[KHANJALILAH] LEED Report

ARE 400 Special Topics Dr. Aliaa Elabd

[khanjalilah] LEED Report

Safa Almutairi Maryam Azim

TABLE OF CONTENTS A.

Introduction

B.

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4

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5 5 6 10

Sustainable Site Site Selection 1.1.1 Location Controlling Erosion and Sedimentation Managing Stormwater Runoff Reducing Urban Heat Island Effect Landscaping and Open Space

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12 12 12 13 14 15 16

Location & Transportation Reasons to select this location Nearby amenities/facilities Community Connectivity Availability of Public transportation Strategies to promote the use of public transportation and minimize the use of private cars

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17 17 17 17 18 18

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19 19 20

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23 23 24 24 24 24 25 26 29 29 30 30 30 30 30

Project Objective i. Description of the project’s function and program ii. The Building Design iii. LEED Certification

C.

LEED Categories 1.

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 2.

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5

3.

Water Efficiency 3.1 Indoor Strategies 3.2 Outdoor strategies

4.

4.1 4.2

4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6

4.7 4.8 4.9

Energy Efficiency Building Orientation Building Envelope 4.2.1 Glazing 4.2.2 Thermal mass Passive cooling techniques Ventilation Mechanical Heating & Cooling Lighting (Daylight, Electrical) 4.6.1 Skylights, light shelves, Light Tubes 4.6.2 LED Appliances Timers & sensors Use of renewable Energy 4.9.1 Solar Panels

5.

Materials & Resources Construction Waste Management Plan 5.1.1 Source reduction 5.1.2 Using less materials (dematerialization) Locally sourced materials 5.2.1 Material types and sources Materials and appliances durability Sustainable purchasing Building Waste Management Plan 5.5.1 Waste reduction 5.5.2 Recycling Plan

…………… …………… …………… …………… …………… …………… …………… …………… …………… …………… ……………

31 31 31 32 33 33 35 35 37 37 37

Indoor Environmental Quality Secondhand smoking CO2 Monitoring Ventilation & Air filters VOC Temperature Control Light Control Natural Daylight & Views Acoustics

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39 39 39 40 41 41 42 42 42

7.

Innovation

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43

8.

References

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44

5.1

5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5

6.

6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8

INTRODUCTION The project aim is to revive the history of the neighborhood in Riyadh where the site is located; Al Mansoura was host to the famous historical landmark, Khaan Jalilah, a khaan dedicated to host travelers and merchants traveling from west of Saudi Arabia to the east, as a midway stopover. It was a women-run facility, with a market, restaurant, and residential units.

Today’s khanjalilah project is home to similar activities – live/work units for women are provided, allowing women to work in parlor stalls and cafes throughout the rest of the building, while living on the top floor in efficiently designed microapartments, with safety and security.

The market contains two separate masses, bazaar stalls for outsiders in one block, with the womenrun stalls on the ground floor, and a café to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

The first floor, accessible by all, hosts an exhibition, showcasing the history of the district and of the original Khan Jalilah, with stalls of artists, traditional games, and digital displays. For visitors to relax at the end, the exhibition continues into a café serving beverages and snacks of historical Saudi Arabia, as well as a public majlis. The first floor consists of the continuation of the two masses on the ground floor, and a bridge to link them both, introducing open air in the bridge, natural lighting, and a visual core of vegetation that continues from the ground floor of the building to the roof.

The second floor separates into two separate masses again, giving acoustical and accessibility privacy to the microapartments and community garden of the residents in one mass, while public access is granted to the library on local affairs and history in the other mass.

Finally, only specific access is given to the roof, where the administrative offices that overlook the activities in the exhibition, library, cafes and market reside.

The building is oriented towards the northwest, along the northwest-southeast axis.

The area of the site spans 7,556m2, with dimensions that will be shown in the following section that showcases the design of the building in more depth. As for the building of the land, we will be excavating for the foundations of the building, and the soil left over after backfilling will be used for vegetation on the roof gardens, and for landscaping the play areas. Then we will proceed with blockwork with our specific choice of concrete and building material. The envelope steel frame will be manufactured offsite and then assembled on site, before the cement is poured on and allowed to grow over it.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Description of the project’s function and program We are aiming to create a mixed-use development that hosts retail, housing and business opportunities for the lesser privileged in an underdeveloped neighborhood (Al Mansoura). We are allotting a safe, secure space for women to work and live in independently, improving equity in the neighborhood, which our way of aligning ourselves with Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia, as well as fulfilling LEED credit. We are also initiating a cultural/heritage revival in the area, with an exhibition center, and we have located our site within a ¼ mile’s radius of a public transport hub (Ghubairah Bus Stop). This hub also allows us to gain LEED credit. The site will incorporate xeriscaping and promote native growth spots for plants and animals alike in the area, thereby providing views for occupants and passers by, as well as restoring natural habitats in the district, both of which are LEED credit criteria.

The table below shows the program for the project.

Table 1.1 Showing the program of the project.

The Building Design Plans

Ground floor plan.

First floor plan.

Second floor plan.

Third floor plan.

Section

Elevations

Master plan

LEED Certification

Our total number of points is 67, garnering a Gold Certificate.

1. SUSTAINABLE SITE 1.1 Site Selection 1.1.1 Location Given that we plan to utilize the proximity of the bus stop, we are aiming to implement wayfinding strategies that span not only our site and the bus stop, but also surrounding area, so as to be able to attract attention from various users around the neighbourhood to both the bus stop and our project.

We will be putting up signs and raise an awareness campaign with flyers or digital boards that talk about the importance of public transport, promote the nearby bus stop with its schedule and lines of buses headed towards different areas of the city, as well as comparative cost with other modes of transports – both monetary and environmental costs. This would most probably be most useful if laid out as attractive, eye-catching infographics that are easy to read by all passers by.

