Sunsquare’s Advanced Skylight Solutions Enhance Sustainable Living in Leeds

Climate Innovation District: Pioneering Urban Sustainability

In Leeds, an exemplary urban regeneration project is setting new benchmarks for sustainable development. The Climate Innovation District, developed by Citu, is transforming a brownfield site into a paragon of eco-conscious urban living.

Project Specifications

  • 516 high-performance, low-energy residences
  • Design inspired by Scandinavian community planning principles
  • Near Passivhaus standard, utilising Passive House Planning Package (PHPP)
  • Integrated, walkable community layout

Advanced Urban Design Features

The Climate Innovation District represents a paradigm shift in urban planning, seamlessly integrating residential spaces with essential infrastructure. This holistic approach encompasses healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and an on-site manufacturing plant, all within a +compact, pedestrian-friendly layout.

The district’s design prioritises active transport modalities, featuring extensive pedestrian thoroughfares and dedicated cycling infrastructure. These elements not only promote physical well-being but also contribute to reduced carbon emissions. Strategically placed green spaces serve dual functions: enhancing air quality through natural filtration and fostering social cohesion among residents.

A cornerstone of the district’s sustainability strategy is Citu Works, an on-site production facility capable of manufacturing up to 750 low-carbon homes annually. This localised production model significantly reduces transport-related emissions and ensures stringent quality control measures are maintained throughout the construction process.

Digital innovation plays a crucial role in the district’s operational efficiency. Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is employed extensively, optimising construction processes and minimising material waste. Post-occupancy, residents benefit from a bespoke energy management application, providing granular control over energy consumption patterns.

Sunsquare’s Innovative Contribution: Elevating Daylighting and Ventilation Standards

In this pioneering development, Sunsquare has made a significant contribution, enhancing natural light and ventilation through our state-of-the-art skylight solutions. Our collaboration with Surespan has enabled us to deliver premium products that align precisely with the project’s exacting sustainability criteria and elevate the built environment.

Product Analysis: Aero Electric Roof Access Rooflights

The centrepiece of Sunsquare’s contribution is the Aero Electric Roof Access Rooflight, a product that exemplifies our commitment to engineering excellence and innovative design. Tailored to the specific requirements of the Climate Innovation District, these bespoke units measure 3050 x 851mm, demonstrating our capacity for customisation without compromising performance.

Technical Specifications:

  1. Glazing Unit:
    • Configuration: 29.5mm Insulating Glass Unit (IGU) with advanced solar control properties
    • Outer Pane: 6mm clear toughened glass with SN70/35 coating
    • Cavity: 14mm argon-filled space with warm edge spacer bar and silicone edge seal
    • Inner Pane: 9.5mm clear toughened laminated glass
  2. Thermal Performance:
    • U-value: 1.1 W/m²K, significantly contributing to the overall thermal efficiency
  3. Structural Integrity:
    • Compliant with CWCT TN92 standards for non-fragile glazing, ensuring safety and longevity
  4. Aesthetic Integration:
    • External Finish: RAL 9005 (Jet Black)
    • Internal Finish: RAL 9010 (Pure White)
    • Bespoke insulated timber upstand for seamless integration with roof structure

The Aero Electric Rooflight’s advanced glazing system represents the culmination of Sunsquare’s research and development efforts. The multi-layered IGU incorporates a high-performance outer pane with SN70/35 coating, providing optimal solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and visible light transmission (VLT) values. This sophisticated glazing solution ensures maximum daylight penetration while mitigating excessive solar heat gain, contributing to a stable internal environment.

The unit’s thermal performance is further enhanced by the argon-filled cavity and warm edge spacer technology, effectively minimising heat transfer and mitigating the risk of condensation at the glass edge. This attention to thermal bridging details is crucial in achieving the project’s near Passivhaus standards.

Performance Analysis and Environmental Impact

The integration of Sunsquare’s Aero Electric Roof Access Rooflights into the Climate Innovation District’s residential units delivers a host of quantifiable benefits:

  1. Daylighting Optimisation: By maximising the sky view factor and utilising high-VLT glazing, these rooflights significantly reduce the reliance on artificial lighting. Preliminary calculations indicate potential energy savings of up to 20% on lighting loads in top-floor apartments.
  2. Thermal Regulation: The advanced solar control coating effectively manages solar heat gain, reducing cooling loads during peak summer conditions. In winter, the excellent U-value contributes to the retention of internal heat, supporting the building’s passive design strategy.
  3. Natural Ventilation: The electric opening mechanism facilitates controlled natural ventilation, enabling night purging strategies and reducing the demand on mechanical ventilation systems. This feature is particularly valuable in urban environments where external noise and air quality concerns often limit window operation.
  4. Occupant Well-being: Access to ample daylight and operable skylights has been linked to improved circadian rhythm regulation and increased occupant satisfaction. While challenging to quantify, these factors contribute significantly to the overall success of the development.
  5. Environmental Footprint: By supporting passive design strategies and reducing reliance on active building systems, Sunsquare’s rooflights play a crucial role in lowering the operational carbon footprint of each dwelling.

Conclusion: Setting New Industry Standards

Sunsquare’s involvement in the Climate Innovation District demonstrates our capacity to deliver bespoke, high-performance daylighting solutions for complex urban regeneration projects. The Aero Electric Roof Access Rooflight, with its advanced technical specifications and seamless integration, exemplifies our position at the forefront of skylight technology.

This project serves as a testament to the efficacy of collaborative approaches in pushing the boundaries of sustainable building design. The synergy between Sunsquare’s product innovation and Surespan’s expertise has resulted in a solution that not only meets but exceeds the stringent performance criteria set forth by the development.

As the construction industry continues to grapple with the imperatives of climate change mitigation and adaptation, projects like the Climate Innovation District – and products like Sunsquare’s Aero Electric Rooflights – serve as valuable case studies. They demonstrate conclusively that with appropriate technology selection and meticulous attention to design detail, it is possible to create urban environments that are both sustainable and conducive to high-quality living.

The success of the Aero Electric Rooflights in this context underscores Sunsquare’s position as an industry leader in sustainable building envelope solutions. As we look towards future developments, we remain committed to driving innovation in skylight design, continuously refining our products to meet the evolving demands of high-performance, low-energy architecture.