1. EXHIBITION POSTER DESIGN & DETAIL 4
By John Curry G00293577
Lecturers: Denise Dillon & Emer Maughan
Project brief
The proposed works covered in this project includes the retrofit,
refurbishment and internal modification at first floor level to the
original 1973 block of GMIT which accommodates the
Department of Building and Civil Engineering . There are external
modifications to the south, west and north facades including new
cladding and change of window layouts. It also includes a new
single storey link bridge which links the 1973 building to the
adjacent 1976 building at first floor level.
The main area of focus for my project was how the ventilation
strategy would perform in the building along with the best type of
windows to use.
LOUVRED WINDOW PANEL PLACED BETWEEN CURTAIN
WALL MULLION WITH GLAZED PANEL ABOVE AND
SPANDREL PANEL AT TOP. LOUVRED PANELS OPEN AT
DESIRED TIMES WITH ACTUATORS AND LINKED TO
B.M.S. RAIN SENSORS CAUSE OPENINGS TO CLOSE
AUTOMATICALLY IN THE CASE OF RAINFALL. ROOF
CAPPING FIXED TO STEEL ANGLED FIXING. WATER
MEMBRANE WRAPPED OVER ROOF AND CLIPPED INTO
CURTAIN WALL MULLION BEHIND SPANDREL PANEL.
METAL STUD PARTITION WALL FIXED TO ROOF SLAB.
ROOF MEMBRANE WRAPPED OVER PATITION
UNDERNEATH WINDOW CILL.
PLASTER BOARD SUSPENDED CEILING SUSPENDED
FROM CONCRETE SLAB.
GUTEX INSULATION TO WRAP BACK TO CURTAIN WALL TO
PREVENT COLD BRIDGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PART L TGD.
'INTELLO PLUS' MEMBRANE WRAPPED AROUND UTEX
NSULATION AND CLIPPED INTO CURTAIN WALL CAPPING.
INTELLO PLUS MAMBRANE TAPED WITH PRO CLIMA SEALING
TAPE AT REAR OF CURTAIN WALL. DPC CLIPPED INTO
CURTAIN WALL CAPPING AND WRAPPED BEHIND CLADDING
TILES
STEEL C CHANNEL PURLINS FIXED BEHIND EXISTING BLOCK WALL
AT 600 C/C. 'INTELLO PLUS' MEMBRANE PLACED BETWEEN PURLINS
AND BLOCKWORK TAPED AND SEALED TO CONCRETE WITH PRO
CLIMA SEALING TAPE TO ACHIEVE AIR TIGHTNESS IN ACCORDANCE
WITH PART L . INTELLO 105mm 'ROCKWOOL' INSULATION PLACED
BETWEEN PURLINS. PLYWOOD PANEL SCREW FIXED AT 600 C/C. TO
PURLINS. 'GUTEX MULTITHERM' INSULATION SCREW FIXED BACK TO
C CHANNEL PURLINS. INTELLO PLUS MEMBRANE PLACED OUTSIDE
GUTEX INSULATION BETWEEN CLADDING RAILS. BUSHAMMERED
LIMESTONE CLADDING PANELS PLACED IN CLADDING RAILS.
PLASTER BOARD SUSPENDED CEILING SUSPENDED
FROM CONCRETE SLAB.
Aerial view Link Bridge / Louvred windows
Pedestrian view Link Bridge / Louvred windows
Break out area with internal clearstory view
Classroom with clearstory lighƟng

2. John Curry
G00293577
Window opening calculaƟon
0.134
0.134 0.5424
+0.2744 x 2
0.5424 1.0848
(1.08)(0.6) (9)(9.8)(1.99)
21 + 273
= 0.5m3/s
X 2 windows
= 1 m3/s venƟlaƟon rate
Air changes = 3600 x (1.00/202) =
18air changes per hour.
Windows and Ventilation
Four different window materials were considered for use in the
retrofit. These types were:
• PVC
• Aluminium
• Hardwood
• Alu-clad
While Hardwood windows scored highest in the matrix it would
need to be painted/ varnished every 10 - 15 years. On a project
the size GMIT this would cause huge cost and labour erecting
scaffolding. Therefore Alu-clad would be the optimum choice for
most designs. As the focus was on ventilation for my design I
found that there were better systems for ventilation using an
aluminium system.
SecƟon
Floor Plan
ElevaƟon
Desired Ventilation Option
The desired venƟlaƟon
opƟon to use was the
use of the louvred
window panels. This
would mean that the
desired air changes
would be met.
Opening SecƟonSecƟon Plan
ElevaƟon
Desired Window Option
Rain SensorB.M.S.
ActuatorCo2
monitor
Window control
In my research about ventilation strategies I found that most
flawed ventilation approaches were due to the occupants failure
to open windows / vents at desired times. This meant that all
windows should be set to automatically open when
Co2
/ temperature levels rise above a set point. This would be
done by using a Building Management System (B.M.S.) which is
a computer based system that can control and manage the
buildings windows and other technical services. It is crucial that
this is programmed properly as it can be counter productive if not.
Co2
monitors should be put in all rooms which will send a signal to
the B.M.S. to open the windows. The windows would then be
opened by an actuator. Actuators are a type of motor (electric,
hydraulic) that can move and control a mechanism. Night time
ventilation can be used to cool the thermal mass (concrete) by the
windows being set to automatically open at night. This will delay
and reduce the peak temperatures. Rain sensors can be used to
send a signal to close the windows if rainfall occurs. This should
have a manual override if occupants require windows to be open.
LINE OF CLEARSTORY
USED AIR ESCAPES OUT CLEARSTORY FOR
CROSS VENTILATION