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Our commitment to sustainability has informed every stage of the design process.
Our commitment to sustainability has informed every stage of the design process.
Externally, the development will enhance the biodiversity of the site and improve the green infrastructure surrounding the building. Newly created public spaces – including a café and exhibition areas – will be complemented by a range of green landscaped areas providing thoroughfares for both walkers and cyclists. We have committed to reducing carbon emissions and providing lots of green spaces to create a calming and welcoming environment for patients, visitors, workers and residents to enjoy.
We have also been able to commit significant support to enable the future growth of the Calthorpe Project (an asset to the local community which provides a community garden, sports pitches and a community centre)
The new building has been awarded an interim BREEAM Outstanding certification, reflecting a high performance across a number of areas of sustainability – including energy; water; health and wellbeing; materials; waste; and ecology. Less than the top 1% of buildings achieve this certification.
The development has been guided by the following principles:
Low Energy and Carbon: Achieve an exemplar low carbon development and make a significant contribution to the reduction of carbon emissions.
Optimising Resource Use: Utilise natural resources in the most efficient and economical way possible, applying circular economy principles to minimise waste and create new business opportunities across the redevelopment site.
Healthy and Productive Environments: Provide a healthy, comfortable, inclusive and safe building that supports visitors’ and staff wellbeing and provides the best possible environment for world-class research.
Lifecycle Value: Understand and prepare for long-term climate change impacts and scenarios that will impact the development. Build-in adaptability, flexibility and ‘reconfigurability’, to accommodate changes in the needs of the development over time.
The project’s approach to sustainability is summarised below:
• BREEAM: The building is on track for a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ (interim certification has been achieved) which demonstrates exemplary environmental performance and surpasses initial project targets and requirements.
• Energy Efficiency: The energy strategy has placed a high priority on reducing the building energy demand using highly efficient building fabric; and low-energy mechanical and electrical systems. Renewable energy is generated using multiple PV arrays.
• Water Efficiency: Water consumption will be minimised through the specification of highly water efficient sanitary fittings.
• Flooding: Peak surface water run-off from the site will be managed through blue/green roofs, permeable paving and below-ground storage tanks.
• Sustainable Use of Materials: Efficient use of resources, maximising recycled content of material and specification of durable materials have been prioritised to reduce whole life embodied carbon impacts.
• Biodiversity: Green roofs will be provided while tree canopies in courtyards provide new habitats. Bird boxes will also to be provided.
• Adaption to Climate Change: Strategies for dealing with overheating and flood risk are incorporated within the design.