We may also implement a program for sellers at the bazaars – they may get a certain kind of Fig. 1.1.1a Showing the general site location. discount on their bus usage from the Ghubairah Bus Stop, and this might encourage more and more people to come through and use it, by word of mouth.

Fig. 1.1.1b This 7-minute walk from the site to the bus stop is within the ¼ mile radius of LEED credit requirements. The signs can be placed along the walk and in the alleys nearby.

Moving back to other aspects of LEED’s agenda, we have placed our project well within the city’s infrastructure, surrounded by diverse functions, such as restaurants, hotels, commercial outlets, and masajid, all within a 0.5 mile radius. This can be seen in the figures, Fig. 1.1.1c and Fig. 1.1.1d below.

1.1. Showing the level of development Fig. 1.1.1c

Fig. 1.1.1d Showing the range of diverse

and infrastructure surrounding the site.

functions surrounding the site.

1.2 Controlling Erosion and Sedimentation Sedimentation and erosion usually occurs not only post-operation, but even during construction – due to increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic, as well as runoff – all of these eventually damage the vegetation to certain extents, causing the plants to release their hold on the soil. Once this hold is removed or decreased, the soil begins to lose its quality and health, and can very quickly turn useless for further planting. There are different methods to identifying and removing possibilities of erosion and sedimentation – methods that allow the soil to keep its water content and unique ratio of elements that preserve its quality – and are as follows. The italicized methods are the ones we will be implementing in particular.

1. Silt fencing, which helps to keep the sediment and runoff onsite. This prevents the water from spreading and devaluing the soil elsewhere.

2. Silt sacks, and/or rock filter. Arranged appropriately around stormwater and sewer inlets, they can prevent flooding around those areas by keeping the water in.

3. Implementing terracing, retaining walls, and re-stabilization techniques, which in turn prevent long-term erosion. In our case, this seems to be the most durable and suitable approach.

4. Placing straw bales, mulching, and/or using netting to decrease water flow from affected areas.

5. Creating downstream inlets to drywells, digging catch basins, and growing drainage bioswales, etc.

6. The creation of temporary dikes. This reduces runoff into inlets during construction and until the site is stabilized.

7. Construction vehichles should access the site through a minimum number of routes – at best only one route. As aforementioned, this vehichular traffic may damage vegetation. Therefore, the access route should also be stabilized, minimizing sediment tracking offsite.

Fig. 1.2a Showing fencing around the site.

Fig. 1.2b Showing mulching and terracing using rock filters as techniques.

1.3 Managing Stormwater Runoff Stormwater management efforts will also be taken onsite, in order to reduce runoff of rainwater waste/irrigation water into streets, lawns and other sites and the improvement of water quality. In urban and developed areas, impervious surfaces such as pavement and roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems and drainage ditches and can cause flooding, erosion, storm and sanitary sewer system overflow, and infrastructure damage. Detaining stormwater and removing pollutants is the primary purpose of stormwater management. Techniques to implement stormwater management into a site include: 1. Reducing the amount of impervious surface area.

2. Using porous paving materials through which water can pass. For example, open cell concrete blocks, grass concrete pavers, woodchips, shells or gravel.

Fig. 1.3a Left, showing different mixtures of material to create porous pavement. Right, showing diagrammatically how this is supposed to work for the soil.

3. Harvesting stormwater for reuse in irrigation and indoor nonpotable water applications 4. Designing infiltration swales and retention ponds.

5. Planting indigenous vegetated filter strips.

6. Installing indigenous vegetated roofs, and clustering development to reduce paved surfaces such as roads and sidewalks.

Fig. 1.1.3b Harvesting stormwater.

Fig. 1.3c Explaining how pervious

Fig. 1.3d Describing a system of harvesting and filtering

surfaces work.

stormwater.

1.4 Reducing Urban Heat Island Effect Heat islands can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water pollution. Ways to mitigate urban heat island in a site include: 1. Indigenous landscaping: we will be going through with xeriscaping and adaptive plants that can withstand and thrive the Riyadh climate.

2. Creating shade from the structures itself: the central courtyard will be mostly shaded by portions of the building’s structure itself.

3. Use hardscape materials: the hardscape will be of materials that are reflective of heat as opposed to absorptive.

4. Use an open-grid pavement system: we will introduce pockets of greenery between pavement tiles, reducing the amount of paving used.

5. Minimize parking lots and provide alternatives to above ground parking: we will have no parking for cars, and only accommodate biking park that will be within the building.

6. The use of light, reflective surfaces for parking, roofs, walkways, and other hardscape: we will be using reflective surfaces for shading elements that will further reduce the amount of solar heat that paving material will face.

7. High-reflectance pavements also increase overall light levels and may enable a building to use fewer site lighting fixtures. We will be implementing these.

8. Vegetation can reduce heat islands by shading buildings and pavements from solar radiation and cooling the air through evapotranspiration: our landscaping will use many trees, hedges and smaller plants.

9. Solar energy system installations, including photovoltaics, can contribute to shading nonroof hardscapes.

10. Vegetating parking areas with vegetated filter strips, shade trees and also porous materials suitable for parking lots.

Fig. 1.4a Showing various locations and uses with vegetated strips to help against UHI.

1.5 Landscaping and Open Space The built area of the masses sum up to 3,059 m2, whereas the open area of the site is 4,569 m2.

Therefore, it can be said that more than 50% of the site is dedicated to landscape – and the roof gardens further add to the greenery ratio of the site. Green roofs also have lower maintenance costs, ensuring this feeds into a longer and more durable lifecycle for the building.

Fig. 1.5a One of the accessible roof gardens.

Fig. 1.5b Various applications of the landscape.

2. LOCATION & TRANSPORT 2.1. Reasons to select this location As can be seen, this project is on a site that is surrounded by mostly developed – this ensures that infrastructure will not be extended unnecessarily for the construction and operation of this project. In fact, being constructed in the middle of such high density of development allows the project to tap into the infrastructure networks of electricity, water and sewage with ease.

