Existing buildings or developments that demonstrate outstanding performance in improving the health, equity and/or resilience of people in local communities.
Air hygiene is ensured through the use of emissions-free or low emissions construction materials in the interior with a maximum of 3% of VOC content (volatile organic compounds). A mixed concept was used for ventilation, in part mechanical and in part natural ventilation. This solution keeps space requirements for technical installations and energy costs low, allowing at the same time an individual adjustment through windows. Through the core area, on each floor, the air is blown in and extracted via slotted wall inlets with a fixed volume. The sizing of the outlets creates a floor wall flow, where the airflow drops shortly after the outlet grille down to the ground, thereby quickly mixing with the air in the room. The airflow is substantially below the limit value of 16 cm/s, ensuring that there are no drafts. The concrete core activation system for cooling and heating allows the maximal thermal comfort. The subfloor ventilation convectors provide additional heating and cooling for the office spaces, mainly covering peak loads.
Acoustic absorbers with neighboring frameless separating walls ensure quiet working spaces in the open offices. In the interior, the wooden cladding is not only a design element but also covers technical functions. It integrates the building services as well as the copier rooms and small meeting rooms for the employees. Aside from its‘ aesthetic function, just like the window cubes, it has a sound-absorbing function, as well.
“The design, the implementation and the operation of the building must be in harmony with environmental and economic requirements, and be oriented towards valuing people, promoting health and well-being, as well as taking into account individual preferences. From a planning perspective this results in two main strategies: on the one hand the avoidance of relevant disrupting factors, and on the other positive incentive setting via construction or organizational measures. In the DGNB certification system, there is a multitude of criteria that apply for this. They denote specific activities and options which can be used in all phases of a building life-cycle. Within the spirit of holistic sustainability, these criteria should not be considered separately from environmental, economic, technical and location-related aspects.”
