1. TERI UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, NEW DELHI
Built on around 2 acres of land in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi this four storeyed structure
in masonry, with stone cladding and glazings, is an example of a sustainable campus
responding to the site and environment using energy saving technologies.
2. "Located at Vasant Kunj in South Delhi, the
TERI university campus has been planned to
provide a setting that enhances learning and
showcases the concept of modern green
buildings." Sanjay Mohe, Design Principal,
MINDSPACE.
"Sustainability was the back bone of the entire design concept and it was communicated to
the architect that the building should incorporate all possible elements of Passive Solar
Architecture and Low Energy Cooling systems" says Mili Majumdar.
3. Site and Design
The linear geometry of the site with a narrow frontage and an aspect ratio of almost 1:3 dictated the
strong linear axis in the design. The logical sequence of positioning the three distinct functioning
zones in a hierarchy of public access to restricted entry formed the other key consideration in
design development. Placing the commercial block at the front was the most logical choice in
exploiting the commercial potential of the frontage of the site. The functional core also coincides
with the geometric central part of the linear site. The residential zone comes up from the rear
forming the last zone in the linear sequence.
That the design responds to orientation and climatic factors, is but an obvious fact. The north line is
at a slight angle to the linear axis of the site and the design takes full advantage of this orientation
in the composition of the built and open spaces and in creating wind flows through the complex as
also lighting and shading of the spaces.
Site Plan and Ground Floor Layout (bottom)
1 Commercial Block, 2 Classrooms, 3, 4 Laboratories, 5,6 administrative block, 6 accounts, 7
dining hall, 8 hostel, 9, 10, courts, 11 Open Air Theatre
4. Elements of Design
The Sun, Sky, Air, Water and Earth shape the nature of architecture which emerges on this site.
The process of continuous dialogue between the architect and TERI and the engagement of
TERI in the design process augmented the thrust on climate responsive design in a large way.
Sun
Passive solar design is an important feature in the design of this building. The planning and
orientation of spaces and building blocks ensures glare free daylight in all regularly occupied
spaces. All the linear blocks are oriented in the East-West direction with shorter facades facing
the sun. Most of the south west facing walls are kept blank in order to protect the building
from the harsh south west solar radiations. Where the south west walls have openings, they
are protected by means of pergolas or projecting balconies. The east, west and south facades
of the building have minimum glazing.
5.
6. Few of the south facing walls
are mounted with
aeroscreen louvers (Hunter
Douglas) fixed at an angle
of 35deg. This ensures that the
winter sun is let in where as the
summer sun is blocked. The use
of louvers in front of the glazed
walls also reduces the heating
up of the glass facade
considerably.
r fixing r fixing
I
I
Glazing
N LOUVERS ON SOUTH FACADES
Glat rig
Frame work for louv
II
II
WINTER SUN q‘si,
i■ir- ■11.-
M
U
The walls that are exposed to the harsh solar rays have a stone cladding which is fixed to
the wall by channels. The air gap between the wall and the stone cladding in itself acts
as an insulation layer. On the western façade, rock wool insulation is also provided in the
wall. Energy efficiency is further enhanced by Vermiculite insulation in parts of the roof
slab.
7. Sky
Maximum use of daylight and use of light sensors to
regulate the use of artificial lighting in the interiors is
another key design strategy.
In areas where daylight is available, fixtures have been
fitted with continuous dimming electronic ballasts.
These fixtures are controlled by light sensors which
respond to available light conditions and automatically
regulate the connected fixtures to achieve the desired
level of uniform illumination required. In areas with
non- uniform illumination, occupancy sensors that can
turn off the lights when the space is unoccupied have
been installed. This kind of a lighting system has a
potential of saving 70% lighting energy demand.
Use of efficient double glazing window units help
significantly reduce the heat gained through window
glazing in the summers and the heat lost in the winters
without compromising on the day lighting integration
and the levels of visual comfort.
Daylighting integration using light fixtures
fitted with electronic ballasts regulating the
level of illumination responding to avilable
natural light and adjustable aeroscreen louvres
to regulate summer and winter sunlight entry
(top and centre)
Double glazed facades reduce heat gain
without affecting the level of illumination
(bottom)
Concept Poster on 'Air' by Mindspace (facing
page)
8. Air
The predominant wind direction is
taken into account in designing the
open spaces. The central atrium acts as
an air funnel defined by the other
buildings. The opening oriented in the
prevailing wind direction catches the
outside air and channelizes it through a
narrow stretch of the block before
releasing it into the central court area.