Fig. 2.1a Showing the level of development and infrastructure surrounding the site.

2.2. Nearby amenities/facilities As can be seen by the amenity and facility breakdown on the left, there are many commercial outlets that would make our project ideal for a stopover between shopping visits to the district.

There are also many residential areas, meaning our family-friendly project is ready to welcome and efficiently host the community as a social gathering space.

Additionally, some educational institutions within a 15-minute walking distance, which can engage the younger population with its educational and entertaining second and third floors (which host a historical exhibition, game stalls of traditional games, and a children’s corner in the library, respectively).

Fig. 2.2a Showing the range of diverse functions surrounding the site.

Multiple masajid are within a 7 minute walking distance, meaning people visiting [khanjalilah] can easily reach a place to pray once the building pauses operations for prayer. There are also 3 healthcare facilities within the same 7 minute walking distance, in case of emergencies.

2.3. Community Connectivity All activities present within the program are family-friendly – from play areas for younger users, to a library of archived documentation on the original Khaan Jalilah and other khaans in Saudi Arabia for older users interested in history, to the different stalls throughout the project that cater to audiences in need of groceries, beauty products and clothes, art, and games – and encourage not only community connectivity in terms of an audience buying services, but also allow more jobs to open up and allowing people to sell their services and goods. This project is run for the people, by the people – more specifically, run by a majority of women, in order to carry on the spirit of the original Khaan Jalilah, and also to increase equity for the community.

2.4. Availability of Public transportation The Ghubaira bus stop is at a 7-minute walk from the site, which is the primary means of public transport to the site.

Fig. 2.4a Showing the proximity of the bus stop from the site.

2.5. Strategies to promote the use of public transportation and minimize the use of private cars The project will provide a public transport deal for sellers at the stalls and the maintenance and cleaning staff who do not love onsite. This will help promote the bus stop by word of mouth, as well as the project’s reputation. The project will also erect signs and flyers across the building and landscape, directing people towards the bus stop and encouraging public transport use.

Similar signs will be posted around the site where there is a bike path that allows entry to the project. The very presence of a bike path accompanied by bike-only signs, will allow more people to bike freely onto the site, and increase the usage of bikes in the area.

Fig. 2.5a Showing the bus stop sign, accompanied by shaded parklets that make it pleasant to wait for the bus.

Fig. 2.5b Showing one of the bike path signs onsite.

3. WATER EFFICIENCY 3.1. Indoor Strategies The other avenues through which water efficiency can be increased, is through reduction of water intake, and the reusing of water within the building which is involved with human activities.

As such, there are fixtures that can be used that use reduced amounts of water with the same results. Therefore, we will be installing low-flow faucets, toilets and showerheads.

A popular choice would be WaterSense products, since they use 20% less water. (The sustainability of such a purchase option will be followed through in the section of the report dedicated to Sustainable Purchasing.)

We will also be reusing gray water from sinks, allowing this water to be reused in sinks and in toilet flushing.

Finally, we will also be introducing bioswales into the landscaping, so the landscape will not only treat the greywater from the building, but also collect, treat and redirect stormwater into the system for use for occupants.

Fig. 3.1a An example of a bioswale.

Fig. 3.1b Location of bioswales (circled in green), in the project.

3.2. Outdoor Strategies One of the main focal points of water efficiency, in buildings with accompanying landscape, is, in fact, landscaping. The design of it, and the accompanying irrigation system, can cut down on water use and bills, and increase water efficiency, by a considerable amount. This can be achieved by initially cutting down on water required, and second by reusing water from other usage cycles in the building.

The main choices of vegetation are as follows, with levels of maintenance and water requirement in bold: Vegetation and landscaping use

Contribution to site

GRAVEL

Inspired by the Japanese dry garden; gravel is a more sustainable aesthetically pleasing alternatives to grass lawn. Gravel gardens are friendly, they don’t require water, and they filter rainwater to prevent runoff. Moreover, gravel is cooler underfoot than any hard surface. For every square foot of turf you replace with gravel, you can save thousands of gallons of water per year. Pros of gravel are: Saves water, inexpensive to install, versatile material that blends well with other hardscape, low-maintenance; rake it smooth from time to time (very low maintenance) & permeable to prevent runoff.

ACAICA CYANOPHYLLA TREE For use in wind breaks and sand dune stabilization, screening, dust and wind control or planting in wide road medians. Large, brightyellow tree, whose spherical flower heads appear in early spring and late winter, decorating the branch tips. It also requires low irrigation, low maintenance and of a pleasant floral scent.

DESERT ROSE

Desert rose is a succulent shrub retained in warm conditions. Desert Roses do excellently when they receive enough sun and not too much watering, for they require low irrigation, and low maintenance during most of the year.

DESERT LAVENDER (HYPTIS EMORYI)

A sub-shrub with a strong scent, usually observed in Thumamah Lavender Natural Park and other areas in Saudi Arabia. In June to August, the typical strong-scented, blue or violet, ear-like flowers appear. It performs well in hot areas and requires minimal irrigation, and low maintenance, able to resist drought.

DESERT ALOE VERA A shrub type plant with agaves rich with cooling gel. Not many are familiar about the benefits & application of aloe vera as bio-pesticide and bioabsorbent of pollutants. It can also be used for the treatment of termites. The nearby locality is very much suffering from termites and this is an environment-friendly way to manage them. Aloe vera also requires very low irrigation, thus low maintenance. It tolerates heat, full sun and arid conditions.

Next, the irrigation systems that will be put in place for the landscaping will be drip systems for any treated water. This greatly reduces the amount of water required for irrigation, since water is conveyed efficiently, drop by drop, almost directly into the roots of plants. This ensures that water is not sprayed in unnecessary amounts and spaces, as with some other types of irrigation systems. Drip irrigation allows for less pumping of water, as it is a low-pressure system.

