Materials & Methods of Construction III

Project: Diamond Building (Malaysia)

Presented By: Yamen Daba

Presented To: A. Samir Klaimi

Academic Year: Spring (2020-2021)

Table of Contents:

I. Diamond Building Description

II. Background of Diamond Building

III. Design Strategy of Diamond Building

IV. Sustainable Features of Diamond Building

V. Conclusion

VI. Reference List

Diamond Building:
Energy efficiency was a top priority in 2005. The project team decided to venture beyond energy efficiency by going green, a relatively new term in Malaysia at the
time. The building is now a tourist attraction within the global sustainable community and serves as an example for private industry. The number of green buildings
in Malaysia has exploded since the Diamond Building’s construction in 2010.

The building took its shape in response to the climatic design The diamond symbolizes transparency, value and durability, characteristics that represent
goals. The four slanting sides, inverted pyramid form, and jagged the Energy Commission’s role and mission as a regulatory body. The shape also represents
corners.The name stuck, and the façade cladding was intentionally an optimal design approach to achieve energy efficiency. The building includes seven floors
designed to emulate a diamond ring. above grade and two underground levels for parking.
Background of Diamond Building:

The Diamond Building was designed and built on a

concept of sustainable building, with consideration to
the following aspects:

1. Reduction in fossil fuels usage

2. Water conservation

3. Sustainable building materials

4. Waste minimisation and avoidance

5. Indoor environmental quality

6. Traffic and transport management

7. Construction and demolition management plan

Design Strategy of Diamond Building:
The diamond design was selected for its philosophical and
practical values and to conceptualise an iconic office
building. The diamond symbolises transparency, value and
durability; characteristics that represent the Energy
Commission’s role and mission as a regulatory body. The
unique shape represents an optimum design approach to
achieve energy efficiency.

During the design stage, extensive computer simulation of the

diamond form was conducted to ensure that the expected daylight
and energy performance are met. In order to maintain the
occupants’ visual comfort, various daylight simulation exercises
were conducted to ensure adequate and well distributed daylight.
These exercises also provided useful information on the
appropriate measures that can be adopted in reducing energy
consumption without compromising the occupants’ comfort level.
Sustainable Features of Diamond Building:
Energy Efficiency

Tilting Facade - the tilting facade (face of the building) allows Building Orientation - the construction of the building has also taken into account on the
self-shading for the lower floors, protection from direct sun rays rising and setting of the sun, to minimise the areas impacted by direct sunlight
into the building and a smaller building footprint, resulting in a
larger area for landscaping.
Sustainable Features of Diamond Building:
Energy Efficiency

Sunken Garden Area - the sunken garden located at the basement Photovoltaics - the building is installed with thin film telluride module type
serves as a void space which provides natural ventilation to the photovoltaic (PV) panels, with a total installed capacity of 71.4 kWp, fed indirectly
parking area at the basement level to the national grid. This total capacity produced is estimated to cover approximately
10% of the building’s energy needs.
 The glass façade is installed with low-
Sustainable Features of Diamond Building: emissivity glass (low-e glass) that is reflective
on the outside, allowing daylight into the
building and minimising heat from the sun.
Energy Efficiency

A split window design for all

Daylighting – Natural and Artificial - the Diamond Building is designed to
exterior facades together with
obtain 50% of its daylight needs from natural lighting. The crown of the
an internal light shelf helps to
building is a ‘diamond dome’ skylight made from laminated tempered glass.
redirect natural light into the
Located within the dome space are fixed blinds that filter and diffuse the
depths of the working space.
daylight to provide even and glare-free daylight for the offices around the
Sustainable Features of Diamond Building:
Water
Efficiency

1. Rainwater : is harvested and used for toilet flushing, combined with efficient water fittings such as dual flush toilets, waterless urinals and water taps

equipped with aerators. This reduces potable water usage by more than 65%. To further optimise the water efficiency of the building, greywater

collected from the wash basins is also recycled to irrigate the wetland at the ground floor.

2. Wastewater Recycling: Wastewater (graywater) is collected and discharged to a mini on-site wetland area that incorporates a reed bed planting

system. The graywater irrigates the plants within the wetland via a subsoil soaker hose. Microorganisms living on the root system of the reed bed

cleanse the graywater. The wastewater is stored for no more than 24 hours, and any excess is channeled to the town sewage system.

3. Water-Efficient Fittings: These reduce potable water use by more than 67% compared to conventional plumbing fittings. These fittings include

toilets with dual flush systems; faucet aerators; showerhead aerators; and urinals modified to provide a small amount of water, making them suitable

to use.
Sustainable Features of Diamond Building:
Indoor Environmental Quality
Thermal Comfort via Radiant Cooling - Cooling system in the
Diamond Building is provided via radiant cooling slabs that have
chilled water pipes embedded in the concrete slab itself. The
concrete floors are charged each night, acting as a rechargeable
battery as they release cooling throughout the day. This is
complemented with the conventional cold air supply system.
Use of Sustainable Materials - The building design is also aimed to provide
the occupants with a healthy and productive working environment. Resource
use is reduced via doing away with suspended ceilings, except for small
areas to conceal the ducts. This reduces the material used as compared to
conventional buildings.
Green labelled plasterboards are used for the ceiling and the internal
partitions. The plasterboards have low volatile organic compound (VOC)
emission and has 30% recycled content.
The floor carpeting is also green labelled for low VOC emission and has at
least 10% recycled content.
The interior paint used in the building is also of low VOC content.
The workstations contain material that protects against ultra violet (UV)
Sustainable Features of Diamond Building:
Environmental Protection

1. Recycled Content Material: Usage of recycled content as defined in accordance with the ISO 14021 in the building was established during the

design phase. The recycle content of the materials used in the building makes up at least 30% of the total value of the project.

2. Storage and Collection of Recyclables: Recycle bins are provided to each occupant’s workstation and every printer’s rooms. These are then

collected daily by the cleaners and store at the allocated recycle bins for collection on a weekly basis by the recycling company appointed by the local

authority.

3. Priority Green Vehicle Parking: Reserved parking lots are provided for green vehicles, thereby encouraging the use of such vehicles and carpools.

Bicycle racks and showers are also provided in the building to encourage occupants who stay within the vicinity to cycle rather than to drive to work.
Conclusion:

The Diamond Building represents a new approach toward climate responsive building design in Malaysia. Energy savings of four times that

of typical office buildings demonstrate the environmental and financial benefits of strategies such as climatic design, daylighting and in-slab

radiant cooling. Good indoor air quality access to sunlight provides a pleasant working environment. Practices such as on-site composting

and graywater recycling reduce demand for resources while also reducing the waste stream.
Reference List:

1. https://www.st.gov.my/en/details/aboutus/9

2. https://www.ien.com.my/downloads/Application%20of%20innovative%20daylighting%20in%20high-rise%20buildings%20-

%20Malaysia.%20By%20Gregers%20Reimann,%20IEN%20Consultants.pdf

3. https://www.hpbmagazine.org/malaysia-energy-commission-headquarters-putrajaya-malaysia/

4. https://www.eco-business.com/news/diamond-building-wins-top-award-for-energy-efficiency/

5. http://www.asiagreenbuildings.com/8013/evaluating-green-buildings-satisfaction-level-poe/

6. https://www.hpbmagazine.org/content/uploads/2020/04/13F-Malaysia-Energy-Commission-Headquarters-Putrajaya-Malaysia.pdf