Building science report on digi center

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INTRODUCTION
PAGE 2
CLIMATE DATA
PAGE 12
WIND ANALYSIS
PAGE 13
SUN ANALYSIS
PAGE 14
PASSIVE GREEN DESIGN
ANALYSIS
PAGE 15
REFERENCE LIST
PAGE 25
CONTENT PAGE

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PROJECT: DIGI Technology Operations Centre
LOCATION: Malaysia
ARCHITECT: T. R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn. Bhd.
Picture 1: A perspective view of DIGI’s Technology Operations Centre.
Designed by the T. R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn. Bhd., it first started its
construction in April 2009 and was completed in July 2010. The DiGi
Technology Operation Centre is located in Subang High Tech Park, Shah
Alam, Selangor. It stands at 23.5 metres in height, or 4-storeys tall, covering a
total gross area of 12, 468 sq. m. The building is a data centre equipped with
necessary facilities such as an administration office, reception lobby, telco
tower and a service management centre.
In the project’s brief, they stated that they had sought for a data centre based
on ‘IT data centre uptime institute’ Tier 3 platform, with a possible increase to
a Tier 4 security that includes substantial ecological features. The response to
the brief was a design that optimizes the data centre footprint, providing
effective drainage and waterproofing to protect sensitive equipment, reduce
solar heat gain into the centre and allows for effective security measures.
INTRODUCTION

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Picture 2: Satellite view of DIGI Technology Operations Center
Coordinates: 3.067780, 101.569256
Aim: The DIGI Technology Operations Centre aims to reduce
the company’s carbon footprint by more than 40% while
achieving operational efficiencies through the
construction of this green building.
Certification: DIGI Technology Operations Centre has ben certified
Gold in the Green Building Index in Malaysia
Green Features: The passive green features implemented in building
includes:
• Extensive vertical green walls that filters and improves
the ambient indoor air quality and reduces solar heat
gain

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Picture 3: The vegetated green walls of the building
Source : Image Courtesy © T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd
Picture 4: The vegetated vertical green wall of the building
Source : Image Courtesy © T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd

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• Full-height Low-E curtain walls to provide maximum
daylight penetration and enables energy efficient
lighting systems
Drawing 1: The low-e curtain walls enclosing the building
Source : Image Courtesy © T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd
Diagram 1: Diagram showing the heat transfer through the low-e glass
Source: Lee, 2014
• Regular shuttle service is provided between the
building and the Batu Tiga KTM station

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Picture 5: The nearest KTM station, Batu Tiga
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Tiga_Komuter_station

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ORTHOGRAPHIC DRAWINGS
Drawing 2: Site Plan (nts)
Drawing 3: Level 2 floor plan of the DIGI Technology Operations Centre

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Drawing 4: Roof Plan of Digi Technology Operations Centre
Drawing 5: North Western elevation of the building

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Drawing 6: North Eastern elevation of the building
Drawing 7: Section cut of the building
Drawing 8: Section cut of the building

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SITE PICTURES
( Copyright T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn. Bhd. (2014) )
Picture 6: A perspective view of the DIGI Technology Operations Centre

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Picture 7: Main entrance of the building
Picture 8: Reception area of the building

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Figure 1: Average temperature of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Diagram 2: Average Relative Humidity of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Referring to Firgure 1, it can be seen that the temperatures vary throughout
the year. The first 6 months the temperature gradually decreases and
increases for the next 6 months. The average temperature for Malaysia is
28o
C. Referring to Diagram 2, the northwestern side of Kuala Lumpur has the
highest level of humidity as compared to the other areas.
CLIMATE DATA

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Diagram 3: A wind rose diagram for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Diagram 4: A diagram showing the direction of the prevailing winds
Referring to Diagram 3, the highest frequency of wind comes from the East
and Southeast of Kuala Lumpur. The highest wind speed for both directions is
10 km/h. It can be seen the orientation of the building is angled to maximize
ventilation around the building.
WIND ANALYSIS

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Diagram 5: A sun path diagram for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Diagram 6: Optimum orientation of a building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Referring to Diagram 6, the optimum orientation of a building to prevent
overheating should be where the longest façade faces the North East,
indicated by the blue arrow.
SUN ANALYSIS

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1. VEGETATED GREEN WALL
a) Description
Diagram 9: Diagram showing the green wall surrounding the building
Picture 9: Picture showing the Southeastern façade with the green wall
PASSIVE GREEN DESIGN ANALYSIS

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Drawing 10: A diagram showing the Northeastern façade with the green wall
Drawing 11: A diagram showing the Northwestern façade with the green wall
The green wall façade has a lot of biological advantages that it provides to the
building while functioning as a act living art installation. The northeast,
northwest and southeast façades, a large green wall is designed in a zigzag
manner across the building from the top to the bottom, creating a unique
attractive art installation, and at the same time protecting the entire building
with its biological advantages.

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b) Thermal advantages
Diagram 7: A diagram showing the thermal and solar radiation pathways
Diagram 8: Temperature zoning within the building
The green wall surrounding the façades of the DIGI building causes thermal
reduction by trapping a layer of air within the plant mass. This reduces the
ambient temperature via evaporation shading. It also functions as a buffer
zone during hot weathers and cold weathers (e.g: rainy seasons). Not only is
the building protected from overheating, but also the surrounding air quality is
improved due to the green wall absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing
oxygen through photosynthesis. Referring to Diagram 8, heat has to be kept

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away from the data centre to avoid damage to the equipment. This is done by
placing it in the centre of the building away from sources of heat.
c) Type of plant used
Picture 10: A close up of the green wall on the North Eastern façade
The DIGI Technology Operations Centre uses turf grass for the green wall
due to it having several advantages. Turf grass is larger, taller and they grow
in bulk making it easier to flourish. They also provide some sort of acoustic
insulation from the outside as well. The DIGI building is located in an industrial
area and due to it being an office building, acoustic insulation is necessary.
Evapotranspiration takes place thus reducing the heat entering the building,
regulating the interior temperatures and increasing the human comfort. The
turf grass also protects the building form ultraviolet rays as well (Bliss &
Everett, 2014).

