An urban-scale wind analysis was key to designing heat-resilient spaces for a large, multi-disciplinary research campus in a hot, humid climate.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) is a 267-acre research campus designed to emit 54% less carbon than a comparable facility from day one and ultimately become a net-zero development. Intended for cross-disciplinary interaction and collaboration, the campus is laced with a network of outdoor, connective pathways. However, Guangzhou’s hot, humid climate made providing comfortable exterior circulation and amenity space a challenge.
From early in the design process, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was used to understand how the shape and layout of building forms would impact local wind flows. Using this data, the design was modified to maximize cooling breezes and shelter outdoor public spaces and walkways from direct sun and hot air. Through an optimized building layout, and addition of abundant shade trees, the hours of outdoor thermal comfort were extended by 30%.
These passive design elements complement the campus’s holistic sustainability strategy, which includes: a highly efficient, all-electric design; wastewater heat recovery; a planned utility-scale solar installation; and a cutting-edge system of sensors that monitor and measure energy use, air quality, light, and temperature to support maximally efficient operations.
