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The New Ussher Library - Trinity College

Colleges new Ussher library, Trinity Cullough by KMDarchitects, is a designed jointly Architecture and Mc Mulvin fine work of architecture and one of a number of landmark concrete buildings on the Trinity College Campus site. Formally opened by president Mc Aleese in April 2003, the new Ussher library came about as the result of a limited competition to fulfill a brief which called for the provision of additional space for Trinity colleges books and readers, as well as new homes for the map library and the book conservation unit. While having a number of options in relation to choice of site, the winning entrants made the inspired decision to locate the new library between the existing Berkley and Lecky libraries, thereby creating an integrated library complex. This positioning of the new library naturally necessitated some reorganisation of the uses of the existing libraries. The winning scheme is decidedly green and sustainability conscious, particularly in relation to the choice of materials and the combination of passive and low capacity mechanical systems employed to minimise energy use throughout the life of the building. One of the problems which had to be addressed, was the possibility of rapid temperature swings within the building which would create an uncomfortable working environment for both students and staff. Temperature stabilisation and anti-glare measures were a particular concern in the student study area, where full length floor to ceiling glazing was employed to provide uninhibited views over Trinity Colleges expansive sports grounds. Although the common solution would have been to provide full mechanical ventilation or air conditioning, the decision was made to use a mixed mode ventilation system which maximised the benefits of the buildings form and exposed structural elements. This potential heat gain problem and the requirement for fresh air intake / vitiated

by Brian Murch

air expulsion, was addressed in a number of ways: a) The use of anti-glare glass on the east elevation to combat glare and heat gain. b) The use of exposed feature concrete internal finishes (thermal mass) to absorb heat gain. This is achieved through the use of exposed concrete floor soffits / ceilings and the incorporation of profiled fin shaped columns in the study area. c) The orientation of the building to avoid large areas of glazing, particularly on the west elevation where narrow slit openings are built into the elevation. d) The use of automatic motorised ventilators at the top of the floor to ceiling glazing. These ventilators open in sequential order and work in tandem with the air intake through the floor zone.

Ussher Library - Trinity College Dublin

e) The use of low a capacity mechanical system to supply fresh ventilation air through the raised floor using low velocity floor outlets. This air can be partially cooled in the warm summer months to create a semi or soft cooled environment in the occupied zones. The client brief called for natural light to be allowed to penetrate through the depth of the building. This was achieved by the incorporation of a glazed atrium located centrally, dividing the study area from the book storage area. The atrium acts as a central stack, collecting vitiated air from the centre of the building and expelling it to the outside, using natural convection. The air is partially discharged through motorised vents while the remainder is drawn through a heat exchange unit to partially heat incoming air through the floors. The atrium vents also act as smoke vents in the event of fire.

The Ussher Library Trinity College Dublin

Fabric Energy Storage


The thermal capacity of concrete (sometimes called thermal mass or fabric energy storage) enables it to absorb, store and later radiate heat. In all buildings, heat is generated by people, computers, equipment, lighting and solar gain. Thus modern buildings have a tendency to overheat throughout the year. Exposed concrete absorbs this heat, so daytime temperatures are reduced by 3 to 4 deg.C and peaks in temperature are delayed by up to six hours. The exposed soffits of floor slabs and other concrete elements such as exposed beams columns / fin columns act as a passive system providing an effective cooling 2 capacity of up to 25W/m of surface area, which is more than adequate for the average commercial building. There is no additional cost associated with using exposed concrete and typical slabs of about 200mm to 300mm thick will produce real benefits.
Study Area Fin Columns and Profiled Feature Beams

The Ussher Library - View From Leinster Street

Structural Description - O Connor Sutton Cronin The structure comprises an eight storey concrete frame, with five and a half storeys above ground and two and a half storeys basement. A glazed 8 storey atrium divides the building. Basement A grade 4 basement was specified to achieve a vapour proof space which was constructed from a surrounding secant pile wall, waterproofing membrane, retaining wall, drainage membrane and inner blockwork wall. The basement is 9 metres below ground level and an additional 2 metres below the adjoining Nassau Street level. The basement foundation comprises a reinforced concrete integral plate-type slab, generally founded on the black boulder clay, with local intrusions into the bedrock at lift pit locations. A full perimeter secant pile anchored into the surrounding ground, provided a reasonably watertight area during construction. Pre-stressed rock anchors,

Study Area Exposed Columns & Fair-Faced Blocwork

Board Marked Concrete

at a density of 1 per 25m2 floor area, were installed to prevent flotation upward from Artesian pressure. A grade 4 basement to BS8102 was achieved using a fully tanked external membrane together with and integral drained cavity. On completion of the basement structure, works advanced on the fair-faced concrete frame consisting of fin-shaped columns, profiled feature beams, core walls and flat slabs. The quality of formwork and workmanship was demanding, as the finished concrete was to remain natural with only a dust sealer finish. The coordination and integration of services was a key factor in achieving the excellent results. Specialist prefabricated GRP profiled beam shutters were used and considerable efforts were devoted to checking and quality control prior to concrete pours. Although the construction of a high quality exposed concrete structure is not a fast-track operation, it does have the benefit of minimising the wet finishes and allowing advancement of fit-out elements. These consisted of extensive racking and shelving and student study benches.

Insitu Concrete - Columns/Beams/Soffits

Main Superstructure The main superstructure is an insitu reinforced concrete frame comprising flat slab and exposed feature profiled beam and slab arrangement in the reader block. The impressive east-north reader block elevation overhangs and cantilevers from the main structural fin-columns by 2.5 to 3 meters. Much consideration at design development stage was given to the 12.5 metres clear span arrangement in the reader block and the interaction between the profiled beams and the fin-columns. The overall stability of the building is achieved through floor plate action and shear walls in lift shaft and stair cores. Aesthetics The exterior of the building is clad in white granite panels with the exception of the east and north elevations which have floor to floor glazing on a cantilevered facade. The glass pyramid on the north elevation and the granite clad pyramid on the Nassau St. elevation, contrasts with sharp cube volumes, giving the building a refined, sculptural quality. The slit windows on the same elevation allude to volume and mass while the subtle panel patterns generate a gentle, almost subliminal rhythm in the elevation. The study area, with its spectacular views over the sports grounds is a particularly successful space. Critical to the success, is the use of light and the achievement of

quality light levels. The introduction of the central atrium avoids deep plan lighting problems and balances the relatively high light level produced by the full length antiglare perimeter glazing. The light level is further softened by the use of fair-faced concrete on walls, ceilings and fin-columns. A deep red carpet compliments and accentuates the natural furnishings and finishes and produces a relaxed and peaceful environment and a rich ambiance. Finishes Concrete - Supplied by Roadstone Ltd. External wall panels - Bush hammered white granite - by Stone Developments Ltd External walls - Board marked concrete Structural Elements - Exposed concrete floor soffits/ceilings , beams and fin columns Internal walls - Fair-faced concrete / extensive areas of fair-faced concrete partition walls Podium area - White granite paving Tinted glass - Titan - supplied by Pilkingtons Floor finishes - Vinyl and carpet tile

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