Circular Building Design & Climate Management

Abstract

Various aspects provide for ventilating a circular building, including an external wall of the building in the shape of a circular polygon, a plurality of vertical wall sections each forming a side of the polygon, each vertical wall section secured to an adjacent vertical wall section at a vertex of the polygon and a metallic frame for supporting the vertical wall section. A glass skin may be secured to the metallic frame of the vertical wall section, the glass skin including an exterior opening and a vent chamber configured for receiving air from the exterior of the building through the exterior opening in the glass skin. The vent chamber may include an interior opening for communicating air from the chamber into the interior of the building and a movable flap for controlling a flow of air through the vent chamber.

1 . A system for ventilating a circular building, the system comprising:
 an external wall of the building, the external wall in the shape of a circular polygon;   a plurality of vertical wall sections each forming a side of the polygon, each vertical wall section secured to an adjacent vertical wall section at a vertex of the polygon;   a metallic frame for supporting the vertical wall section;   a glass skin secured to the metallic frame of the vertical wall section, the glass skin including an exterior opening;   a vent chamber configured for receiving air from the exterior of the building through the exterior opening in the glass skin, the vent chamber including an interior opening for communicating air from the chamber into the interior of the building; and   a movable flap for controlling a flow of air through the vent chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen or filter disposed at the interior or exterior opening. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a metal column configured to support the vertical wall section. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the glass skin includes a panel of double pane glass, the double panes separated by a gas. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a flat plate steel spandrel configured to support the vent chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the movable flap is configured to close the exterior or interior opening. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior opening is configured to direct a flow of air from the chamber upward into the interior of the building. 
     
     
         8 . A building comprising:
 a substantially circular exterior wall in the form of a polygon;   an exterior panel forming a face of the polygon, the panel including a glass skin and a metal frame;   a ventilation chamber disposed between the top and the bottom of the panel;   an exterior opening in the glass skin configured to admit exterior air into the chamber;   an interior opening in the chamber configured to communicate the admitted air from the chamber into the interior of the building; and   a channel configured to secure the chamber to the glass skin.   
     
     
         9 . The building of  claim 8 , wherein the polygon comprises at least 32 panels. 
     
     
         10 . The building of  claim 8 , further comprising a spandrel configured to support the vent chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The building of  claim 8 , further comprising a tubular column supporting a spandrel beam configured to carry the exterior panel. 
     
     
         12 . The building of  claim 8 , further comprising a spandrel beam extending from the exterior panel to an adjacent exterior panel. 
     
     
         13 . The building of  claim 8 , further comprising a ventilation tower disposed above a center of the building. 
     
     
         14 . The building of  claim 13 , further comprising a venture and a fan configured to move air through the ventilation tower. 
     
     
         15 . A method for ventilating a circular building, the method comprising:
 admitting exterior air through an exterior opening in a glass skin into a ventilation chamber supported on the glass skin, the glass skin supported on a metal frame and comprising a face of an exterior wall of the circular building, the exterior wall in the shape of a circular polygon; and   communicating the admitted air from the chamber through an interior opening in the chamber into the circular building.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising filtering the communicated air. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising urging the air through the chamber and into the building using a ventilation tower. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising adjusting a flap in the chamber to control a flow of the air through the chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the glass includes two panes separated by a gas. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising directing the air from the chamber upwards through the interior opening into the building.