**3. The LabZero UnB project: Design, performance analysis and energy balance**

This section presents the final design of LabZERO|UnB building, as a result of the previously described design process. The performance analysis, computational simulation process, and final energy balance are also presented.

#### **3.1 The final design of LabZERO|UnB**

The LabZERO|UnB construction is predicted to be done at the Science and Technology Park, at the Darcy Ribeiro campus of the University of Brasília (UnB), which aims at socio-economic development and strengthening research, development, and innovation (RD&I) structures. The privileged location on the campus provides the building with excellent visibility and easy access for the visitors (**Figure 5**).

Once built, the LabZERO|UnB building will be used for office activities in a coworking regime, to house research groups of UnB's Architecture and Engineering Faculties dedicated to the study of zero energy balance and sustainability in buildings, (**Figure 6**).

In terms of architectural design, the basic assumption was the adequacy of the architecture to favor the use of passive resources, respecting the local climate recommended strategies for bioclimatic zone 4 (Bioclimatic Zone 4, [23]), which includes shading, controlled natural ventilation, roof insulation, among others, as mentioned before in 2.2.

It was also a premise that architectural style was in accordance with the construction standards of the University of Brasília, highlighting, in the volumetry, some of the innovative systems used in the building.

Considering the educational and representative character of LabZERO|UnB, both internally and externally, the architecture uses innovative systems as elements of a visual framework, to highlight the applied design decisions, such as the steel structure, apparent electrical installations, and visual integration between the technical area and the work environment. As for the building's morphology (**Figure 7**), the elongated and shallow shape, with larger façades towards the North–South orientation, allows the use

**Figure 5.** *Location of UnB campus Darcy Ribeiro in Brasilia.*

**Figure 6.**

*Building plot on the Darcy Ribeiro campus (left) and implementation (right). Source: [25].*

of natural light and optimized and effective sun protection [25]. The glazed area on the façades is limited to 35% and duly protected from excessive sun radiation using louvers. On the North façade, they are indeed a BIPV (building-integrated solar photovoltaics) solar louvers, whilst a solar chimney system is present on the West façade to intensify natural ventilation, combined with forced ventilation when necessary (**Figure 7**).

The floor plan has 207 m<sup>2</sup> , arranged as an office area (with an area reserved for meetings), a pantry, a bathroom, a dressing room, a technical area, and a bicycle rack, in addition to an outdoor balcony. **Figure 8** shows the layout of the building plan.

The constructive systems elected to be used in this project are envisaged to strengthen sustainability and technological innovation. In addition, institutional criteria had to be met regarding the possibility of reproducibility, relocation, and integration with industrialized dry-construction systems, which reduce losses and *An Integrated Design Process in Practice: A Nearly Zero Energy Building at the University… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102443*

#### **Figure 7.**

*3D perspective view of LabZERO|UnB building from northeast [25].*

#### **Figure 8.**

*Floor plan of LabZERO|UnB building. Source: [25].*

waste in construction, ensuring faster execution. The building envelope systems are composed of a composite steel deck slab plus 12 cm of concrete employed on the floor and the roofs, whereas external walls are constituted by external fiber cement panel and drywall internally, filled with 4 cm of rock wool for insulation. Internally, all partitions are composed of two drywall panels with an air cavity, except for the partition between the office area and the technical area, which employs a clear 6 mm glass.

As complementary processes, in addition to natural lighting and ventilation, it was included an induced (or forced) ventilation system using a solar chimney. When comfort conditions with natural ventilation and induction were not sufficient, a set of high-efficiency exhaust fans with speed control is activated, maintaining the necessary airflow for the occupied space. Additionally, to the several passive systems and techniques envisaged to maintain thermal and lightning comfort conditions, the building's energy efficiency is guaranteed by highly efficient artificial lighting and HVAC appliances. The project will have a rational use of drinking water, besides the use of alternative water sources, distributed generation

with grid-connected photovoltaic generators, waste management, accessibility, and new technologies (**Figure 9**).

From the early stages, the building was conceived to achieve high performance and renewable energy generation instead of contemplating only conservation, efficiency, and energy generation measures in the final stages of the project. This is especially relevant because it is in the initial design stage that there is the opportunity to reduce the project costs and avoid future rework [26]. However, in order for this to happen, the project methodology contemplated interaction and collaboration between the various agents and disciplines that interfere in the project development, which in fact occurred in the experience of LabZero at the University of Brasília (LabZERO|UnB).