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d) Evapotranspiration
Diagram9: A diagram showing the effects of evapotranspiration
A wet object in this case turf grass will decrease in temperature due to
the effect of evaporation due to the molecular kinetics, where the faster
water molecules escape and become a part of the air. Since those that
escape has more energy than the average, the process decreases the
temperature of the water that escapes the object making the
environment cooler ( “How Does”, n.d.). The green wall is placed on
the north-east and north-west façade which, due to the building's
orientation, receives the most sunlight at 9am until 4pm, providing heat
to the turf grass, thus catalyzing the water molecules on the turf grass
to undergo evaporation, This in turn makes the environment around the
building cooler as the evaporated water molecules combine with the air
molecules. The designers take advantage of this process by placing
the ACMV’s, which take in fresh air close to the green walls. Not only
will the building ventilate cool air, it improves the indoor air quality as
well (Chua, et al., n.d.).

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e) Acoustic Barrier
Diagram 10: A diagram stating the sources of noise in the area
Diagram 11: A diagram showing the reverberation of sound
Green walls also have an added benefit to the building occupants by
providing a form of acoustic insulation due to the plants ability to
absorb sound (“Green Wall Benefits”, 2010). The DiGi Technology
Operation Centre is located in an industrial area where large lorries
and trucks frequent. Therefore, sound insulation is needed. It can be
seen that the green walls have been placed strategically near the main
sources of noise, referring to Diagram 13.

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2. BUILDING ORIENTATION
a) MS1525 Requirements
Diagram 12: Diagram showing the staircases and service rooms
In reference to the MS1525 (2007) requirements, the best orientation for
buildings in equatorial climates, have their long directional axis facing North-
South, minimizing the East-West orientation. It can be seen that the DIGI
Technology Operation Centre is angled in such a way that the longest façade
unfortunately have a East-West orientation. In order to reduce the solar heat
gain, service areas such as staircases and service ducts are located near the
external walls on the east-west façades. The rooftop also holds several
service rooms to further reduce the solar heat gain (Aun, 2009).
b) Induction of daylight
Diagram 13: North Eastern and North Western façade at 9am

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Diagram 14: South Eastern and South Western façade at 4pm
Referring to the above diagrams, it can be seen that the Northeastern façade
receives the most sunlight at 9am until 4pm when it is shaded. The South
Eastern facade is shaded during the day until 4pm when it is fully exposed to
sunlight.
Picture 11: Natural daylight illuminates the reception area of the building

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Picture 12: Natural daylight brightens up the office area
As seen in the above images, the interior spaces of the building are lit up with
natural daylighting especially the spaces in the Northeastern side during 9am
to 4pm, and the Southeastern spaces from 4pm onwards. The curtain wall at
Northeast façade allows sunlight to illuminate the main office areas during
working hours from 9am to 4pm, when the façade receives the maximum
daylight exposure.
c) Optimum Building Orientation
Diagram 15: Optimum building orientation for the DiGi Technology Operation Centre
The longer façade of the Digi Technology Operation Centre building is not
orientated towards the optimum direction, which is to the North East.

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However, the building is perhaps to be orientated in such manner as the main
entrance as well as the main office area is situated there. This is as well to
avoid direct sunlight to penetrate in during morning and afternoon, which is
the time with the most sunlight.
As to compensate for the length of façade facing the optimum direction, the
North East side of the building has been installed with glazed glass with
curtain wall system which aid in the fully daylight penetration as well as an
efficient lighting scheme to the office area. Besides that, short overhang are
placed on this area for a better day lighting system.
Drawing 12: DiGi Technology Operations Centre façade with curtain walling

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Aun, C. S. (Director) (2009). Green Building Index - MS1525. Applying
MS1525:2007 Code of Practice on Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable
Energy for Non-Residential Buildings. Lecture conducted from Persatuan
Arkitek Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
Bliss, H., & Everett, W. (2014). What Is Turf Grass? Retrieved April 30, 2014, from
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-turf-grass.html
Chua, Z.Y., Chan, S.Q., Tan T., Ong, K., Hon, Y. M. Y., & Lim J. Z. ( n.d.)
[Presentation Board]. Digi technology operation centre.
Green Wall Benefits. (2010). Retrieved April 30, 2014, from
http://www.greenroofs.org/index.php/about/green-wall-benefits
Grondzik, W. T., Kowk, A. G., Stein, B., & Reynolds, J. S. (2010). Mechanical and
electrical equipment for buildings. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
Living Walls Improve Indoor Air Quality, Save Energy and Add Life to Your Home -
Green Home Gnome. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2014, from
http://www.greenhomegnome.com/living-walls/
London's Famous Gherkin Building Goes Green - Literally | Inhabitat - Sustainable
Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30,
2014, from http://inhabitat.com/gherkin-gets-a-green-roof/
REFERENCE LIST

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Singal, S. (2014). AECCafe.com - ArchShowcase - DIGI Technology Operation
Centre in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia by T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd.
Retrieved April 28, 2014, from http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-
showcase/2014/03/29/digi-technology-operation-centre-in-shah-alam-selangor-
malaysia-by-t-r-hamzah-yeang-sdn-bhd/?interstitial_displayed=Yes
TR Hamzah & Yeang Sdn. Bhd. (n.d.). Retrieved April 28, 2014, from
http://www.trhamzahyeang.com/project/large-buildings/Digi_01.html