Massing Strategies

Winnipeg, Canada (49°54’N 97°08’W), located in the centre

Joel Letkemann of the North American Continent has an extreme climate
characterized by warm summers and cold winters. Average
Submitted 7. May, 2010 annual extremes are 25.8° C in the summer, and -25° C in the
winter, while recorded highs are as hot as 42.8° C, and recorded
lows as cold as -42° C.

Winnipeg also has a great deal of sunlight, and is known as

Canada’s second sunniest city, even during the winter months,
when the air temperature is too cold to retain moisture, and so
has a great deal of incoming solar radiation.

source: http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html

Massing studies, as compared to passive gains breakdown chart. The new building will rely on interzonal heat exchange
as a primary tool to limit exposure to cold outside air, this will benifit both the new building, and the existing buildings by
sharing walls, and thus minimizing the surface area that would otherwise be exposed to cold outdoor air.

Site Challenges:
Winter Summer
1. December - 28. February 1. June - 31. August Intensive use of Passive Light to acheive lighting
goals when possible.

Site requires active heating during much of the year,

so minimize heat loss during cold months.

Use of passive systems when possible for both

heating and cooling

Spring Autumn
1. March- 31. May 1. September - 31. December

Proposed Program: Library

Program Elements: Reading Room, Office Space, Book Stacks

Program Requirements: adequate lighting year round; for sustained clerical work/reading,
300 - 500 Lux

Hours of Operation: 8:00 - 21:00

plan +3 ground plan

Solar data for winnipeg, and incoming solar radiation on the site.
While the site will enjoy a great deal of diffuse solar radiation, there
is little solar radiation hitting the site during the winter months, this
is because of the extremely low sun angle during the winter.

winter solstice summer solstice

Option 1 (most open) dispersal of sunlight and lighting systems in
Option 2

worst case scenario

Winter Solstice, Overcast, 15:00
380.1 205.1 140.2 395.2 407.5
(Lux)
Summer Solstice, sunny sky, 12:00pm Winter Solstice, Overcast, 12:00pm
Summer Solstice, sunny sky, 12:00pm Winter Solstice, sunny sky, 12:00pm

1230.8 308.7 893.9 6966.0 1928.9 5839.8

188.0 789.5 248.9 894.3 149.5 720.6

(Lux)
Winter Solstice, Overcast, 12:00pm

Option 3 (most closed)

Summer Solstice, sunny sky, 12:00pm Winter Solstice, Overcast, 12:00pm

A parametric definition in Grasshopper for Rhino lets us

define a complex surface condition, and also to provide 3d
data for analysis with the movement of a slider.

Using this technique, and importing the geometry into

Ecotect, we can test the amount of light in the space, as
opposed to the amount of area for insulation.

400mm Fabric 500mm Fabric

Passive Strategies
MONTHLY HEATING/COOLING LOADS MONTHLY HEATING/COOLING LOADS

Zone: building Zone: building Thermal Mass (summer, spring and autumn)
Operation: Weekdays 08-21, Weekends 09-20.
Thermostat Settings: 20.0 - 25.0 C
Operation: Weekdays 08-21, Weekends 09-20.
Thermostat Settings: 20.0 - 25.0 C Nighttime Ventilation (summer)
Max Heating: 161595 W at 09:00 on 17th January Max Heating: 161595 W at 09:00 on 17th January
Natural Ventilation
Max Cooling: 0.0 C - No Cooling. Max Cooling: 0.0 C - No Cooling. Solar Gain (spring and autumn)
HEATING COOLING TOTAL HEATING COOLING TOTAL
MONTH (Wh) (Wh) (Wh) MONTH (Wh) (Wh) (Wh)

TOTAL 118653424 0 118653424 TOTAL 118653424 0 118653424
------------ ---------- -------- ---------- ------------ ---------- -------- ----------
PER M≤ 96609 0 96609 PER M≤ 96609 0 96609
Floor Area: 1228.180 m2 Floor Area: 1228.180 m2

CNC formed foam panels with inte-

grated glazing, 500mm thick

MONTHLY HEATING/COOLING LOADS

Zone: building
Internal Temperatures on 7 July, the hottest day on average, with
Operation: Weekdays 08-21, Weekends 09-20.
Thermostat Settings: 20.0 - 25.0 C
temperatures above 32o Celcius without passive cooling strategies,
Max Heating: 77760 W at 09:00 on 19th January
and with Nighttime Ventilation and Thermal Mass. With Passive
Max Cooling: 0.0 C - No Cooling. Strategies, even the hottest day is within the comfort zone.
HEATING COOLING TOTAL
Steel Substructure, insulated from MONTH
------------
(Wh)
---------
(Wh)
--------
(Wh)
---------

the exterior Jan

Feb


16373421
11989693
0
0
16373421
11989693
Mar 7513480 0 7513480
Apr 1540969 0 1540969
May 274752 0 274752
Jun 32024 0 32024
Jul 7608 0 7608
Aug 41450 0 41450
Sep 361135 0 361135
Oct 1944614 0 1944614
Nov 8126549 0 8126549
Dec 14240303 0 14240303
------------ --------- -------- ---------
TOTAL 62445992 0 62445992
------------ --------- -------- ---------

Concrete Floors as Thermal Mass

PER M≤ 83436 0 83436
Floor Area: 748.433 m2

MONTHLY HEATING/COOLING LOADS

Zone: building
Operation: Weekdays 08-21, Weekends 09-20.
Thermostat Settings: 20.0 - 25.0 C

Max Heating: 161539 W at 09:00 on 17th January

Max Cooling: 0.0 C - No Cooling.

HEATING COOLING TOTAL

MONTH (Wh) (Wh) (Wh)
------------ ---------- -------- ----------
Jan 30064226 0 30064226

Rammed Earth Walls for thermal

Feb 22169542 0 22169542
Mar 15654892 0 15654892
Apr 4467998 0 4467998
mass and insulation May
Jun
874793
34562
0
0
874793
34562
Jul 0 0 0
Aug 31624 0 31624
Sep 782540 0 782540
Oct 4020420 0 4020420
Nov 14841345 0 14841345
Dec 25662832 0 25662832
------------ ---------- -------- ----------
TOTAL 118604768 0 118604768
------------ ---------- -------- ----------
PER M≤ 96570 0 96570
Floor Area: 1228.180 m2