DISCOVERY CENTER
Discovery center is an educational facility where it focuses only on advance science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). It emphasis the creativity an design of a traditional fields. The interactive displays that let visitors interact with a range of scientific and technology ideas; frequently includes engineering and design components. places where people can work on projects, participate in practical activities, and try out different materials in order to encourage learning by doing. It promotes cooperation and teamwork, in line with the multidisciplinary nature of STEAM disciplines. The areas devoted to investigating and creating cutting-edge concepts, tools, and solutions that promote creativity and problem-solving abilities.
LOCATION : Chennai, India.
AREA : 5.7 acres
PROJECT TYPE : Institutional
The discovery center (STEAM based school) is designed for KG - 12th grade students. Each classroom can accomodate 25 students and there are two sections in each grades totally the school is designed to accomodate 700 students. There are three entry/exits around site (The main entry, school bus entry and service entry). And there are three buildings in the site which is a play school it is located near the main entry, the academic building which is located in the center of the site and there is an auditorium which is located in the east side of the site. The academic building has a two entries one is located near the main entry and another entry is located on the south side which is for school bus students and through the entry students can access the kids playground and auditorium. The academic block has five floors (G + 4) each floors consists of classrooms and STEAM labs with separate dinning area. The road which connects the main entry is parallel to the site. So wind turbine is placed in between the road and compound wall which collects electricity from the wind created by the vehicle travelling on the road. The site is covered by the road so it is easy to access for the fire truck in case of fire.
In north east direction services such as waste management and electrical sub stations are provided the predominant wind direction is from northwest to south east so the foul smell from the waste management will not affect the school area. And the electrical line is located to the parallel side of the road from the sub station is easy to access the main electrical line and the sub station is also located on the corner side so it is not easy to access the electrical line for the students. The roads are covered all over the site and the road width is 10m so it is easy for the fire truck to cover all over the site in case of fire. The existing features of the site such as trees, flood water drainage and sewage management is not wasted the school is designed in a way to not cut down any trees and the playground is located in the south western side since the flood water drainage is located in the western side so the rain water can easily drain to the flood water drainage and for the sewage management there is an underground line going on between north side road and compound wall which is directly connected to the line. For play school parent’s can drop their childrens in the play school since the play school is so close to the parking. And there is a sit out space is provided so they can relax and wait of their children. From the sit-out space they even see how their children are doing and interact with them.
Vertical Gardening :
This is the elevation that is facing south side which has strong direct sunlight and inside there is a ramp which connects all the floor it is useful for physically challenged people and in case of fire. The elevation is designed to prevent the direct sunlight not completely but partially by ACP (Aluminum composite panel) with CNC cut in it. And also there is a vertical garden provided because in summer the plants also helps to prevent sunlight and in winter it allows the sunlight.
The ACP and vertical garden both are installed in the MS (Mild steel) frame. The MS (Mild steel) is framed on the exact size of the ACP with also hold the vertical garden. The vertical garden is maintained by the mechanical watering system (Drip irrigation method). The verticle garden also helps to filter the air and it also provide a green environmnet. Since there is a CNC cut in the ACP through the cut ventilation will be done.
Wind turbine :
The wind turbine is placed outside of the compound wall facing the road. It generates electricity from the wind that is generated by the vehicles that are crossing on the road. The collected electricity will be send to the sub station that is located near to the last wind turbine. The collected electricity may vary based on the number of a vehicles using the road and the electricity can be used for the discovery center.
