The new £20 million Welsh Assembly Government building in Llandudno
Junction is the greenest in the Assembly Government's estate, with a
host of advanced, energy saving features, including a biomass
boiler, natural ventilation and a dynamic Solar Shading solution
from Levolux.
Acknowledged locally as a 'jewel in the crown' for North Wales, the
'three fingered' brown-field development is arranged over three
floors, providing 8,800 square metres
of office space. Designed by leading architects, Austin-Smith:Lord
to achieve a BREEAM rating of 'Excellent', the building is
celebrated for providing the local community with greater access to
the Welsh Assembly Government's services.
With an elevated, unobstructed outlook to the south and west, the
building receives prolonged exposure to the sun's rays, particularly
during July and August. To reduce the risk of excessive solar heat
gain within the building, Levolux was invited to develop a custom
Solar Shading solution. Drawing on its unrivalled expertise, Levolux
combined a bespoke arrangement of motorised, vertical Fins, with its
Infiniti® Fin system, to help maintain internal temperatures
naturally, without the need for energy-sapping air conditioning.
On exposed west-facing elevations within a floor to ceiling glazed
enclosure, Levolux devised a custom Solar Shading system
incorporating vertical, rotating aluminium Fins with integral
stainless steel mesh panels. In total, 114 motorised Fins, each
measuring 700mm wide by 32mm deep and up to 3.3 metres in height,
have been installed to provide shade to ground and first floor
levels.
Linked to an intelligent Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), with
two external light sensors, the silver powder coated Fins are
rotated automatically, following the movement of the sun as it
tracks across the sky. While helping to control natural daylight
levels, the Fins are adjusted to allow the sun's rays to warm the
building (winter setting), or to increase shading, thereby cooling
the building (summer setting).
Elsewhere, Levolux's Infiniti® Fin system has been applied
horizontally above ground and first floor windows on south facing
elevations. The Infiniti® Fin system has innovative concealed
fixings, with a patented stainless steel locking plate, creating a
unique aesthetic of continuous Fins. Extruded aluminium, diamond
profile Fins, each measuring 480mm in width, have been grouped into
three rows, arranged in a vertical stack. Almost 550 metres of Fins
were installed on this project, all finished in an attractive matt
green powder coating, which is coordinated to match the building's
copper cladding.
David Williams, lead architect on the project at Austin-Smith:Lord,
praised the Levolux team for its contribution on the project,
commenting; “Critical to the success of the project, the solar
shading applied to this building required an innovative approach.
Levolux exceeded our expectations throughout, to deliver a highly
efficient, cost effective solution.”
Like all of Levolux's solutions, the motorised Fins and Infiniti®
Fin system installed at the Welsh Assembly Government Building in
Llandudno Junction, are backed by the company's design, manufacture
and installation package.
With its locally sourced slate cladding and an intelligent Solar
Shading solution from Levolux, the new facility, officially opened
by the Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones AM First Minister of Wales in September
2010, is set to transform the quality of services delivered by the
Welsh Assembly Government throughout North Wales. This will provide
a welcome boost for the local economy and will provide greater
support to residents and businesses alike.
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