Building with Integrity
An Approach for more Comfort at the CEAT Lounge
The CEAT Lounge is the main social space at the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT), University of the Philippines Los Baños. It serves as a meeting place, study area, and dining area for the students.
The CEAT Lounge is a semi open space, a structure with a metal sheet roof and open walls. The current build-up does little to protect its users - the students, from the hot, humid, and rainy climate of the Philippines. The metal sheet roof increases the temperature inside, while the open walls allow direct solar radiation to hit the space, which makes the space uncomfortable. In addition, during the monsoon season, the space is exposed to both rain and wind rendering it unusable.
The project’s objective is to improve the students’ comfort inside the lounge. Solar radiation study was performed to investigate how direct solar radiation heats up the space. Different roof build-ups were explored to reduce longwave infrared radiation. Annual hourly transient thermal simulations were done to assess users’ comfort inside the space.
Low-tech solutions such as putting up parapets and opaque screen at the top of the open walls are recommended to block direct sunlight. The roof, being exposed to the sun all day long should be improved by increasing the solar reflectance and putting up insulation with low-e coating. Transparent operable wind and rain protection should be installed in the open walls to shield it from rain and wind. Fans should be added to enhance thermal comfort with elevated air speed when the operable protection is in use.
Now, the next step is to coordinate with the college administration, students, and alumni to implement the proposed design solutions to the CEAT Lounge.
Mentors: Peter Zatko, Mohammad Hamza
Nikki Alaine Panaligan – Philippines
Nikki graduated from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2015. She worked as a Research Assistant for the UP-CIDS project on Accelerating Irrigation Development in the Philippines and as Research Associate for the CHED-PCARI project on wireless sensor network-based water information system for efficient irrigation water management in the Philippines before joining the Academy.