The CH2

Melbourne, Australia
Analysis Report
By Blessing Mukome [N0113440P]
Second Year, 2012-2013, Semester 1
NAT. UNIVERSITY OF SCI. & TECH. FACULTY OF THE BUILT ENV. DEPT. OF ARCHITECTURE

Environmental Design I [AAR 2104]

Lecturer: Mr Nyamande

Council House 2 (CH2) Building, Melbourne

1. Background
Council House 2, Melbourne, Australia In 2004, the City of Melbourne was faced with an accommodation dilemma. Staff was housed in dated office buildings which, although centrally located to the Town Hall, were nearing the end of their lifespan. Rather than to relocate staff to alternative offices, Council embarked on a plan to construct a new office building, Council House 2 (CH2), that would meet its spatial requirements and lead the way in the development of an holistic green environment. CH2 has been designed to not only conserve energy and water, but improve the wellbeing of its occupants through the quality of the internal environment of the building. CH2 demonstrates a new approach to workplace design, creating a model for others to learn from and follow. The 10 storey building was designed by DesignInc in conjunction with the City of Melbourne, and is located at 240 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000, southeastern Australia. Australia is in the southern hemisphere and experiences hot summers and mild winters.

Location of CH2 building here

City of Melbourne, Australia

The CH2 Building

2. The Architect
Mick Pearce Mick Pearce is a Zimbabwean architect who designs low maintenance buildings with low capital and running costs, using renewable energy systems of environmental control.
Sun path

Wind

Location

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Council House 2 (CH2) Building, Melbourne

3. How the design responds to the environment

Energy efficiency in CH2 is achieved through an integrated set of features focusing on heating, cooling and water reuse.

3.1 Design based on ecology and climate

CH2 was designed to reflect the earths ecosystem, which involved an understanding of Melbournes climate and weather patterns. The design of the building is such that it responds to its environment, and to adapt and take advantage of changing weather conditions. The building takes advantage of the Melbournes four seasons in one day weather conditions through making use of concepts such as cold energy storage. The building therefore responds well in winter and summer, as well as day mode and night mode.

CH2 Building functionality during the day

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Council House 2 (CH2) Building, Melbourne

CH2 Building functionality at night

3.2 Natural light

CH2 targets and maximises the penetration of natural light within the building, reducing the requirement for artificial lighting. The buildings north and south facades are comprised of alternate vertical bands of glass and thick concrete walls containing supply-air ducts (on the south side) and exhaust-air shafts (on the north side). The shafts widen towards the upper levels in order to facilitate air supply and exhaust. On the other hand, the windows are at their widest at street level, narrowing at the upper levels. This enables more light to be admitted to the lower levels of
Sun path Nothern facade

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Council House 2 (CH2) Building, Melbourne the building, where light access is restricted by surrounding buildings and there is less air demand at the end on the air ducts. CH2 takes advantage of natural light by: Locating windows at the highest point of the curved concrete ceilings Having an external light shelf on the northern windows that, while protecting the Windows from the direct rays of the sun, also bounces natural light into the building Having moveable timber shutters that remain open to catch the morning sun, closing when the sun is in the western sky in the afternoon Careful positioning and use of blinds to the northern windows. These windows are divided into upper and lower sections, each with its own blind. The upper blinds are only needed when the sun is low in the sky in winter. The lower blind is a partial blind (900mm high), to protect from the direct rays of the CH2 Building showing shading devices sun, while still letting in natural light.

3.3 Cooling system

To counter the heat load (from people, lighting, computers and other equipment) as well as heat gain or loss at windows or through the fabric of the building, conventional air-conditioned buildings re-chill re-circulated air. The heat load is stored during the day and removed at night, through two ways: Through the use of the thermal mass of the exposed concrete ceilings. The concrete absorbs the heat from the rising air which is later removed from the ceiling at night with a 'night purge'.

