FUTURES INSTITUTE AT THE DOLLAR ACADEMY

The Futures Institute at the Dollar Academy (FIDA) in Scotland, UK, is set to become the first building in the country to receive the Living Building certification. Granted by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), this certification recognizes a design strategy focused on reducing embodied carbon through an efficient structural form and the judicious selection of materials.

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The domed, gridshell roof is composed of lightweight glulam bars with ETFE inflated pillows as insulated cladding between them. The transparent ETFE allows for daylight to fill the space, bringing a connection to the outdoors. The roof is engineered to harness passive solar gain throughout the year, while enabling complete natural ventilation in the summer. 

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