SGA Consulting was crowned CIBSE’s Building Performance Champion following the retrofit of the historic York Guildhall. Andy Pearson explains how the project team exploited the nearby River Ouse while protecting the listed site
Category: Case Studies
Essential lessons from electric schools
Too many all-electric schools are being designed for peak loads that will never be met, says Cundall’s Peter Hazzard, who has been analysing data from previous designs to slash electrical demand
Setting the scene: Manchester’s new arts venue Aviva Studios
Manchester’s new arts venue, Aviva Studios, features two huge events spaces that can host anything from poetry readings to mega-raves. BDP had the challenge of devising a flexible lighting and services strategy that could adapt to any artistic situation, as the consultant’s Steve Merridew and Nick Meddows explain
Going with the flow: how improved design can lead to better roof drainage
Traditional roofs in Japan were designed to deflect rainwater away from a building and these types of roof forms are an elegant and sustainable alternative to the pipework and guttering used now. Jake Cherniayeff says a performance-based design approach can achieve similar drainage strategies on modern buildings
Lighting up the gallery: daylighting in arts institutions
Advanced techniques in lighting analysis are allowing designers to reintroduce daylighting into galleries without damaging the exhibits or causing visual discomfort to those viewing them. Max Fordham’s Nick Cramp highlights the benefits
Glint of steel: the lighting design journey of Espenes rest stop
An award-winning low-energy lighting scheme tuned into the stunning natural backdrop of its Norwegian landscape for inspiration. Jill Entwistle speaks to the designers behind the Espenes scenic rest stop
Digging deep for heat: connecting abandoned mines to district energy networks
The integration of minewater into smart cooling and heat networks offers a sustainable energy solution. LSBU researcher Eshagh Goudarzi provides an overview of how abandoned mines can play a crucial role in the transition to net zero
Trialling materials passports at the Edenica office building
Edenica’s new all-electric office building in London is a pilot for the use of material passports. Waterman’s Mark Terndrup and Anastasia Stella give details of how the scheme has been designed
Sound advice
Noise and vibration from HVAC systems such as large heat pumps can have a huge impact on occupant comfort. KP Acoustics Group’s Kyriakos Papanagiotou and Mason UK’s Adam Fox say CIBSE’s Guide B4, and early engagement with acoustic specialists, will give peace of mind
Graduating with honours: Cambridge University’s Passivhaus student housing
Passivhaus accommodation for Cambridge University students at Cranmer Road won a CIBSE Building Performance Award thanks to an elegant, but simple, all-electric services design by Max Fordham that delivered high-performing buildings with occupant comfort at its heart