- City of San Caetano: Thermo-active building systems (TABS), combined with geothermal energy, will reduce the environmental impact and allow the building’s temperature to be regulated using natural resources.
ACCIONA, the company responsible for building the first phase of the new administrative complex in San Caetano (Santiago de Compostela, Galicia), has incorporated innovative TABS (Thermally Active Building System) and geothermal energy systems into the project.
These systems represent an important innovation in construction and engineering, using natural resources such as water or the earth’s heat to regulate the temperature of the building. This project stands out for its focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, and is at the forefront of the shift to smarter and greener building practices.
The new administrative complex of the Xunta de Galicia in San Caetano will incorporate these bio-construction and bioclimatic architecture technologies with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of the construction and operation of this building, in accordance with the principles of Near Zero Building.
The TABS system consists of using the building structure itself, such as slabs or walls, to regulate the indoor temperature more efficiently by circulating water through pipes integrated into these structures. Thus, when the building needs to be cooled, cold water is circulated to absorb the heat, and when it needs to be heated, hot water is used.
Geothermal energy is a system that harnesses the natural heat of the earth’s interior to regulate the temperature in buildings. The TABS system will be connected to a geothermal field, which allows heat exchange with the ground and can heat or cool the building as needed.
These systems will help maintain a more constant temperature and save energy by reducing reliance on conventional heating and cooling systems, making it more sustainable and energy efficient.
SAN CAETANO PROJECT
The City of San Caetano will house the administrative center where the Xunta de Galicia intends to centralize its services, which are currently distributed in different parts of Santiago.
The Regional Government of Galicia awarded ACCIONA the contract to carry out the first phase of the work, worth more than €33 million, which began last August.
The building will be made up of two modules, with four floors and a surface area of more than 12,000 square meters. Its design is characterized by its flexibility and adaptability to different uses. This includes the incorporation of space for facilities, storage and archives. The modules follow a comb-shaped design, with a central lobby acting as the connecting point between the different areas and levels. This lobby provides access to both blocks of the building and between them is a landscaped courtyard with trees.
During the implementation of the project, special emphasis will be placed on the integration of the landscape and the redesign of the public space in the vicinity of the construction site. In addition, special attention will be paid to the area connecting the new buildings to the fire-fighting facilities.
The aim of this project is to improve services to citizens, modernize the working environment for nearly 700 public employees and reduce rental costs, which currently exceed one million euros per year. In addition, these improvements will contribute to enriching the aesthetics and organization of the entire urban area.