A climatic envelope extension of an office building - perception and reality of the change in environmental conditions

Building refurbishment is a key issue to improve energy performance and comfort levels for the building users. However, changes to an existing building envelope or a narrow energy focussed refurbishment to modern standards can result in a compromised working environment.\nThis paper describes the extension of an administration building at Southampton University through the addition of a new building linked at several levels to the old building through an atrium. Measured aspects of visual and thermal comfort are related to occupant perception and behaviour. The study shows that changes to the building envelope can have a disproportionate impact on the perceived comfort of the working environment in an existing office space. Measures to address this problem are discussed, for example more appropriate relocation of staff and management of expectations concerning the change in performance of the building.