UK Hydrographics Office, Taunton

Sustainability

Low maintenance materials used were chosen to create an exceptionally durable building and the design has taken a very robust approach to life cycle performance. Wherever possible we have exceeded the minimum standard to ensure that the building has flexibility, longevity and is adaptable to change. The team has focused on reducing operational energy costs and carbon emissions. High levels of natural daylight reduce the reliance on artificial lighting and an efficient building envelope reduces the heating costs. The natural ventilation strategy has designed out the need for cooling to over 90% of the building. Artificial lighting is automatic throughout and floor plates are lit to just 200lux which provides a calm background light level suitable for most tasks. Every desk is then provided with an individual task light giving user control to increase their light level up to 500lux if required. This strategy provides the dual benefit of user control and energy reduction.

Our structural engineering design is based on a concrete flat slab structure. It was chosen because it worked well for the grid shape of the building, it is very effective for thermal mass, and it is good for services distribution. This structural design solution ensures that by day, heat generated by people and IT etc. is absorbed in the slab, and at night the vents open so the heat can leave the building. The resulting exposed soffits have been designed to become part of the aesthetics of the structure.

The adoption of natural ventilation and the maximisation of daylight were central to the design ethos. The resulting services strategy delivers a space that supports employee wellbeing and a highly sustainable, low energy operation that has significantly reduced costs for installing, operating and maintaining fans, pumps and chillers. A Building Management System controls the opening and closing of the top half of every window in the building, whilst occupiers can control the opening of the bottom half of each window to provide instant access to fresh air, giving them a sense of control over their immediate environment.

– BREEAM Excellent
-Wide use of low carbon /energy saving features e.g. PVs, lighting control and natural ventilation
-GSL approach and BMS fine tuning has kept energy usage to a minimum; saving 30% against historical usage. Helped enormously by the ventilation strategy.
-Cut and fill analysis maximised reuse of excavated materials and demolition waste
-EPC A
-Targeting ‘DEC B’ rating within 3 years of operation
-Optimum orientation for passive solar design – escape stairs and tea points located on the east and west buffer offices from low sun angles
-Mixture of cross ventilation and stack ventilation through the atrium roof
-Timber baffles, hanging from the atrium roof provide acoustic absorption and eliminate glare by diffusing low angle sun
-Exposed in-situ concrete structure provides thermal mass
-Generous 3.5m ceiling heights coupled with narrow floorplates ensure impressive levels of natural daylight
-Brise soleil to the south façade to reduce heat gain
-Automatic artificial lighting throughout, with floor plates lit to 200lux supplemented by individual task lights on every desk