'The Albatros', Royal Dutch Navy
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Situation Prior to Refurbishment
The building named ‘The Albatros’, consists out of an high-rise block (7 identical layers, ± 4400 m²) and a lower part with meeting rooms (1 layer, 1800 m²). The existing building, built in 1972, façade orientation east-west, is equipped with single glazing in aluminum frames, no insulation, inefficient artificial lighting, heating by radiators (gas boilers) and a mechanical ventilation system (supply & exhaust) without heat recovery. The building was used as housing for navy-officers and will be transformed into an office building.
Objectives
- 30% reduction in energy demand compared with current new build regulations
- Any over-cost of eco-refurbishment to be minimized
- Internal conditions satisfying all new-build criteria
- High overall environmental assessment achieved
Description of work
Refurbishment Strategy
The existing building is not thermally insulated and there are many thermal bridges. The reduction of the energy use will be achieved by good thermal insulation, heat recovery on exhaust ventilation air, and renewable energy use. The insulation of the facade is based on a second skin facade which will be placed before the existing skin. The second skin gives several advantages such as improving the overall thermal quality of the facade, preheating ventilation air, removing the thermal bridges and it makes the existing facade warmer. The existing skin is retrofitted by new and larger openable windows. Furthermore the air tightness of the existing glazing will be measured and if necessary the facade will be made more air tight. With these measurements the internal conditions will be improved. The choice of the measures was supported by an environmental assessment with a life-cycle analysis (LCA). LCA gives the possibility to define the environmental impact of different scenarios for the future of the building.
Planned actions:
Papers/presentations:
Innovative Technologies
- The openings in the façade will be upgraded and the glazing in the new windows is LE glazing (U=1.8 W/m2K)
- Insulation of closed walls, roofs and floors (U=0.3W/m2K)
- A second skin to create a double façade to improve the thermal insulation and internal conditions and preheating of ventilation air during winter conditions
- Passive ventilation system with wind independent ventilation vents with the possibility of night ventilation to cool the building mass in summer
- Efficient heat delivery system from CHP plant on the Navy site.
- Low temperature heating system
- Efficient HF-lighting system with daylight dependent lighting
- Photovoltaics: The architect is studying for a place for 100 m2 PV. The most relevant place is the south facade. PV can be combined with the outside insulation of the building.
Building Complete
The building phase was completed in September 2006. In October 2006 the Head of the Royal Dutch Navy moved to the completed building The Albatros. The Navy is very proud on the building. The picture below shows the new situation.
Figure: Albatros after renovation in October 2006
Commissioning
Although some minor problems occurred in the first months, the first experiences of the users are good.
Problems that occurred in the first month had all to do with the double skin façade. During windy conditions there was a lot of noise in the building. There were three causes for that problem. There were little holes in open metal constructions. They work as an organ pipe when the air strikes along the little holes. Closing the holes was the answer. The other problem was that the big grills for summer ventilation didn’t close. That problem is also fixed. The air in the double façade is much warmer now, and the wind doesn’t have much effect on the pressure drop over the windows between the offices and the double façade. Last problem was the air tightness of the new open able windows. The construction firm will look after this problem.
Monitoring
Also in October 2006 the monitoring of the innovative measures is started. The monitoring programme will last one year. First results will be available in the beginning of June 2006.