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Multi Award winning project adapts solar shading rule book

Levolux has helped a multi award winning project creating the ideal internal environment whilst maintaining a seamless glazed exterior by helping to adapt the installation of one of its solar shading solutions, designed to control solar heat gain, glare and light.

The Jubilee Library in Brighton has won the Major Project of The Year Award at the CIBSE organised Building Services Awards, the British Construction Industry Building Award and the Prime Ministers Better Public Building Award 2005, a RIBA Architecture Award, and was one of the runners up for the Stirling Prize 2005.

Featuring an extensively glazed entrance facade, there was a need for a solar shading system to overcome the possibility of solar heat gain within the building and provide control of light and glare.

Traditionally a series of louvres would have been installed to the exterior of the building to act as a barrier to stop the sun hitting the glass and heating the air inside. However the client, Brighton & Hove City Council, felt that external louvres might distract from the clean, simple and elegant glazed exterior.

To overcome this, Levolux, leader in the design, manufacture and installation of solar shading solutions, installed a series of 350mm extruded aluminium fins on the inside of the building's main glass facade. Although this still allowed the sun to hit the glass and heat the air in the library using computer analysis it was demonstrated that the use of internal louvres would not significantly affect internal temperatures in occupied areas of the library. Due to the interior height of the library, heat would then rise without causing discomfort to visitors. A series of roof vents and wind towers were installed as part of a requirement for the sustainable use of local climate conditions to drive passive environmental control. During summer conditions these help to expel any excessive warm air into the atmosphere.

As part of the project, Levolux also installed a series of single piece 500mm fins, also produced in extruded aluminum. These were fitted at roof level to form a canopy enhancing the overall appeal of the modern glass facade.

Now open, the library, which holds over 120,000 books and 16,000 audiovisual items, has seen visitor numbers and book loans triple. The building also features a public art display, community meeting rooms and computer facilities - available for hire outside of library opening hours - allowing the building to become a focal point for community activity even when the library is closed.

Part of a £45 million scheme to transform a run-down area in the heart of Brighton with the creation of a new square, hotel, residential, retail and leisure buildings, the library has been designed to represent the 'future' of public libraries.

Email: JustineBowman@levoluxltd.co.uk