Performance of Natural Ventilation in Deep-plan Educational Buildings: Case Study

This paper discusses the applicability, use and performance of natural ventilation and natural daylight in two educational buildings on two continents. It discusses actual measured data in the building compared with simulations made by the ASHRAE Thermal Comfort Model that was developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The buildings were the Harm A. Weber Academic Centre completed in July 2007 on the campus of Judson University in suburban Chicago, IL, and, Lanchester Library completed in August 2000 on the campus of Coventry University in Coventry, UK. Three sets of scenarios were used in the building measurements: summer, winter and mixed-mode-season. Both use significant amounts of natural ventilation and high thermal mass. The study had students carrying out their normal activities in studio while wearing regular clothes. A questionnaire and instrumentation were administered to record data on thermal sensation and preferences of the occupants. Both buildings have significant applications and use of passive design strategies that include natural ventilation, natural daylight and thermal mass. The strategies tackle the limitations of traditional natural ventilation and daylighting strategies and suggest directions for design in complex urban contexts. Computer modeling was used to assess the performance of the strategies in other types of buildings and building forms.