Additionally, untreated water with high salinity levels can be used for the vegetation chosen earlier in this section. This allows more water to be reused, further increasing water efficiency, and cuts down on costs for newer water for irrigation, and treatment of water for irrigation.

Moreover, during the summer, or in times of relative drought, we intend to schedule deep watering sessions once a month, during early morning hours – this will ensure lower rates of evaporation on account of lowered heat from the sun in these times of the day. Deep watering sessions allow for plant roots to push deeper down into the levels of soil that hold more moisture, as well as reduces evaporation rates of regular irrigation, as it has reduced exposure to the sun surface-area wise, as well.

Fig. 3.2a This diagram shows how deep watering can take place.

Fig. 3.2b This diagram shows how drip irrigation can take place.

These plants can also be arranged into a system similar to a TreeWell system, where the roots can filter out the impurities in the water by using it up, and eventually the cleaned water can be reused in the greywater cycle of the building occupants.

Fig. 3.2c This diagram shows how plants can be used to filter used water.

4. ENERGY EFFICIENCY 4.1 Building Orientation The site is oriented towards the north direction (as previously shown in the first section of this report), which is the ideal direction for a location in of this climate.

The built area of the masses sum up to 3,059 m2, whereas the open area of the site is 4,569 m2.

Therefore, it can be said that more than 50% of the site is dedicated to landscape – and the roof gardens further add to the greenery ratio of the site. Green roofs also have lower maintenance costs, ensuring this feeds into a longer and more durable lifecycle for the building.

Fig. 4.1a One of the accessible roof gardens.

Since the site is located at a 7 minute walk from the Ghubairah Bus Stop, we are discouraging private vehicular transport by having no car parking spaces. However, we are encouraging biking and public transport, by providing a space on the ground floor for a bike park, and placing wayfinding signs towards the bus stop, across the site.

(i) Plan Fig. 4.1b The site at a 7 minute walk from the bus stop.

(ii) Visualization

Fig. 4.1c The bike park on the ground floor, positioned inside the building, with clear visual and physical access from the main entrance.

4.2. Building Envelope 4.2.1 Glazing We have oriented our building towards the north, and daylight that doesn’t access the building through the north, enters either through the courtyard, already shaded, or through ribbon windows that are positioned as clerestories.

Fig. 4.2a Ribbon windows shown in the exhibition hall.

We have ensured that no glazing faces outwards on the east, west, or south (except for the roof, which will be discussed later). All glazing is directed north, and the interior of the building that faces the shaded courtyard has glazing, allowing light into the spaces, but not allowing heat into them.

The roof glazing is triple glazed, to let only the minimum amount of heat in, and fenestration panes are operable, allowing for natural ventilation in the bridge area, which can cool down the space and remove cooling load from the HVAC system. Additionally, since the roof is vegetated, this allows in cooling down the space considerably.

4.2.2 Thermal Mass Since the building is made up of mostly concrete (as seen in the Materials and Resources portion of the report), the thermal mass of the building is high, which is ideal in the Riyadh climate, as the walls have a high capacity to absorb heat before the material begins to radiate inward to occupants.

4.3 Passive cooling techniques Passive cooling is achieved first and foremost by the building orientation – it faces north east, with the east and west of the building being shaded by both a double façade that blocks incoming heat radiation from the sun, as well as shaded by trees lining the east and west of the building. Since the south of the building faces a narrow street and residential apartment buildings that are both taller than [khanjalilah], the south is also considerably shaded.

The landscape is home to much vegetation, which reduces the temperature around the building considerably as well, requiring less active cooling on the building’s systems. Operable windows that face the shaded courtyard, and open balconies in the bridges, also introduce cool breezes into the spaces of the building.

Material choice also plays a part – high thermal mass does not allow heat to pass into spaces easily, and so HVAC is needed less to combat heat, since there is not that much heat in the spaces in the first place.

4.4 Ventilation Natural ventilation will be used where possible, through operable windows and cross-ventilation, which will be initiated once temperature and humidity sensors detect appropriate atmospheric levels to allow windows to open and cross-ventilate air in spaces. The zones deemed most suited to this strategy are: •

Ground floor: operable windows in the zone facing the vertical circulation in the left mass, the employee’s lounge in the right mass.

•

First floor: the operable windows along the north façades of both masses.

•

Third floor: operable windows along the north façade of the bridge, connecting both masses.

Fig. 3.1 Showing the cross ventilation that can occur, not to mention the constant introduction of fresh air into the flow, due to the open courtyard.

Fig. 3.2 The operable windows do not show in plan as they are above the cutline, however this diagram helps in showing along which walls they are, and how the wind may move along windows on the same surface.

Fig. 3.3 This diagram helps in showing how the wind may move along windows on the same surface.

Additionally, the bridge zones open to the courtyard will have plenty of natural ventilation.

Finally, the façade itself has its own ventilation facilitation, which can be seen in the diagram on the right.

Fig. 3.4 The openings in the double façade in khanjalilah act similarly.

We are also considering the cooling systems to be radiant along the entirety of the first floor. This allows for a reduction in the HVAC load.

Fig. 6.3 The diagram shows the height the radiant ceiling takes from the slab depth.

4.5. Mechanical Heating & Cooling The minimizing of heat gain and cooling load can be achieved through building orientation, material use, façade design, fenestration choices, and so forth. As such, our strategies are as follows, and may be understood better with the following diagrams: N

Fig 4.5a. Ground floor plan, showing a central courtyard.

N

Fig 4.5b Third floor plan, showing accessible roof gardens.

The central courtyard, which reaches throughout the building, allows for cross ventilation wherever there are areas open to it, as well as providing vegetation and shade that decrease the ambient temperature of the surroundings. This reduces the heat gain of the building, and therefore also the cooling load.

In addition, the mass is oriented towards the north, and glazed terraces and open gardens on all floors are oriented towards. This allows for the best light with least heat gain for the building, occupants and plants alike.

