Building Case Study

Building Case Study

University of East London Library

Brief description of the project and building:

The University of East London new library will be situated on the University’s main campus, primarily offering library services to UEL’s students on a 24 hour, 7 days a week basis (with reduced opening hours in the summer recess). The development has been designed to provide a high quality educational space adding value to the students’ experience. It will be located on the western boundary of the university’s main campus adjacent to Water Lane.

The proposed building has been designed over three floors with the ground floor housing all the necessary administrative features of a library and the upper two floors dedicated to student activities with open plan book storage layout and study areas, silent study areas, seminar rooms and open access PC areas.

The key innovative and low-impact design features of the building:

The building has been designed in line with best practice sustainable design standards aiming to minimise its impact upon, and where possible enhance, the local and wider environment. A site was selected within the existing University campus with excellent public transport provision, and access to local amenities. Furthermore, as the project is re-developing an existing site of low ecological value, the opportunity has been taken to significantly enhance the local ecology and biodiversity through landscaping and the construction of a green roof.

All construction materials, for the building fabric and hard landscaping, were carefully selected to ensure they have a low environmental impact (including embodied carbon) over the full life cycle of the building. Further to this, and to help ensure a healthy internal environment, internal finishes and fittings that adhere to low emission standards for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been chosen.

Resource efficiency is a paramount concern for the client and fundamental to the adopted low-impact design approach. The building has been provided with facilities to support effective waste management, including organic waste composting. Water efficiency is supported through this installation of low use fittings and a rainwater harvesting system servicing the WC/urinal flushing demand.

Energy efficiency and consideration for the reduction of operational Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions has been designed into the building through a high performance fabric as well as efficient building services and control systems. Photovoltaic (PV) panels are installed on the roof to provide a source of clean renewable energy, and preparations have been made so that in future it may be feasible to integrate the building within an expansion of the existing Olympics low carbon energy network.

Steps taken during the construction process to reduce environmental impacts:

As principle contractor for this project VolkerFitzpatrick have ensured that the site was managed in an environmentally and socially considerate and accountable manner. Exemplary level performance was achieved under the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which independently assesses the impact of construction works upon the general public, the workforce and the environment.

VolkerFitzpatrick operate an Environmental Management System certified to ISO 14001 standard, and employ effective procedures for managing and minimising air (dust) pollution arising from and water (ground and surface) pollution occurring on the site. In working with their supply chain VolkerFitzpatrick helped ensure construction material can be responsibly sourced, and procured in alignment with low impact aspirations.

VolkerFitzpatrick are signed up to the considerate constructors Scheme and are being monitored regularly with regard to construction waste and environmental matters. Initial reports from the considerate constructor’s scheme are very positive.

A site management plan was implemented to support the monitoring, reporting and target setting for energy and water consumption arising, and construction site waste generated, from site activities. Significant effort has been made with regards the effective and appropriate management of construction site waste and it is expected that the site will comply with exemplary level performance criteria, as defined by BREEAM. Whereby the amount of waste generated per 100m2 (gross internal floor area) is <9.2m3 or <4.7tonnes, and where at least 90% by weight (80% by volume) of non-hazardous construction waste generated by the build has been diverted from landfill.

Social or economically sustainable measures achieved/piloted:

VolkerFitzpatrick have embarked on a series of community engagements including newsletters to local residents. In addition VolkerFitzpatrick have been in contact with the local primary school to interact with the pupils with the aim of raising awareness of site safety issues.

The building has environmental performance at the heart of its design with low energy systems incorporated in the build along with the inclusion of photovoltaic solar panels helping to reduce the buildings carbon footprint by 20%. On completion the building will incorporate continual energy monitoring the results of which will be displayed within the entrance area demonstrating the carbon savings made to the building users and occupants.

VolkerFitzpatrick as a part of the considerate contractor’s scheme have committed to employ local labour and encourage their sub-contract supply chain to offer apprenticeships to local candidates. In addition VolkerFitzpatrick are also committed to sourcing local materials wherever possible with the aim of reducing the projects carbon footprint and additionally having a positive effect on the local economy.

The following table contains statistics relating to the performance of the building:

BREEAM rating and score

Excellent, >70%

Contract sum

£8.9m

Basic building cost

£6.9m

Services cost

£2.2m

External works cost

£0.4m

Gross floor area

4259m2

Total area of site (hectares)

0.29 ha

Function areas and their size

Library: 728m2

Study: 709m2

Training: 296m2

Area of circulation

1055m2

Area of storage

41.4m2

Predicted electricity consumption (kWh/m2)

57.63 (total reg and unreg)

Predicted fossil fuel consumption (kWh/m2)

20.74 (total reg and unreg)

Predicted renewable fuel consumption (kWh/m2)

13.11

Predicted water use m3/person/year

6.56

% predicted water use to be provided by rainwater

13%

Project team:

Construction Project Manager

Jones Lang LaSalle

Lead Designer

Hopkins

Constructor

VolkerFitzpatrick Ltd

Quantity Surveyor

Turner and Townsend

Structural Engineer

Expedition Engineering Ltd / Whelan & Grant

Services Engineer

AECOM / IMTECH AQUA

C10591 - 11 14 1 - Building Case Study

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