This study aims to derive a sustainable, eco-friendly remodeling strategy for aging university facilities—specifically targeting a 50-year-old Student Union building—facing the dual crises of a declining school-age population and facility deterior...
This study aims to derive a sustainable, eco-friendly remodeling strategy for aging university facilities—specifically targeting a 50-year-old Student Union building—facing the dual crises of a declining school-age population and facility deterioration. Conventional facilities designed under the past functionalism paradigm suffer from single-layer envelopes with poor insulation and closed center-corridor structures. This causes severe energy leaks and thermal imbalance, failing to accommodate modern educational values of communication and convergence.
To address the limitations of existing remodeling methods that rely merely on equipment replacement or superficial finishes, this study introduces the concept of 'Thermal Zoning,' which differentially controls spaces based on the building's geometry and climate loads. Furthermore, it establishes the 'Green Layering' design methodology, which adds three-dimensional environmental control layers—such as an atrium, double-skin facades, terraces, and green roofs—while minimizing damage to the existing structure.
Applying this methodology to the Student Union building at Dongguk University's Seoul Campus and verifying its performance through multifaceted environmental simulations (Revit Energy Analysis, ECO2) yields three key implications:
First, the bold demolition of non-load-bearing walls and the creation of a vertical void (atrium) overcame physical disconnections and induced a stack effect within the building. This minimized reliance on mechanical air conditioning, maximized natural ventilation, and provided visual openness.
Second, applying a double-skin facade to major elevations with high solar heat gain and introducing a green roof formed a powerful thermal buffer zone. Simulations confirmed a radical reduction in primary energy consumption and heating/cooling loads, demonstrating performance improvements approaching Zero Energy Building (ZEB) standards.
Third, various transitional spaces (internal lounges, balconies, and terraces) created to improve the thermal environment now function as a 'Third Place,' encouraging comfortable rest and interaction. This successfully restored the building's public nature as a central hub of the campus community.
Although this study is based on virtual scenarios and simulation data, thus possessing limitations regarding structural safety during actual construction and detailed Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis, it holds significant academic value.
In conclusion, this remodeling process, which integrates thermal zoning and green layering, serves as an effective design guideline to overcome the physical limitations of aging university facilities. It is expected that this study will be utilized as meaningful foundational data for realizing eco-friendly educational buildings suited to the carbon-neutral era and for the sustainable spatial regeneration of aging facilities.