The space here is between the constructed wall, and the double façade.

Part of the roof garden that’s showing in this section

Fig 4.5c. Section through the building, illustrating the reach of the courtyard, the roof gardens and the double façade.

Another aspect of the design is the vegetated gardens, which are found on more than one floor throughout the four-storey building. These reduce the UHI effect on the building, as they reflect most heat directly, as opposed to absorbing it and carrying the heat forward for the HVAC systems to battle.

The building is also wrapped with a double façade. This façade will be composed of biodynamic cement, as well as both transparent and colored acrylic panels, that let light through but reflect heat, and are held together by a recycled aluminum frame.

The innovative biodynamic cement is used in the construction of the exterior structure of the building. As illustrated in the 3D shots that follow, as well as the section, it is a double facade layer of innovative architectural patterns; creating interesting shading and also contributing to the sustainable approach of the building. The biodynamic cement purifies the air by mimicking the role of trees, shading and cleaning the air of unwanted particles. The materials react with sunlight to break down nitrogen oxide. In direct sunlight, the active principle contained in the material aims to captures certain pollutants present in the air and converts them into inert salts, helping to purify the atmosphere from smog. Moreover, the workability and strength of the product are outstanding by comparison with conventional mortars - this active biodynamic facade offers significantly higher compression strength, flexural strength and weather resistance.

Fig 4.5d The pictures above show the patterns that biodynamic cement can be set in.

Fig 4.5e. The figure above shows the Islamic pattern that our biodynamic cement has been set in.

Most of the glazing of the building is directed inwards – towards the courtyard. This allows for shaded light to enter the interior spaces, since the light is filtered through the canopy of the overarching tree, as well as the other surrounding walls of the building.

Finally, any glazing facing outward is in the form of ribbon windows that are triple glazed and placed higher up the walls. In this way, they penetrate the space with more light than direct heat.

4.6. Lighting 4.6.1. Skylights, light shelves, Light Tubes For artificial lighting, we have planned for the installation of automated building operation systems, with sensors that detect both number of occupants in a space, as well as lighting levels within the space. These sensors then feed the data back to the artificial lights, which, in turn, turn on to light levels that are sufficient for comfortable visibility and navigation of spaces for the given number of occupants, and no more (this cuts down on unnecessarily bright lighting in unoccupied spaces, which wastes energy).

Also, a sun tube will run from the garden opening, through to the studio apartment corridor on the second floor.

We have also implemented multiple monitor skylights above the lounge area in the library on the second floor, enhancing the ambience and user experience.

Fig. 4.6a Monitor skylight allowing light into the space.

Fig. 4.6b Sun tube collecting light from one area, and through internal reflection, distributing it to another zone.

Fig. 4.6c The pictures above show the skylight design, and how they are experienced.

4.6.2. LED The Bazaar and Exhibition area are outfitted with sensors that monitor the amount of diffused sunlight coming into the space. The LED lights will slowly turn on when sunlight levels drop below a certain level, allowing for the bazaar and exhibition to be lit solely by diffuse natural light during a majority of daylight hours. The custom LED wallwasher and spotlight fixtures with very low UV content and are automatically controlled to turn off when the space is closed. Although halogen lights can considered for its cost (LED lights cost about three times the amount of halogen lights), we opted to use LED lights so the built would utilize an environmentally conscious and beautiful light. Local manufacturers and suppliers such as Advanced Lighting Company, National Lighting Company and Heba Lighting Technology. These local suppliers provide all types of artificial lighting we need; which will contribute to the sustainable purchasing concept.

4.7. Appliances Our appliances will be carefully chosen with the help of a sustainability consultant, Elixir, which is based in Saudi Arabia, thus giving us a context-relevant view and market of choices.

4.8 Timers & sensors Occupancy sensors will be used for both lighting and ventilation systems, so as to be able to reduce, or increase, power of, or completely turn off lights and ventilation in some zones, depending on occupancy. Timers will be used to turn these same systems on or off, depending on the time of day. Ideally, given working hours of the building to be 9AM to 10PM, lights and HVAC can be switched off between 10PM to 8AM, and then HVAC will be turned on an hour before opening at 9AM, so maintenance and cleaning can begin their work ahead of operations.

Lighting will turn on with timers that will be adjusted according to daylight hours. This will be handled by staff.

Sensors will also be used in tangent with air filters, so as to be able to alert the system when more oxygen intake is needed to dilute any unwanted VOCs or other harmful chemicals.

Sensors will also be used in water meters and electricity meters, to be able to track how the building is performing, and help prepare for better and more efficient means of operation.

4.9 Use of renewable Energy 4.9.1 Solar panels Solar panels placed strategically on the façade will provide electricity for the artificial lighting system to run, which will save on energy and bills for the building. Solar panels are also installed on different parts of the landscape, oriented towards the sun – on the parklets that both line and inhabit the landscape of the site, as well as along the shading elements of the pathways on the landscape.

5. MATERIALS & RESOURCES 5.1. Construction Waste Management Plan 5.1.1 Source reduction 1. We are intending to either salvage and forward for reuse, or recycle, as much waste as possible, given that it is nonhazardous. We are aiming for a minimum of 60% of total construction waste to be gathered and treated in this way.

We will include the following materials to be recycled or reused:

FROM SITE • • • • • • • • •

Paving: asphaltic, concrete Concrete construction and masonry Lumber and any wood sheet materials used in finishing Roofing, as well as insulation for both roofing and foundation Gypsum board Metal scrap from window frames, stud framing, MEP fixtures Glass & acrylic used in fenestration Electrical conduits and wiring Acoustical tile from library construction

FIELD OFFICE WASTE All material from here will be salvaged/recycled completely, as long as they are uncontaminated: i. ii. iii. iv. v.

