Platinum LEED Certification for India’s First Research Park ‘BGRT’

Bearys Global Research Triangle (BGRT), a 9.5 lac sqft Research Park having 84% floor efficiency, developed by Bearys Group in Whitefield Ashram Road, Bangalore has been awarded the prestigious Platinum LEED certification by Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). 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 & Global Head of Schneider Electric, Mr. Anil Chaudhry, Country President, Ms. Annette Clayton, VP among other dignitaries.

BGRT has also won awards like Best Office Development Award at CBNC sponsored Asia Pacific Property Awards 2009 in Singapore, Outstanding Concrete Structure Award 2009 by the Indian Concrete Institute and nominated for Best Sustainable Architecture Project at the Real Estate Investment World Summit 2008 in Riyadh. BGRT furthermore prides of hosting Global Fortune 500 companies such as L’Oreal and Schneider Electric, which has set up its largest global R&D centre in the premises.

The BGRT is a climate responsive design, which also responds to its immediate surroundings and has an extremely flexible interior layout catering to all clientele needs for both present and future. The project objective includes energy efficiency, green and eco-friendly design and state of the art technology. The services design conforms to the intents laid down by US Green Building Council (USGBC), IGBC and ASHRAE.

The building is oriented optimally with longer axis along the East-West direction to minimize solar heat gain throughout the day. It consists of three inter-connected diamond shaped towers in plan so that no façade is perpendicular to East, South or West, which reduces solar direct heat gain and provides self shade. Thus there is no prominence for direct solar radiation to enter the building, keeping the internal temperature cool and also helping reduce the excess cooling loads. Circular balconies from 2nd to 10th floor between the diamond-shaped towers flare outwards, thus providing shade to the lower floor. Planters have been provided with creepers for additional shading. South-East and South-West facades of the building are opaque with service core provided there in, thus creating a buffer space to minimize heat gain. Northern façade is provided with double glazed units with high performance glass to maximize day lighting and minimize solar heat gain, besides providing good sound insulation. External louvers on North-West façade of Tower C have been specially designed according to the sun angle to minimize glare and heat gain. To obviate the Heat Island effect, vegetation and water bodies have been provided on ground, and the open space exceeds the statutory requirements. The terrace is covered with High Albedo paint having SRI value of 96 and solar panels which act as a buffer between the slab and the horizontal solar radiation, thus keeping it cool by reducing heat gain through roof by conduction.

Energy efficient air conditioning system has been designed to achieve energy conservation. Air conditioning is provided by a central variable flow chilled water recirculation system. Heat recovery units have been provided 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 conditioned area is monitored and modulated through CO2 sensors provided within conditioned area to keep CO2 concentration below limits. To meet the night purge requirements, and free air cooling during mild weather conditions, fresh air grille with motorized dampers have been provided and have been ducted to the external wall of each AHU room as required and air relief motorized dampers are provided on external façade of the building. Car parking in basements and all enclosed plant rooms shall be provided with Mechanical Ventilation System to permit 9 Air Changes per Hour (ACPH) for normal ventilation and 30 ACPH in case of fire or distress call.

BGRT is a zero discharge project which has a Waste Water Treatment plant based on Membrane Bio Reactor technology is installed on site to treat 100% of waste 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 for better adaptability and lesser irrigation requirements, and by installing efficient irrigation technologies like 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 also done to reduce storm water discharge from the site.

Building Automation System is provided to monitor all parameters of Air-conditioning, Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Fighting. Building Automation System shall not only help in conserving energy by making it possible to plan and execute various energy conservation control schemes but also help in reducing scarce trained man power requirement for operation and maintaining the building services. It also acts as a management information system by keeping the management informed about the critical operation of various building services and compile 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 a R&D destination. Our mission is to increase the green footprint and promote the green 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.