As an innovation hub, CREATE is designed to lead in the green revolution. Meinhardt collaborated with the architects in the façade design that gets its distinctive look from the sunshades and blinds. To determine the optimal façade design, the team carried out extensive technical analysis including thermal modelling.

The main façade is integrated with various shading systems utilizing sunshades coupled with light shelves and motorized internal blinds that are adjustable to maximise daylighting and reduce heat glare.

For the glass canopy across the podium, laminated glass with ceramic frit pattern was selected to reduce solar transmission and improve aesthetic appearance. The team also designed a 15-metre tall support structure for the verdant wall which provided further ambient cooling and green appeal to the campus. .

The result of these measures is an extremely ef¬cient building façade with an Envelope Thermal Transfer Value (ETTV) of 37.6 W/m2, contributing an energy savings of 9 million kWh per year.

Solar panels embedded on the façade and the rooftop will harness 300kWp of solar power. This exemplary green campus opened in 2011 and houses 1,000 researchers as part of the new University Town development.