Case Studies
Collaborating with industry leaders to re-think our approach to design and provide the built environment with low carbon solutions.
A study that brought together industry experts at stages of a project they wouldn’t normally be present for, giving them more time to think about the impact their solutions are having on the planet and to create sustainable alternatives.
Stakeholders:
In partnership with SCAPE framework, Lungfish Architects, HLM Architects and engineering consultant Cundall, we created the Circular Twin project. This was a landmark digital study that delved into the traditional procurement and design process of a school built back in 2017, and sought out enough changes that helped to make a big difference to the building’s carbon output.
Needing to address the climate emergency, a step-change in behaviours is urgently required if the industry is truly intent on dramatically reducing its negative impacts on the environment.
Understanding that the task was much greater than ourselves, we knew we would have to get industry leaders involved to overcome the misconception that low carbon construction methods are expensive.
The study brought together all those involved in a construction project, but at stages they wouldn’t normally expect to be, to create a change in the industry and the future of our planet.
For example, the engineering and architectural teams had greater access to the supply chain, much earlier in the process - typically these conversations would happen later on. This shone a light on the expertise within the supply chain and proved that real-time information on design, buildability, cost and crucially carbon could be discussed at RIBA Stage 1.
Overall, this new way of doing things gave the team more time to think about the suitability of their products vs their carbon output.
The team applied their methodology to a two-form entry school built in 2017, and the results were industry-leading:
This project demonstrates that making a contribution to saving the planet doesn’t have to cost the planet.
A step change in behaviours is urgently required if the industry is truly intent on dramatically reducing negative impacts on the environment. It brings to life the latest industry thought leadership and guidance on how the industry can mobilise to reduce its carbon impacts. It is an exemplar of collaboration that challenged learned behaviour, disrupted traditional processes and brought the supply chain to the heart of the design decision making process.
The research is just the start and part of a long process our business to set open and transparent dialogue in the industry about carbon savings, how they can be made and importantly the impact they’ll have to the future sustainability of our communities.
This initiative has uncovered a revelation - that low carbon construction is inhibited by our industry’s reliance on traditional design and procurement approaches. The outcomes show that achieving low carbon buildings IS possible today.
Working collaboratively to enhance the pathway for SEND school design and delivery.
This study brings together experts from the public and private sectors to look at the factors that make up a truly great SEND school and examine how the delivery pathway could be enhanced to secure improved outcomes for every young person with SEND.
Wanting to delve deeper into the delivery of a SEND school, we launched a whitepaper called Building Better Futures based on two key commitments:1. To create a knowledge form2. Design a blueprint for success
Read it below:
The needs of pupils with autism and learning difficulties is constantly changing and the number of children and young people entitled to funding for further support for complex educational needs has risen - from 240,000 to 320,000 since 2015. Yet, the budget for the high needs block has only increased by 6% over the same period, from £5.6 billion to £6 billion in today’s prices.
We brought together insights and recommendations from representatives from local authorities in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire; head teachers from leading SEND schools across the region; architects, designers, and consultants with extensive SEND school delivery experience; representatives from national bodies including the National Autistic Society; and parental support groups including Sensational Families.
The report explores models of best practice in SEND school delivery and includes suggestions for shaping future design and delivery of SEND schools, which will better meet the needs of this fast-growing cohort of pupils.
Flexibility is key - Effective building and classroom design is a crucial element in learning and schools and delivery teams need to consider a wide range of issues.
Bring end users on the journey - Delivery teams must engage with users and equip teachers with the tools to communicate the development process to their cohorts.
Prioritise the design stage - Current processes means there is a shortfall in the time available for the design stage. This results in undue pressure being placed on the key design decisions during this phase of work.
Understand the cohort - This will enable an in-depth appreciation of SEND needs in individual areas and the bespoke nature of of the specific challenges the local authority might face.
Collaborating with consultants to bring lessons learnt on a Passivhaus building
Located in Scunthorpe, Trent View College is a new SEND school being built to Passivhaus principles. The new facility will be operated by Wellspring Academy Trust and will cater for 60 students aged between 16 and 19 who have a range of specific learning needs.
The building will be single storey with level access throughout and is zoned into two distinct areas. It will include a hydrotherapy pool, changing facilities and a playing field all of which will be made available for use by the local community outside of school hours.
Client: Wellspring Academy Trust
Value: £11.2m
Duration: 13 months
What we did:
In a project as complex as this, the early alliance of contractors, consultants and supply chain was key to fully evaluate the school specific brief, output specification and Passivhaus requirements of the project. It was therefore critical that the consultant team were brought in at the earliest stage possible to understand all the requirements and any challenges to be overcome.
The challenge:
With indoor pools already being extremely energy-intensive, the hydrotherapy pool – used for SEND students to build physical strength and enjoy sensory stimulation - posed a challenge of producing a pool design that worked within the parameters of the Passisvhaus requirements as well as the same standard of energy efficiency as the remainder of the building; this included considering what plant would be used to maintain the water and air temperatures to minimise heat losses through cooling and water changeover.
Our intelligent solution:
The project team benefited from the early engagement and collaboration of consultants: T Clarke, FT Leisure and Gale and Snowden, at RIBA Stage 1 who brought Passivhaus lessons learnt from a larger pool built in St Sidwells Point Leisure Centre in Exeter.
The key lessons learnt were around efficient system designs where pipework would need to be modelled and routed with a minimum number of bends and rises to avoid pressure losses in the filtration systems, meaning smaller pumps can be used to change the same volume of water.
The consultants proposed a modern microfiltration system for the water treatment and gave advice on how to minimise lost water from the system which would result in additional energy usage to maintain a consistent pool temperature. They also advised on the more onerous hygiene FRSi standards to fabric elements, due to the higher operating air temperatures within the pool area.
By collaborating early on, the project team were able to mitigate design issues that would have resulted in increased energy losses. They developed the specialist pool solution in advance of finalising the MEP and fabric design to make sure that the most optimum pool performance was achieved as first priority. Without the early engagement, the specialist pool design would have been less efficient and as such would not have met the criteria of the Passivhaus institute.
Read more about the intelligent solutions deployed on this project:
