TERI UNIVERSITY

Prachi Agarwal
Shubhomita Dutta
 INTRODUCTION

Location : Vasant Kunj,New Delhi

Area : 2 acres
Established : 1998
Type: Education and Research Institute

The TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS) was set up as a trust by TERI (The Energy
and Resources Institute) a non profit, independent research institute recognized globally
for its contribution to scientific and policy research in the realms of energy, environment,
and sustainable development in 1998.

The TERI School of Advanced Studies is a modern green building. This four storeyed
structure in masonry, with stone cladding and glazings, is an example of a sustainable
campus responding to the site and environment using energy saving technologies.

The university puts its theory to practice by building an energy efficient campus
showcasing the concept of modern green buildings. Besides an innovative, energy saving
architectural design, the building is equipped with a number of other technologies that
help reduce the energy consumption by 60% and potable water use by 25%.
 SITE AND DESIGN
The linear geometry of the site with a narrow frontage and an aspect ratio of almost 1:3
dictated the strong linear axis in the design. The logical sequence of positioning the three
distinct functioning zones in a hierarchy of public access to restricted entry formed the
other key consideration in design development. Placing the commercial block at the front
was the most logical choice in exploiting the commercial potential of the frontage of the
site. The functional core also coincides with the geometric central part of the linear site.
The residential zone comes up from the rear forming the last zone in the linear sequence.

The design responds to orientation and climatic factors, is but an obvious fact. The north
line is at a slight angle to the linear axis of the site and the design takes full advantage of
this orientation in the composition of the built and open spaces and in creating wind
flows through the complex as also lighting and shading of the spaces.
Site Plan and Ground Floor Layout (bottom)
1 Commercial Block, 2 Classrooms, 3, 4 Laboratories, 5,6 administrative block, 6 accounts,
7 dining hall, 8 hostel, 9, 10, courts, 11 Open Air Theatre.
 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
The Sun, Sky, Air, Water and Earth shape the nature of
architecture which emerges on this site. The process of
continuous dialogue between the architect and TERI and the
engagement of TERI in the design process augmented the
thrust on climate responsive design in a large way.

SUN
• Passive solar design is an important feature in the design
of this building.
• The planning and orientation of spaces and building blocks
ensures glare free daylight in all regularly occupied spaces.
• All the linear blocks are oriented in the East-West direction
with shorter facades facing the sun.
• Most of the south west facing walls are kept blank in order
to protect the building from the harsh south west solar
radiations.
• Where the south west walls have openings, they are
protected by means of pergolas or projecting balconies.
• The east, west and south facades of the building have
minimum glazing
Few of the south facing walls are mounted with aero screen louvers (Hunter
Douglas) fixed at an angle of 35deg. This ensures that the winter sun is let in
where as the summer sun is blocked. The use of louvers in front of the glazed
walls also reduces the heating up of the glass facade
considerably.

The walls that are exposed to the harsh solar rays have a stone cladding which is
fixed to the wall by channels. The air gap between the wall and the stone cladding
in itself acts as an insulation layer. On the western façade, rock wool insulation is
also provided in the wall. Energy efficiency is further enhanced by Vermiculite
insulation in parts of the roof slab.
SKY