Paper Cardboard Boxes Plastic sheet and film Wood crates

In order to implement this plan thoroughly, there will be need of coordination, detailed procedures, transportation, and documentation. Our plan is as follows: Regarding coordination, meetings will be held, hosted by the construction manager, accompanied by any subcontractors whose waste is included in the plan outlined.

Packages, safety, vendors and on-site areas will be discussed, settled on, and toured by all involved.

For procedures, all containers for recycling will be clearly labeled, including individual ones for cardboard, concrete, wood, metals, gypsum, and then regular office trash.

Vendors/waste-disposal facilities will be contacted and coordinated with to pick up and treat the waste created and collected.

Regarding transportation, a subcontractor will be hired for hauling the waste to the different required locations. The construction manager will maintain a log of all haul invoices to confirm that the waste has been hauled to the appropriate places.

On the topic of implementation, there will be certain workers designated to instruct others, oversee processes, and record results of the construction waste management plan. There will be specific areas for the separation of recyclable materials, policies regarding keeping the areas and bins clean, organized and clearly marked. Any hazardous wastes will be separated and disposed of in accordance with Saudi laws regarding such circumstances.

Finally, documentation of the process, of the waste organization, and so forth will be as follows: All items should be on spreadsheets, with details of weight and volume of the item or material. There will be attached invoices about the date of the ticket to where it was hauled and when.

Here is an example of a spreadsheet that can be used.

Fig. 5.1.1a An example of a spreadsheet that can be used.

When it comes to recycling, we will be implementing comingled recycling, which is one of the easiest methods and has shown that it’s more efficient and participative for it doesn’t require sorting of disposals; and the facility of recycling is responsible for separating waste into recyclable components. Although these services are not easily available in Riyadh, we found a company (WEEE Company) that can offer recycling of electronic and electric waste. Another recycling company WASCO, manages paper, metal, cardboard, plastic, wood, metal and more waste recycling services to divert as much as possible away from landfills. They also offer salvaged materials from previous projects which we can repurchase and use for our project.

Furthermore, with these services available, we can develop a waste management plan before we begin construction. This plan will study the potential waste streams, send cooperation offers to the recycling companies and seek optimal waste management solutions for our project and also manage the performance while doing so.

5.1.2. Using less materials (dematerialization)

A life cycle assessment (LCA) will be executed on the building, with all material choices, to be able to effectively qualify the environmental impact of all products involved in the building. We will be attempting a cradle-to-cradle approach as much as possible, to ensure that the building may be reused in any way possible – not only with a mostly open plan on all floors, but also with regards to materials used in the building. We will then be seeing the total energy use through the LCA, and evaluate our choices.

The LCA will help us choose the best material that will be fit not only for the project but also for the environmental context of the project. We may also be able to just forego some finishes and materials, cutting down on the materiality of the building completely, in some cases, and therefore undergoing dematerialization.

During the planning and design phase, we have already decided to try and make this building as compact as possible, with sizable voids and configurations, allowing the elimination of needs for some parts of the structure. The design is dense, going vertically as opposed to horizontally, requiring less material for foundations, less excavation, and so forth.

Additionally, as part of the cradle-to-cradle approach mentioned earlier, we will be using salvaged doors – in the entire building, we have decided that there are 34 interior doors, including the public bathroom doors, that may be used from salvaged sources. The revolving entrance doors may be salvaged as well.

5.2 Locally sourced materials 5.2.1 Materials types and sources The building materials we intend to use are: Biodynamic cement and photovoltaic glass The building is designed in a sustainable way thanks to the contribution of photovoltaic glass in the roof and the photocatalytic properties of the new concrete for the branched facade. With biodynamic cement as the veiling double facade, when this material comes into contact with light, it can capture pollution in the air, transforming it into inert salts and reducing smog levels. This double envelope provides indirect filtered natural daylight, minimizing the use of electric light during the day. This also promotes a healthier and more comfortable environment for the employees, residents and visitors.

Fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) We also use fiber reinforced concrete for its sustainable qualities. For its light and flexible properties, GFRC concrete has the ability of recreating architectural styles for its flexibility; which allows it to be an easily recyclable material. Moreover, the lighter weight panels can minimize the cost of the building foundations, structural steel and panel supports; thus these aspects of GFRC can amount to a substantial savings to the overall project cost, making it cost effective. It’s also chemical resistant, doesn’t rust or corrode (durable), low permeability which increases its resistance to water and air pollution, of high performance thermal resistance properties. GFRC is also cheaper than other concrete materials.

We have found that it’s locally available and manufactured in Riyadh at companies such as: Muqawiloon, ACEMENTIAT and DURRAKA. Having these local factories manufacture the materials in house is ideal, allowing us to comply with sustainable purchasing requirements; minimizing international transportation of material and decreasing purchasing cost. Furthermore, or its versatile properties, its application covers many construction works such as building renovation works, water and drainage works, bridge and tunnel lining panels, permanent formwork method of construction, architectural cladding and acoustic barriers and screens.

5.3 Materials and appliances durability Our appliances and materials will be carefully chosen with the help of a sustainability consultant, Elixir, which is based in Saudi Arabia, thus giving us a context-relevant view and market of choices.

5.4 Sustainable purchasing We will be creating and maintaining a sustainable purchasing program for all materials that are regularly used – we will implement this program by ensuring that all units of such materials and products are at low cost, and are sustainable products. We will be including paper (printing or copy paper, notebooks, notepads, envelopes), toner cartridges, binders, batteries and desk accessories, under required sustainable purchase – as well as food and beverages, for LEED credit.

We will be using the template calculator provided by LEED to ensure our purchases and calculations meet standards. We intend to achieve sustainable purchases of at least 60% during the performance period. Our purchases will meet any of the below following criteria: • Purchases contain at least 10% postconsumer and/or 20% postindustrial

material.

• Purchases contain at least 50% rapidly renewable materials.

• Purchases contain at least 50% materials harvested and processed or

extracted and processed within an 800 kilometer) radius of the project.

