The new information communication Technology Centre of Lucca

The Information Communication Technology Centre project was commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce of Lucca. The ABITA Centre was in charge of the green design of the project. This allowed us to test new technologies related to energy efficiency of the office building. The project focused on: the development of components and advanced energy saving systems, integration of dynamic facades to reduce heat loss through the building envelope, and energy production through renewable energy sources. Currently the building is under construction, and will be completed by the end of 2011. Three buildings are connected by a central atrium, which is covered by a large glass and steel roof, (on the east-west axis), while the laboratories are covered by a green roof. The project is focused on the adoption of intelligent facade systems to control the solar radiation in summer and heat loss in winter. All the windows have mobile aluminium shutters, which allow sun protection. The south facing glass roof of greenhouse is made of semitransparent polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic panels. Those panels are integrated also on the south wall of building one. The selective low-E glass skylight and transparent surfaces have been designed to ensure excellent natural lighting inside the building. Solar pipes have been integratedin the roof of the laboratories. Air exchange is provided bya natural ventilation system. The building will be certified – according to national legislation – as class A, thanks to the choice of materials. The materials are ecological and sourced from the project site. The choice of the building envelope uses a metal wall system with a low U value, thermal inertia and the integration on renewable energy system. In fact, the building’s annual consumption is around 20 kWh/m2 compared to 170kWh/m2 in a traditional office building.