Byblos, Lebanon
Joseph G. Jabbra Library & Riad Nassar Central Administration
The new Byblos Library is a state of the art facility. Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani (PT) researched the history, local culture, and typology of the ancient city of Byblos and weaved the findings in the project's design. A pattern based on the ancient Phoenician alphabet highlights Byblos' cultural heritage. Atelier (PT) incorporated passive design features derived from the local typology into the design, achieving a LEED Gold rating. The building houses different forms of modern-day advancements that have a profound effect on the functions and design of the library. The library implements the latest energy efficiency measures from building configuration and insulation to the best available systems for cooling and heating. Thus it offers an inspiring atmosphere where the old Byblos library has been transformed into a modern facility to foster a collaborative environment.
Project info
- Construction phase
- New construction
- Building type
- Non-residential building
- Detailed building type
- Education
- Net floor area
- 8485 m2
- Land plot size
- 4300 m2
- Stories
- 5 stories
- Construction type
- Concrete
- Original construction year of the building
- 2018
- Project contact
- Shaheen Bou Jawdeh
- Contact email address
- sbjaoude@lau.edu.lb
Project team
- Developer(s)/owner(s)
- Lebanese American University
- Architect(s)
- Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani – Architects Planners LLP (as concept designers) and Rafik El Khoury & Partners (as Local Architect)
- Construction contractor(s)
- Natcon Engineering & Contracting
- Energy efficiency consultant(s)
- Rafik El Khoury & Partners
- HVAC consultant(s)
- Rafik El Khoury & Partners
- Building services
- Rafik El Khoury & Partners
- Other project team partners
- AJB Commissioning; Bureau Veritas; DG Jones & Partners
Building Rating and Certifications systems
- Rating and certifications systems
- LEED
Building Envelope
External walls
- Description of construction
- Concrete wall with mechanical stone cladding
- U-Value
- 0.445 W/(m²*K)
Roof
- Roof type
- Single Pitch Roof
- Description of construction
- The roof is covered with high SRI materials that greatly reduces solar heat gain
- U-Value
- 0.222 W/(m²*K)
Openings and windows
- Glazing type
- Double glazed
- U-Value glass
- 2.4 W/(m²*K)
- Frame material / description
- Metal structure with aluminum perforated second skin
- Overall u-value window
- 1.3 W/(m²*K)
- Description of construction
- Glazed aluminum curtain walls, Guardian ClimaGuard Premium 2T
Basement floor
- Description of construction
- Slab on grade
- U-Value
- 0.939 W/(m²*K)
Technical Building Systems
Ventilation system
- Type of ventilation
- Mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery
- Description
- The dedicated fresh air handling units serving the FCUs of the project have been equipped with Heat Recovery Enthalpy wheels that reuse energy.
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- Trane
Space cooling system
- Primary space cooling system
- Description
- Chilled water supplied from a high efficiency campus district cooling plant. Water cooled chillers with COP=5.85 & IPLV=6.499
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- Daikin
- Secondary space cooling system
- Centralised chiller │Usually a central system located in the basement
- Description
- Chilled water is supplied via a building heat exchanger and variable speed secondary pumps. Air handling units located in mechanical room are used for cooling and heating of all common areas in the buildings. Each air handling unit is controlled through VFD, and serves one floor. Supply air flow is controlled through variable air volume boxes installed in each zone, modulating their supply as rooms reach their set point temperature. Fan coil units are located mostly in library and Central Administration offices. Fan coil are brushless with EC DC motors and variable speeds.
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- Lowara Pumps; Trane AHUs, Climaveneta Fan coils, Schmidt heat exchanger
Space heating system
- Primary Space heating system
- District heating
- Description
- High efficiency boilers equipped with oxygen trim control, reaching an efficiency of around 85%
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- Supreme
- Secondary Space heating system
- District heating
- Description
- Heating water is supplied via a building heat exchanger and variable speed secondary pumps. Air handling units located in the mechanical room are used for cooling and heating all common areas in the buildings. Each air handling unit is controlled through VFD, and serves one floor. Supply air flow is controlled through variable air volume boxes installed in each zone, modulating their supply as rooms reach their set point temperature. Fan coil units are located mostly in library and Central Administration offices. Fan coil are brushless with EC DC motors and variable speeds.
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- Lowara Pumps; Trane AHUs, Climaveneta Fan coils, Schmidt heat exchanger
Water heater system
- Primary water heater system
- Solar Thermal collector on the roof
- Description
- 8 solar thermal panels generating a total thermal energy of 8 kW covering hence the need of domestic hot water.
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- DEPLASO / Spain
- Secondary water heater system
- Combi system (system provides space heat & hot water)
- Description
- The central district heating is used as backup when the solar energy is not sufficient
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- Supreme / Boilers
Lighting system
- Primary lighting system
- LED (Light emitting diode lamps)
- Efficiency
- 100
- Description
- predominantly High performance LED lighting
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- Philips, BPM, Domino Led, Proled, Bel Lighting, Egoluce, Luce Light, Led Italy
Shading devices
- Type of shading system installed
- Automatic shading systems usually with daylight sensor and motor (e.g. rafstores, sunblinds, jalousies, canvas blinds)
- Description
- State of the art solar tracking system which follows the position of the sun to position the curtains. It is equipped with external radiometers to allow for transient shading from clouds. The system allows 10 positions for the curtains, allowing the desired level of sun penetration into each space, with the possibility of manual override.
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- Mechoshade
Photovoltaics
- Capacity
- 25 kWp
- Total module area
- 143.16 m²
- Description
- 25kWp Photovoltaics System composed of: - 88 Polycrystalline PV modules (EXIOM) 285Wp - On-Grid Inverter (SMA Sunny Tripower 25000TL) 25kW - Mounting Structure for the PV panels - Circuit Breaker 50A/4p in IP65 enclosure - with suitable protection devices and earthing connections
- Manufacturer(s) / products
- EXIOM/ Spain
Other technical building systems
- Description
- Low flow and sensor operated plumbing fixtures, rain water harvesting, condensate drain collection, high efficient irrigation with EvapoTranspiration control
Final Energy Demand
- Energy carrier (1)
- Electricity
- Energy carrier (2)
- Other
- Annual heating demand
- 13 kWh/(m²*a)
- Annual cooling demand
- 58 kWh/(m²*a)
- Annual lighting demand
- 17 kWh/(m²*a)
- Annual hot water demand
- 10.5 kWh/(m²*a)
- Total specific final energy demand
- 131 kWh/(m²*a)
Financial Aspects
- Project construction cost
- 18704000 EUR
- Estimated costs of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures
- 280000 EUR
- Certification costs
- 100500 EUR
- Financing sources
- Own + subsidised loan