Building materials or products shipped by rail or water have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured within a 500 mile (800 kilometer) total travel distance of the project site using a weighted average.

• Purchases consist of at least 50% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)–certified

paper products.

• Batteries are rechargeable.

A detailed example of how we will carry out sustainable purchasing – amongst appliances, lighting, and so on – is our workings for LED lighting purchase.

Lighting fixture types For the exhibition and bazaar area we use track mounted LED wall washer and optical diffuser LED reflector lamp. Because we can anticipate the reflective angles more precisely with these types, it makes it easier to control glare upon art pieces and displays.

Fig. 5.4a Track mounted LED wall washer price: 62$ for one For the offices we use Linear track system LED spanned from wall to wall as well as minimal LED spotlights for the accentuation of specific points of interest or importance.

Fig. 5.4b Track system linear LED lamps price: 50$ for one

Fig. 5.4c LED spotlight lamps price 45$ for one

Artificial lighting cost Energy efficient sustainable LEDs may be costly when purchasing, but payback is definitely higher, longer life span and better lumen distribution; for one fixture achieves the equivalent distribution and efficacy of almost 10 halogen fixtures.

A sample rough comparison approximations study between non sustainable halogen system vs LED system. If we add the number of artificial needed for the building:

Halogen System

LED System

Total initial cost

$7645

$8216

Annual hours of operation

2600

2912

Operating power of system

838

312

Electricity operating cost

$295.13

$114.99

Payback (Years)

2.4

5.5 Building Waste Management Plan 5.5.1 Waste reduction A micro ecosystem is intended to be created, where organic waste from different cafes in the building will be rerouted to an on-site composting processor. This processes the waste into fertilizer, which is then used for the community garden. In this way, ‘waste’ as a concept is reduced, since each step of the cycle is used as fuel for the next step. This will be described in more detail in the Innovations section.

5.5.2 Recycling Plan

As mentioned previously in the construction waste management plan, we will be allotting a certain area on site as a recycling storage area. What will be stored is the following: i.

Paper

ii. iii. iv. v.

Corrugated cardboard Glass Plastic Metals

We have decided that our course of action will be to have a comingled storage area. We have determined to have twice-weekly pickups by a biking team, who will then deliver the disposals to the recycling plant. We are considering building rapport with the WASCO plant, as it is the nearest recycling plant to our site.

Fig. 5.5.2a A diagram showing the process of recycling.

6 Indoor Environmental Quality 6.1 Secondhand smoking There will be prohibition of smoking on-site, with penalties enforced. This will rule out secondhand smoking effects within the building and on-site. Vegetation within and without the building will also battle against carbon dioxide in the air and filter it naturally. We will also be installing smoke filters/air purifiers in the more public areas of the building. Some examples are Honeywell True Hepa Air Purifier and Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier.

Fig. 6.1a Honeywell True Hepa Air Purifier unit.

Fig. 6.1b Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier unit.

6.2 CO2 Monitoring We will be installing meters every 0.9 to 1.8m both above and below the slabs of the building, within each designed HVAC zone. These monitors have innate alarms that alert the BMS when the CO2 levels increase by a maximum of 10%. Once this occurs, the HVAC system will increase its intake of fresh air from the outside, allowing greater amounts of O2 to dilute the CO2 levels.

6.3 Ventilation & Air filters Natural ventilation will be used where possible, through operable windows and cross-ventilation, which will be initiated once temperature and humidity sensors detect appropriate atmospheric levels to allow windows to open and cross-ventilate air in spaces. The zones deemed most suited to this strategy are: •

Ground floor: operable windows in the zone facing the vertical circulation in the left mass, the employee’s lounge in the right mass.

•

First floor: the operable windows along the north façades of both masses.

•

Third floor: operable windows along the north façade of the bridge, connecting both masses.

Fig. 6.3a Showing the cross ventilation that can occur, not to mention the constant introduction of fresh air into the flow, due to the open courtyard.

Fig. 6.3b The operable windows do not show in plan as they are above the cutline, however this diagram helps in showing along which walls they are, and how the wind may move along windows on the same surface.

Fig. 6.3c This diagram helps in showing how the wind may move along windows on the same surface.

Additionally, the bridge zones open to the courtyard will have plenty of natural ventilation.

Finally, the façade itself has its own ventilation facilitation, which can be seen in the diagram on the right.

Fig. 6.3d The openings in the double façade in khanjalilah act similarly.

6.4 VOC Air quality will be regulated using the air filters mentioned previously, as well as by allow natural ventilation to take place in the spaces with operable windows. Indoor vegetation can also cleanse air, while keeping the temperature and humidity within comfortable ranges.

Air quality is also affected by finishes implemented within the spaces, therefore our construction materials and finishing choices are made with a certain set of requirements in mind: -

Heavily reduced to no VOCs involved in the products, Do not collect/capture dust and other air impurities easily.

This will result in reduced carpeting, furniture and finishes that interfere either on a reduced level, or not at all, with good air quality.

Air quality is also affected by operational strategies. Therefore, all cleaning products will be chosen carefully, making sure they do not have harmful chemicals for occupants.

6.5 Temperature Control IEQ is a vital aspect of buildings; poor IEQ can lead to health issues, additional costs for maintenance and repair of other parts of the building, and reduced productivity. On the other hand, good IEQ can lead to increased productivity and increase comfort and satisfaction of the occupants. Therefore, it is essential to pay due attention to the design and distribution of factors that affect IEQ. These factors include: temperature, humidity, lighting, acoustics, air quality and other control systems.

As such, temperature, humidity and lighting may all be connected, and are covered in previous sections. To summarise: adequate daylighting that does not let excessive heat into the building spaces allows for good lighting and a comfortable temperature in all zones. Temperature is connected to humidity to an extent, and an average, comfortable temperature that stands in accordance with ASHRAE standards (20-26.7oC) can ensure humidity is at least partially covered. For consistently comfortable temperatures, temperature and occupancy sensors can be linked to the HVAC system, coordinating to make sure that each space has adequate warmth/cooling for the number of occupants, in relation to the volume of the space.

