."

Milne says the exposed services, such as the cable trays, ducts, suspended light fittings and fire sprinklers, required a high level of design co-ordination between NDY and the architectural team. "The school represents one of the best exposed services installations we have seen.

The exposed services and a building management system that has been enhanced above the usual level, assist students and teachers in understanding how and why the building services operate."

Other features aimed at providing a comfortable learning environment include light fittings chosen to reduce glare, and comfort cooling complete with free cooling economy cycles. Acoustics were another consideration. Senior associate Richard Finley says NDY was proactive with solutions that not only met the client requirements for durability and sound absorption, but also the proposed theme of an industrial aesthetic.

NDY also designed the fire protection, lifts, hydraulics, underground carpark ventilation with CO monitoring, and a rain harvesting system.

NORMAN DISNEY & YOUNG

PO Box 2022, Shortland St, Auckland 1140Phone (09) 307 6596 Fax (09) 307 6597www.ndy.co.nz

Story by: Trendsideas