Report of the Russell Square Theatre

Design of a low-energy, passively ventilated, healthy and comfortable theatre building for Russell Square in the London area. The project utilizes analytical tools—IES VE and CIBS EAM10—to assist in the design of building performance simulations and to analyze and test the effectiveness of building and environmental strategies. The project maximizes the natural ventilation and passive cooling of the theatre, and the building performance simulation is iterated over time to achieve the required environmental objectives for the building’s volume flow and CO2 concentration. The building was optimized through the use of solar energy, natural wind and geographical topography, high performance building maintenance structures and good airtightness and shading adjustable technologies to enhance the use of passive technologies, ultimately providing a quality building that meets the project objectives of health and comfort.