For additional humidity accordance with ASHRAE standards (30-60%), air filters can be used in the HVAC system, to introduce or remove humidity as needed.

For higher efficiency and comfort, each zone will have its own responsible HVAC module, with no overlap or sharing of zones – this way, each zone will rely only on its own occupants and its own temperature data to provide a comfortable atmosphere for its occupants. (In case of shared zones, this may cause discomfort as different zones may have different data and needs, which will not all be met at once, as they are governed by a single HVAC module.)

6.6 Light Control Light control will be handled by the timers and sensors mentioned earlier – depending on occupancy, time of the day and therefore strength of sunlight in the day. We will also be reducing how much energy is spent, relatively, on lighting, by choosing LED lighting.

6.7 Natural Daylight & Views As will be seen in the attached design concept, views have been created in this downtown urban development, by landscaping the site, creating inner views in the courtyard and having most of the glazing face the large tree that the building centers around, while also allowing glazing that faces the north to be framed by trees. In this way, the glazing is also making use of natural daylight and cutting off the need for electrical lighting in some spaces, in the daytime.

For users on the site, views abound, with parklets of engaging designs that interact with light, color and shadow; play areas for children; gentle contouring of the land in some areas; as well trees dotting the site; bushes in the bioswales; and even the pervious pavement hosts greenery between its tiles.

6.8 Acoustics For acoustics, we have ensured that the construction for the library has thicker floor and roof slabs, for more sound insulation, as well as an additional layer of construction with an air cavity.

This allows for more privacy. The same construction will proceed with the apartments.

Fig. 6.1 The additional cavity between walls in the library will hold a pocket of air as a sound insulator.

Fig. 6.2 The diagram shows how the roof and floor slabs for the mentioned zones will be constructed for better acoustical privacy.

7

INNOVATION -

We are creating a cradle to cradle cycle with some of our waste – waste produced from the cafes (biodegradable utensils, napkins, cardboard from packaging) can be collected and composted to be used as fertilizer for the community garden, which in turn bears vegetable and fruits that are used in the cafes. In this way, we are diverting the waste in part of our recycling plan, reusing and reclaiming the materials in a micro ecosystem. A similar, successful precedent is the Cardboard to Caviar restaurant in London.

-

Materials: the hardscape is made of porous concrete, in order to obtain permeable pavement. The paving that leads to the building will be shaded by colorful shading elements that not only act both as point of interest for the children in the nearby play area, but also as solar energy collectors, as they will have reflective solar panels on their exteriors.

Fig. 7a The colored shading elements, as shown.

Fig. 7b The parklets with solar panel as roofs, as shown.

The parklets that dot the landscape will also have solar panels that will allow interior lighting of the parklets to light up at night, without needing exterior-sourced electricity.

-

Irrigation: The community garden and softscape will have thin cylindrical rods running across the surface of the grass and soil, made of spherically-bumped biomimic material that gathers condensation from the air, allowing for more efficient irrigation.

REFERENCES 1. How to install silt fences; AllStakeSupply. https://www.allstakesupply.com.au/install-siltfences/ 2. Water Harvesting and Reuse; DesignFlow. http://www.designflow.net.au/waterHarvestingAndReuse/meridian.html 3. Rain Garden; Stormwater Central. http://managingstormwater.blogspot.com/2014/09/rain-garden-build-your-own-in-3hours.html 4. CRI ThinkTank Charrete #2, Designing the Center for Community Renewal.

5. Why StreetCreeks?; StreetCreeks. http://www.streetcreeks.org/about 6. Pavement Types; Tipton Associates.

7. Sustainable; https://www.sustainable.to/blog/2019/5/30/why-hand-drawing-matters 8. Rain gardens for your home; Jon Korman. http://www.jonathankorman.com/magazinearticles.html 9. Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Growth, Water Use Characteristics and Yield of Cotton in Arid Northwest China; Sun, Yang.

10. Control of your Irrigation; DeepRootDistribution. https://deeprootdistribution.com/ 11. 60 per cent of grey water can be recycled: Expert; DtNEXT.

https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2018/08/06044356/1083105/60-per-cent-of-greywater-can-be-recycled-Expert.vpf 12. Analysis of Integrated Radiant Slab Heating and Cooling Systems for Residential Buildings; Krarti, Park.

13. The Fuller's heritage: organic models and artificial microcosm in XX century domes; Rossi.

14. The Dual Language of Geometry in Gothic Architecture: The Symbolic Message of Euclidian Geometry versus the Visual Dialogue of Fractal Geometry; Ramzy.

15. The spectacular Palazzo Italia building in Milan is a smog-eating machine; Inhabitat.

https://inhabitat.com/striking-palazzo-italia-at-the-milan-expo-is-a-smog-eatingmachine/smog-eating-exterior-skin/ 16. Roof monitors; MSmith Arch.

17. Lightway F400 Through Wall Sun Tunnel Basic Kit - 15.6cm Diameter; Sterlingbuild.

https://www.sterlingbuild.co.uk/product/lightway-f400-sun-tunnel-basic-kit-forvertical-walls-156cm-diameter 18. Construction Waste Management Plan; Iron Mike Construction. https://impact.parsons.com/projects/AFSVA2/Files/Docs/62/Documents/Submittals%20 (C)/31-3430/20160826_AFA%20Golf%20Clubhouse_CWM%20Plan.pdf 19. Air Purifiers for Smoke – (Reviews & Buying Guide 2020); HomeAir.

https://www.homeair.org/best-air-purifiers-for-smoke-reviews/ 20. Architectural Acoustics; Michael Emann.

21. Dr. Aliaa’s slides 22. LEED v4.1 BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION