Design of a prefabricated passive and active double skin façade system for UK offices

The Egan Report, changes to Part L Building Regulations, and the importance of office workers are challenging designers to improve the construction process, reduce operational carbon emissions, and enhance occupant comfort for office buildings in the United Kingdom. This paper describes the development of a double skin facade system with integrated environmental systems, to overcome these challenges and provide both a passive and active approach to environmental control. A key part of the design process has been working with industrial partners to develop the design and realise a full-scale prototype. This has been tested and evaluated in terms of key aspects of the comfort, weather and aesthetic performance. An appraisal of the product demonstrates that it achieves proof of concept; it can be highly prefabricated and enhanced occupant comfort and carbon emissions targets can be met.