Maximum use of daylight and use of light sensors to

regulate the use of artificial lighting in the interiors is
another key design strategy.
In areas where daylight is available, fixtures have been
fitted with continuous dimming electronic ballasts.
These fixtures are controlled by light sensors which
respond to available light conditions and automatically
regulate the connected fixtures to achieve the desired
level of uniform illumination required. In areas with
non- uniform illumination, occupancy sensors that can
turn off the lights when the space is unoccupied have
been installed. This kind of a lighting system has a Daylighting integration using light fixtures
potential of saving 70% lighting energy demand. fitted with electronic ballasts regulating the
Use of efficient double glazing window units help level of illumination responding to avilable
natural light and adjustable aeroscreen louvres
significantly reduce the heat gained through window to regulate summer and winter sunlight entry
glazing in the summers and the heat lost in the winters (top and centre)
without compromising on the day lighting integration Double glazed facades reduce heat gain
without affecting the level of illumination
and the levels of visual comfort. (bottom)
AIR
The predominant wind direction is taken into account in designing the open spaces.
The central atrium acts as an air funnel defined by the other buildings.
The opening oriented in the prevailing wind direction catches the
outside air and channelizes it through a
narrow stretch of the block before
releasing it into the central court area.
The architect's experience of design in
hot dry areas, particularly in earlier
projects in Hyderabad made him
confident of the effectiveness of this
design feature in cooling the ambient
temperatures of the enclosed areas. The
central atrium is also proposed to be
covered with an automatic adjustable
louvre system (Vergola). The angle of
the louvres can be adjusted to block the
solar radiations during summer and to
allow ample sunlight during winter. The
system is further proposed to be
integrated with photo voltaic panels.
The louvres if kept closed can effectively
prevent rain water from entering the
atrium during the rainy season.
WATER
Vasant Kunj being a water starved area, incorporation of
water saving fixtures and rain water harvesting was an
important concern in the design brief from the very
beginning.Water and waste management systems are important
features of the building design. All buildings in the campus
have been provided with low flow fixtures such as dual flush
toilets, low flow taps and sensor taps that result in 25%
savings in water use. The waste water generated from the
hostel block is treated through efficient biological processes
using a combination of micro organisms and bio-media filter.
This treatment system requires less area and low energy.
The treated water meets the prescribed standards for
landscape irrigation. Rainwater harvesting is also an
important concept which contributes to efficient water
management. The average annual rainfall of Delhi is 611mm.
Rainwater run off from the roof and the site are tapped to
recharge the aquifer. This enhances the sustainable yield in
areas where over development has depleted the aquifer. The
excess surface water is alsoconserved and stored for future
requirements. The quality of existing ground water is also
improved through dilution.
EARTH
The campus is equipped with three types of cooling systems
(i)Variable
Refrigerant Volume system (VRV),
(ii) Earth Air Tunnel (EAT) and
(iii)Thermal Mass Storage
The VRV system is proposed for the peripheral commercial block and the administrative
block of the institute. This stateof-the-art air conditioning system, which is similar to a
split AC is highly efficient under partial loading conditions and beneficial to areas with
varying occupancy. It allows customized control of individual zones eliminating the use of
chilled water piping, ducting and plant room. The use of Earth Air Tunnel gives an energy
saving of nearly 50% as compared to the conventional system.Thermal mass storage used
for cooling the classrooms and labs involves storing energy when available and using it
when required. Here, cooling of thermal mass is done during night. This cool thermal
mass is used to cool air in day time. This system gives an energy saving of up to 40%.
EARTH AIR TUNNEL
The Earth Air Tunnel (EAT) is used in the hostel blocks. This is a dual heating-cooling system
using the heat sink property of the earth to maintain comfortable temperatures inside the
building. Air which passes through the buried pipes gets cooled in summer and heated up in
winter.
A lot of research went in to the design of this system. Airtron, the Air-conditioning consultants
for the project in collaboration with faculty of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore simulated
the system and refined it to perfection. On continuous uninterrupted use in extreme heat
conditions as in Delhi, this system faces the problem of the earth around the tunnel getting
heat saturated and reducing the effectiveness of cooling. A recovery time is required for the
earth to dissipate the heat from the immediate surroundings. After rigorous experiments and
simulations a second loop of tubes was created and the two loops used alternately to provide
sufficient recovery time to the earth around and maintain the performance effectiveness of
the system.
ARCHITECTURAL EXPRESSION

The form and massing of the campus

responds entirely to climate and the site.
The south-west walls with few
fenestrations and stone cladding,
responding to the climatic conditions,
forms an impenetrable wall, providing, as it
were, a visual cue to the inherent
resistance of the structure to inclement
weather. Pergolas, overhangs and balconies
form visual links as well as create drama in
light and shade, which is quintessential to
Mohe's work.
The northern walls, in contrast, are
lightweight with their glazing and large
fenestrations, once again in response to the
site and climate. The louvers on the glazing
create interesting visuals on the facade.
The overall composition of transparency
and opacity unfolds to the viewer with
changing orientations within the site.