Project : Corporate Office-Lucent
Client : Lucent Industries Corporation
Project Area : 10,000 sq ft
Project Estimate : Rs 2.2 Crore
Completion Date : May, 2013
Functional Disposition
The covered area is spread over four floors with each having a dedicated function of its own. The basement is primarily used for storage of raw materials as well as finished products; it also houses the light machinery required for minor assembling purpose. The ground floor is used as the visitor centre and features a 40 people training centre, conference room and meeting rooms. The building also has a triple height atrium that connects all the floors and also provide with ample daylight in all the interior areas.
By introducing the triple height atrium in the building, the energy consumption has reduced radically as all the offices operate without the need of artificial lighting during the daylight hours. The first floor is used by all the admin offices, directors and managers. By placing the admin block in the middle, a better control is achieved in the complex. All R&D labs and research halls are placed on the second floor that requires complete segregation from visitors as well as the admin staff. For recreation, the ground floor is supported with a staff canteen placed next to the green open space (atrium) in the center of the building.
The staircase and the lift lobby are also planned adjacent to the atrium so that no energy is spent on lighting for circulation during the day. To further open up the building, the staircase has a cement screen on the external façade that provides with fresh air as well as indirect sunlight.
Sustainability
The planning is done to reduce heat gains from the front western façade. All major opening are planned along the northern façade. This provides with ample daylight in all the offices without increasing direct heat gains. This further reduces the Air Conditioning loads in the building and makes it cost as well as energy efficient. To further reduce the energy loads, a triple height atrium is planned at the center of the building that provides with daylight, space for green open space on the ground floor which also serves as the breather space in the building. Admin offices, director rooms and the circulation core are planned adjacent to the atrium thus removing the need to use any type of artificial lighting in any of these areas during the daytime hours.
Light shelves are used on the eastern façade of the building that provides with in-direct sunlight which is provides with ambient lighting without causing glare in the offices. Vertical concrete fins are used as the shading devices in the front western façade to reduce the heat gains. Since openings and glazing are reduced in the front façade to reduce heat gains; green terraces, cement screens and large opening are provided on the north side. With the incorporation of various passive techniques for keeping the indoor temperature lower, reducing heat gains and providing fresh air inside the building, the complex becomes sustainable and a healthy working place.
