Hillside Middle School

In 2009, the newly constructed Hillside Middle School was placed into service, and included a gymnasium and an auditorium that included stadium style seating. During the design phase, the mechanical engineering consultant (also CEA) proposed the use of displacement ventilation for these spaces, as an energy efficiency measure that would contribute toward a LEED® Silver Certification. Because the school district had no previous experience with these systems, CFD analysis was used to demonstrate that displacement ventilation could be used effectively. The analysis not only proved the system could maintain industry standards of thermal comfort, but was used in an iterative process to optimize the location and supply air volume of the system, particularly for the auditorium design, where it was crucial to ensure that the "pool" of cooling supply air could reach audience members in the center of aisles. Additionally, CFD analysis was performed to evaluate and prove the inclusion of unique displacement diffusers that could be used in heating mode, as well as cooling mode, thereby eliminating the need for additional overhead ductwork, resulting in construction cost savings.