Presenters : Erik Larson, Kyle Stuart-Willis, Robert Nicholls
Mentor : Alison Kwok
Major : Architecture
Poster 23
We are architecture students at the University of Oregon investigating into the Environmental Control Systems of an architectural space and the level of success for their implementation. This study analyzed the UO Rec Center’s spinning (stationary bike) exercise room and how human activity affects environmental conditions. By studying the temperature and relative humidity during a class we were able to understand human-generated heat in a room and apply more ventilation equipment in order for the room to remain in the architecturally-defined “comfort zone” (defined by ASHRAE standard 55) for a longer period of time. We hypothesized that a third fan added during a spin class would increase the time spent in the comfort zone by 20%. The study took place over 2 weeks to gather data with multiple controlled variables. Devices known as HOBO data loggers took intermittent measurements of the classroom’s temperature and relative humidity We concluded that the implementation of a third fan dramatically increased the classroom’s circulation, resulting in highs up to 46% lower in temperature and 35% lower in relative humidity. Our investigation shows that proper research of the ventilation/air circulation of an architecturally-designed space results in a more pleasant environment for users and a greater contribution to society for the architects involved. We also learned that participating in multiple spin classes leads to great glutes.