Vancouver, British Columbia was the home for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Olympic Athletes’ Village, 
developed by Millennium Properties is Canada’s first truly sustainable community. The Olympic Village project is an example of how a contaminated industrial City center site can be transformed into a sustainable community.
The design manager for the project was Roger Bayley who worked with a team of five architectural firms to develop and implement the client’s vision. Today Roger leads his own firm located in Vancouver and is dedicated to sustainable energy solutions. It was my pleasure to speak with Roger about his role with the Olympic project and what directed the team to specify and install Exterior Shading Solutions.
NG: Why did you specify Exterior Shading Solutions?
RB: It came from the concept of heating and cooling the residential units with Germany technology using ceiling mounted radiant heating and cooling. This technology requires hot and cold water to flow through capillary tubes above the ceiling drywall. In our modeling, we realized that at certain high levels of solar heat gain into the space, condensation could result on the dry wall. The best way to reduce the solar heat gain and thereby eliminate the risk of condensation would be to install exterior solar shades. So the exterior solar shades became part of the energy equation.
NG: Can you explain the concept of the radiant heating and cooling system?
RB: Radiant energy transfers heat from a mass with higher temperature to one with lower temperature, in the neile way we are warmed by the sun. When the radiant system is switched to cooling, it draws heat from objects – including bodies – that are warmer, producing a cooling effect.
NG: How did installing the Exterior Shading Solutions contribute to achieving the LEED Gold designation?
RB: It was a part of the overall design that included the radiant ceilings, which enabled the project to earn points for Energy Efficiency and Innovation in Design. The entire project received LEED Platinum certification, and the buildings earned LEED Gold status.
NG: What performance capabilities did you require from the Exterior Shading Solutions?
RB: The project was complex. We needed a solution that could perform under adverse weather conditions, provide the energy reduction required, enhance the building’s exterior design and stand up to the test of time. The shades are controlled automatically with the combination sun and wind sensors. The components that include the side cables can withstand severe wind gusts and the fabric provides the solar protection needed. The design elements such as the enclosure and wall brackets enhanced the building façade.
NG: How do you see the future of sustainable building incorporating Engineered Shading Solutions?
RB: To begin with, shades cannot be an afterthought. They must be planned for from the beginning of the design stage. The key to an Engineered Shading Solution is automation and integration into the building systems. The shades need to be incorporated into the energy efficiency of the building. This requires good statistical data to prove the performance of the shading solutions. This is challenging to achieve at the outset of the design process.