The architect's experience of design in
hot dry areas, particularly in earlier
projects in Hyderabad made him
confident of the effectiveness of this
design feature in cooling the ambient
temperatures of the enclosed areas. The
central atrium is also proposed to be
covered with an automatic adjustable
louvre system (Vergola). The angle of
the louvres can be adjusted to block the
solar radiations during summer and to
allow ample sunlight during winter. The
system is further proposed to be
integrated with photo voltaic panels.
The louvres if kept closed can effectively
prevent rain water from entering the
atrium during the rainy season.
9. Water
Vasant Kunj being a water starved area, incorporation of
water saving fixtures and rain water harvesting was an
important concern in the design brief from the very
beginning.
Water and waste management systems are important
features of the building design. All buildings in the campus
have been provided with low flow fixtures such as dual flush
toilets, low flow taps and sensor taps that result in 25%
savings in water use. The waste water generated from the
hostel block is treated through efficient biological processes
using a combination of micro organisms and bio-media filter.
This treatment system requires less area and low energy.
The treated water meets the prescribed standards for
landscape irrigation. Rainwater harvesting is also an
important concept which contributes to efficient water
management. The average annual rainfall of Delhi is 611mm.
Rainwater run off from the roof and the site are tapped to
recharge the aquifer. This enhances the sustainable yield in
areas where over development has depleted the aquifer. The
excess surface water is alsoconserved and stored for future
requirements. The quality of existing ground water is also
improved through dilution.
D E T A I L S O F R E C H A R G E T R E N C H C U M B O R E V V E L L
10. Earth
The campus is equipped with three types of cooling systems (i)Variable
Refrigerant Volume system (VRV), (ii) Earth Air Tunnel (EAT) and (iii)
Thermal Mass Storage The VRV system is proposed for the peripheral
commercial block and the administrative block of the institute. This state-of-
the-art air conditioning system, which is similar to a split AC is highly
efficient under partial loading conditions and beneficial to areas with
varying occupancy. It allows customized control of individual zones
eliminating the use of chilled water piping, ducting and plant room.
The use of Earth Air Tunnel gives an energy saving of nearly 50% as
compared to the conventional system
Thermal mass storage used for cooling the classrooms and labs involves
storing energy when available and using it when required. Here, cooling of
thermal mass is done during night. This cool thermal mass is used to cool
air in day time. This system gives an energy saving of up to 40%
11. The Earth Air Tunnel (EAT) is used in the hostel blocks. This is a dual heating-cooling system
using the heat sink property of the earth to maintain comfortable temperatures inside the
building. Air which passes through the buried pipes gets cooled in summer and heated up in
winter.
A lot of research went in to the design of this system. Airtron, the Air-conditioning consultants
for the project in collaboration with faculty of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore simulated
the system and refined it to perfection. On continuous uninterrupted use in extreme heat
conditions as in Delhi, this system faces the problem of the earth around the tunnel getting
heat saturated and reducing the effectiveness of cooling. A recovery time is required for the
earth to dissipate the heat from the immediate surroundings. After rigorous experiments and
simulations a second loop of tubes was created and the two loops used alternately to provide
sufficient recovery time to the earth around and maintain the performance effectiveness of
the system.
12. Architectural Expression
The form and massing of the campus
responds entirely to climate and the site.
The south-west walls with few
fenestrations and stone cladding,
responding to the climatic conditions,
forms an impenetrable wall, providing, as it
were, a visual cue to the inherent
resistance of the structure to inclement
weather. Pergolas, overhangs and balconies
form visual links as well as create drama in
light and shade, which is quintessential to
Mohe's work.
The northern walls, in contrast, are
lightweight with their glazing and large
fenestrations, once again in response to the
site and climate. The louvers on the glazing
create interesting visuals on the facade.
The overall composition of transparency
and opacity unfolds to the viewer with
changing orientations within the site.
13. A Statement...
The TERI University Campus, with its
responsive design and use of passive and
active energy saving technology sets a
benchmark in sustainable campus design.
Building specifications adhering to Energy
Conservation Building Code (ECBC) are
also one of the key features of the design.
Many of the technologies implemented have
higher initial costs and longer recovery
periods, but the client being TERI, the focus
remained undiluted in applying sustainable
technologies with long term energy
efficiency targets.
A last word on the project echoing the
thoughts of Architect Sanjay Mohe: "The
campus being constructed for TERI, had to
be a truly climate responsive one and it
attempts to make a statement in sustainable
campus design."
