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THE GREEN WAVE

The concept of green buildings is catching on in India, as organisations realise that environment-friendly architecture also makes eminent economic sense.

A gleaming group of buildings sprawled across Kolkata has convincingly debunked the old myth that what is economically friendly cannot be ecologically friendly. The developers are going green at the demand of IT majors. Materials that have good insulation to prevent the heat from seeping in, maximising of natural day lighting, measures to improve air quality are some of the salient features of sustainability, seen at PS Srijan Tech Park.

PS Srijan Tech Park
The architects have chosen to build with the right materials enabling sustainability from the very start in the design.

With a planned indoor fresh air quality of 20 cfm (cubic ft per minute) per person, the PS Srijan Tech Park is the largest LEED (Leadership in Environment Engineering & Design) Gold-rated Green Building in the world. Developed by PS Group and Srijan Group, it holds a breathtaking view of the contours and skyline surrounding it. Ductless automatic ventilation system, carbon dioxide monitoring system in parking areas, sewage treatment plant along with a rain water harvesting system are some of the highlights.

The structure follows the design philosophy of concrete planes touching the ground while the glass floats above it. The 5 level car park, the lobby landscaping and mix of solid and void create an exciting experience. The IT workspace with its bicycle parking lot, encourages professionals to cycle to work and reduce carbon emission.

Keeping in view the diverse requirements from glazing in terms of lower SHGC, low light reflectance, high light transmittance and low U-value factor, Saint-Gobain's high performance energy efficient glass SGG Tranquil Blue (ST720) was chosen for this project. The glass solution reduces the build-up of solar heat gain and maximises light transmittance.

The glass facade offers a wealth of benefits from improved views to abundant daylight. With the continued advancement of glass curtain wall technology, the modern buildings are much more air tight and highly insulated than the conventional high-rise buildings.

Thus, this state-of-the-art Tech Park - recognises the specific building concerns of eco-friendliness, energy conservation, sick building syndrome, heat islands and stands as testimony for sustainability.

The building is self-contained in every respect and has all facilities such as,
- Complete fibre-optic cable network,
- 24x7 emergency maintenance service,
- Cable/satellite communication,
- Central air-conditioning with individual
operation flexibility for power saving,
- Iron-free water from hot & cold taps.
- High-end surveillance systems.
- Centralised fire protection system with smoke detectors and sprinklers,
Sophisticated building automation systems.

THE NEW ECOSPACE

The New Ecospace in Kolkata is the first pre-certified platinum green building under LEED. The Park adheres to eco-friendly design features including daylighting, energy efficient lighting, high-performance windows, increased air changes for indoor air quality, and green building materials.

The City of Joy is the new buzzword in the nation's IT sector. And an emerging landmark in the City of Joy is the New Ecospace. Spread across 27 acres, Ecospace, the 206 million sqft business park is a registered platinum green building. It is one of the largest green office buildings at Rajarhat, Kolkata, and uses solar energy for external lighting and thermal insulation to reduce air-conditioning load. A joint initiative between Ambuja Realty and RMZ Corp., this building not only has world-class infrastructure, but also provides a lush green environment that enhances productivity.

The structure comprises 4 blocks - 2A, 2B, 3A, & 3B, each consisting of a basement car park, ground plus five floors, 4 sewage treatment plants, 3 underground sumps, HSD tanks, transformer yards, RMU, external development works and 700m long compound wall.

The built-up area comprises 80,000sqm. For greater ceiling height and column free working space, fiat slabs have been introduced with conventional peripheral beams. The total area of the office blocks from the first to the fifth floor comprises 1,75,000 sqft, with the car park, basement, ground floor and external area comprising 75,000sqft.

Intelligent use of high performance energy efficient glass adds to the exquisiteness of this structure, as it imparts transparency for the two-way flow between the exterior and the interior of the building. Saint-Gobain's high performance glass solution comprising insulated glazed units of SGG Aquamarine (ST 420) and SGG Planilux was used to minimise solar gain with the optimal effect on letting in daylight.

Spectrally selective glass in the design reduces solar heat gain while still providing daylight inside the building and the light sensors save on the energy consumption. The energy efficient facade also helps to control glare; and improves daylight penetration into the interiors.

Ecospace comes equipped with amenities like break-out areas, cafes, food courts, speciality restaurants, a gym, club and ATMs. All the facilities are tucked inside the exclusive leisure space called "The Bay -Your Own" to relax, chill out, rejuvenate and refresh after & during a hectic day's work.

Notable facilities include state-of-the-art bUilding management systems, reliable power and water supply, advanced fire protection systems, and multi-level 24/7 security.

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1 & 3. An overview of the building
2. An aerial view of the building.
4. The usage of energy efficient glass in the facade.