CH2 Building showing cooling mechanism

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Council House 2 (CH2) Building, Melbourne By using the chilled ceiling panels to circulate chilled water. The chilled water absorbs the heat and transports it to tanks in the basement, that store any heat collected during the day, which is then removed at night through evaporative cooling by cooling towers on the roof.
CH2 Building chilled ceiling mechanism

3.3.1 Radiant cooling CH2s comfortable temperature is achieved primarily by radiant cooling, rather than by cooling the spaces with chilled ventilation air. 3.3.2 Thermal mass and the night purge At night, when the external temperature has fallen below that of the internal concrete ceilings, windows beneath the low points of the vaulted ceiling automatically open. Cool night air flows in and across the ceilings underbelly, removing the previous day s heat by cross ventilation and by being drawn up through the exhaust air shafts. Exhaust air in the flues is propelled upwards by the chimney or stack effect, assisted by the roof-mounted wind-driven turbines (when wind conditions are right). This process is known as the night purge. 3.3.3 Shower towers Located on the building's south faade, CH2s shower towers induce air movement and cooling. The ensuing evaporative cooling process cools both air and water. From a simple shower rose at the top of the tower, water falls through the three-story tube, pulling air in from openings at the top. Both the water and the air are then cooled by this evaporative cooling process. The cool air is fed into the ground floor lobby, shops and arcade to assist with the cooling of these spaces.

Shower tower

3.4 Heating system

Additional heating is provided by hot water through an underfloor hydronic system located around the perimeter windows. When heat is required, air is designed to be supplied at the points where heat loss is concentrated - the windows.
CH2 Building showing heating mechanism

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Council House 2 (CH2) Building, Melbourne

3.5 Vaulted concrete ceilings

CH2s distinctive vaulted concrete ceilings perform a variety of functions, which include: Providing thermal mass. Enhancing air stratification in the offices by keeping warmed air further away from occupants Optimizing natural light by locating windows at the highest point of the vault increasing the surface area of the ceiling, thereby increasing the thermal mass of the concrete and improving the heat absorption characteristics Providing a void for the collection of the exhaust air, avoiding the need for an array of surface-mounted metal ducts.

3.6 Western timber shutters

CH2s western faade features a system of recycled timber shutters (controlled by photovoltaic cells) that protect the building from the late afternoon sun, while also enabling views out of the building and natural light to enter the building. The shutters are open when the sun is in the eastern or northern sky, closing only when the sun is in the west.

3.7 Window treatment

The window treatment is designed to provide a barrier to 'heat gain' into the building in the summer and 'heat loss' from the building in winter, through the following features: Double-glazing Timber window frames, which are a low conductor of heat when compared with aluminum, reducing the 'heat bridge' effect External sunshade from balconies (from the floor above) and from fabric shades above doors to each balcony Chilled beams over the window cooling the air and creating a protective curtain of falling cold air across the window when heat gain is an issue Underfloor hydronic heating grilles, located adjacent to the window, providing a protective curtain of rising warm air when heat loss is an issue.

Window treatment on CH2 building, showing timber shutters

Additionally, CH2s window treatment incorporates features to control glare: Use of reveals on the air supply and exhaust ducts which are located both side of the windows on the south (supply air) and the north (exhaust air) facades. External plants on the northern faade which provide lateral protection from the suns direct rays and help control glare by diffusing light. Internal plants, mostly for the south-facing windows can be subject to glare reflected from buildings across the street

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Council House 2 (CH2) Building, Melbourne

CH2: Quick Facts

Council House 2 is a 10-storey office building housing approximately 540 City of Melbourne staff, with ground-floor retail spaces and underground parking. It's located at 240 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. CH2 was officially opened in August 2006. Gross floor area (GFA): 12,536m CH2 generates its own energy through the following: o Micro-turbine: Co-generation o Solar Power Photovoltaic cells o Lifts o Solar hot water o Green power - CH2 is 100 per cent green power. By opening the purge windows for four hours a night in summer, CH2 reduces its cooling requirements by 20 per cent. CH2 office spaces have 100 per cent fresh air Lower light levels (150 lux) supported by task lights saves 2/3 of normal energy use and have a beneficial effect on staff. CH2 replicates the leaf area of its original site through plantings on the north faade and roof terrace. CH2 was Australias first '6 Star Green Star Design' certified rated commercial office building by the Green Building Council of Australia.

Sources and external links

CH2 Building, Melbourne, www.mickpearce.com CH2, http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au CH2: Australia's greenest building, http://inhabitat.com Council House Two (CH2), Melbourne, VIC, http://www.yourbuilding.org/ Council House Two - the eco office block of the future, http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst

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