green building

Santhi Sree Nadimpalli

Bearys Global
Research Triangle:
Thoroughly Green and
Eco-friendly
A look at why India’s first research park truly deserves
the prestigious Platinum LEED Certification!

T
he Indian Green Building Council, gave Platinum LEED
certification to the Bearys Global Research Triangle (BGRT).
This 9.5 lac sq ft research park with 84% floor efficiency, at
White field Ashram Road, Bangalore, has been developed by
the Bearys Group.
The Platinum LEED Plaque was handed over by Mr. S. Srinivas, Exec.
Director, CII-GBC, to Mr. Syed Mohamed Beary, at a glittering ceremony
in the presence of Mr. Jean-Pascal Tricoire, CEO and Global Head of
Schneider Electric, Mr. Anil Chaudhry, Country President, and
Ms. Annette Clayton, VP, among other dignitaries.

BGRT: North View

18 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People August 2014

BGRT: South view

The BGRT has a climate responsive
design, which not only responds to
its immediate surroundings but also
has an extremely flexible interior
layout, catering to all the needs of
clients, both present as well as future.
The objective of the project is to
achieve energy efficiency, a green and
eco-friendly design and state of the
art technology. The services design
conforms to the guidelines and intents
laid down by the US Green Building
Council (USGBC), the Indian Green
Building Council (IGBC) and ASHRAE
(formerly American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning
Engineers).
The building is oriented optimally
with the longer axis along the East-
West direction to minimize solar
heat gain, throughout the day. It

A panoramic view

August 2014 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People 19

green building
The Schneider R&D Centre
comprises three inter-connected
diamond-shaped towers in plan so
that no façade is perpendicular to
the East, South or West. This reduces
solar direct heat gain and provides
self-shade. Thus, there is no way direct
solar radiation can enter the building,
keeping the internal temperature
considerably low and also helping
reduce the excess cooling loads.
The circular balconies from the
second to the tenth floors, between
the diamond-shaped towers, flare
outwards. This provides shade to the
lower floors. Planters with creepers
have been provided for additional
shading. The South-East and South-
West facades of the building are
opaque with a service core provided
therein. This creates a buffer space,
which minimizes heat gain. The
northern façade is provided with
double glazed units with high-
performance glass. This maximizes day
lighting and minimizes solar heat gain.
It also provides good sound insulation.
External louvers on the North-West
façade of Tower C have been specially
designed according to the sun angle in
order to minimize the glare and heat
gain. To prevent the Heat Island effect,
ample vegetation and water bodies
20 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People August 2014
have been provided on the ground.
Also, the open space exceeds the
statutory requirements. The terrace is
covered with High Albedo paint with
solar reflectance index or SRI value
of 96 and solar panels, which act as
a buffer between the slab and the
horizontal solar radiation. This keeps it
cool by reducing heat gain through the
roof by conduction.
Energy-efficient airconditioning
system has been designed to conserve
energy. Air conditioning is provided
by a central variable flow chilled water
recirculation system. Heat recovery
units have been installed to pre-cool
the fresh air being supplied to the air
conditioned area, through conditioned
air exhausted from the toilets. The
amount of fresh air introduced into
the conditioned area is monitored
and modulated through carbon
dioxide sensors provided within the
conditioned area, to keep carbon
dioxide concentration below limits.
In order to meet the night purge
requirements, and free air cooling
during mild weather conditions, fresh
air grilles with motorized dampers
have been provided. These have been
ducted to the external wall of each
air handling unit or AHU room as
required. Air relief motorized dampers
are provided on the external façade
of the building. Car parking facilities
in the basements and all enclosed
plant rooms shall be provided with
Mechanical Ventilation Systems to
allow 9 Air Changes per Hour (ACPH)
for normal ventilation and 30 ACPH in
case of fire or distress calls.
BGRT is a zero-discharge project
equipped with a Waste Water
Treatment plant based on the
Membrane Bio Reactor technology.
This has been installed onsite to
treat 100% of thewaste water from
the building. The treated water is
used for cooling towers, landscaping
and flushing toilets. Water-efficient
landscaping is further achieved
by using local species with better
adaptability and lesser irrigation
requirements. Efficient irrigation
technologies have also been installed,
such as drip irrigation and sprinklers
with programmed timers and moisture
sensors. Low-flow fixtures are used for
plumbing to minimize water use. Rain
water harvesting is practised to reduce
storm water discharge from the site.
A building automation system does
the following:
i) Monitors all parameters of
airconditioning, plumbing, and
electrical and firefighting
ii) Helps conserve energy by
facilitating the planning and
execution of various energy
conservation and control schemes
iii) Helps reduce the need for trained
manpower, which is already scarce,
for operating and maintaining the
building services
iv) Acts as a management
information system by keeping
the management informed about
the critical operation of various
BGRT: Front View
building services and compiling
data required for analyzing the
possibility of conserving energy
With the help of these systems,
BGRT achieves 41.51% less water
usage and 54% energy savings
culminating to 46% reduction in
monthly operation costs.
“BGRT was launched with a vision
to make Bangalore an R&D destination.
Our mission is to increase the green
footprint and promote the green
Platinum LEED Certificate
building movement in India. This award
is recognition for our efforts in this
direction and I hope that BGRT inspires
the industry leaders to adopt greener
standards in all future developments”
says Syed Mohamed Beary, Chairman
– IGBC (Bangalore Chapter), CMD –
Bearys Group.
Awards and Achievements
• BGRT won the Office Development
Award at the Asia Pacific Property
August 2014 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People
Awards, 2009 (sponsored by CBNC),
Singapore.
• BGRT bagged the Outstanding
Concrete Structure Award, 2009
[conferred by the Indian Concrete
Institute (ICI)].
• BGRT was nominated for Best
Sustainable Architecture Project at
the Real Estate Investment World
Summit, 2008, in Riyadh.
• BGRT has hosted Global Fortune
500 companies, such as L’Oreal
and Schneider Electric, who have
set up their global R&D centres in
the premises.
Santhi Sree Nadimpalli, IGBC AP,
M.Des. Sc. (Sustainable Des.), B.Arch,
Dip. Business
Design Coordinator: Bearys Group
Photographs: Courtesy the Author.
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