Q Sustain Ltd was commissioned by Burnley Wilson Fish on behalf of their Client to examine and identify the potential risk for disability glare to vehicle drivers and adjacent buildings due to the proposed new ‘kinetic’ façade on two elevations of the Festival Place Shopping Centre Car Park as part of enhancement plans.
The proposed new façade for Festival Place is part of a major refurbishment programme, to create a fresh and inviting shopping and dining experience for our visitors.
challenge
The risk of glare to passing vehicles would be created from reflections from the cladding but also the moving component of the cladding elements affecting the adjacent drivers also as they enter the tunnel below for the car park, and could affect the driver’s ability to enter into the tunnel without glare and distraction.
We approached this complex problem by using a software based methodology we adopted for the rail industry that was endorsed and seen as best practice but modified for the kinetic facade. This modelling also required inserting each component of facade and it’s movement capability from the 3D model into the analysis.
solution
This involved refining and improving the current methodology to include detailed graphics and façade panelling details to illustrate the risk of reflection relative to vehicle drivers entering the short tunnel.
Using data gathered from a 360 degree sun path analysis showing the buildings at each solstice / equinox and surrounded track in the vicinity was produced. This would ascertain the extent of the façade surface that may create sunlight reflections onto track (if any) and establish the extent of drivers views that may be affected commencing with the modelling of the winter and summer solstice (highest and lowest points of the sun) and certain points in between.
The proposed material for the car park façade is brushed stainless steel using the Lang and Fulton Stereo Kinetic System. The idea was to use the shingles/leafs to create a wave of concentrations, going from 100% coverage to 0% then back up to 100% in a repeating pattern.
The façade is described as ‘kinetic’ because the tiles are hinged to enable them to move in the wind, producing a rippling effect which reflects light in infinitely variable ways.
The creation of a Radiance software 3D sunlight simulation model based on the Architect’s 3D model and Highway alignment data was created and tested successfully with our partners, Arup Lighting Ltd.