Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre
Client
The National Trust
Key Services Required
Sustainability Consultants
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Awards
RIBA National Award, 2013
Stirling Prize Finalist 2013
RIBA Regional Award Winner 2013
Winner of ‘Sustainable Project of the Year’
Irish Building and Design Awards 2013
Winner of ‘Architectural Project of the Year’
Building and Design Awards 2013
Project Information
Bennett Freehill were the M&E Engineers and Low Carbon Design Consultants for the new visitor facilities for this important UNESCO World Heritage Site in County Antrim.
The building is designed as a partially underground facility to integrate with the landscape and avoid interrupting the ridge line. This project achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and incorporates the following measures:
• Earth sheltered building with ‘green roof’ which provides insulation and evaporative cooling effect
• HVAC system achieves comfort conditions for up to 600 occupants without boilers or chiller/refrigeration units
• Geothermal heating/heat pump system serving underfloor heating and central air handling units
• Daylighting factor maintained between 2% and 4% via rooflights integrated into the green roof design to reduce artificial lighting
• Ground water free cooling circuit providing low carbon cooling
• Earth pipe array to provide pre-heating pre-cooling of fresh air for controlled ventilation and cooling
• Displacement ventilation system controlled via CO2 sensors for maximum air quality
• Rainwater harvesting and grey water recovery employed for water conservation
• Unique pressurised ‘air curtain’ using ambient vitiated air to protect entrances at zero additional energy
Image Credit: Hufton & Crow Photography
The building is designed as a partially underground facility to integrate with the landscape and avoid interrupting the ridge line. This project achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and incorporates the following measures:
• Earth sheltered building with ‘green roof’ which provides insulation and evaporative cooling effect
• HVAC system achieves comfort conditions for up to 600 occupants without boilers or chiller/refrigeration units
• Geothermal heating/heat pump system serving underfloor heating and central air handling units
• Daylighting factor maintained between 2% and 4% via rooflights integrated into the green roof design to reduce artificial lighting
• Ground water free cooling circuit providing low carbon cooling
• Earth pipe array to provide pre-heating pre-cooling of fresh air for controlled ventilation and cooling
• Displacement ventilation system controlled via CO2 sensors for maximum air quality
• Rainwater harvesting and grey water recovery employed for water conservation
• Unique pressurised ‘air curtain’ using ambient vitiated air to protect entrances at zero additional energy
Image Credit: Hufton & Crow Photography