Faber Maunsell engineers the education sector

• Sustainable solutions for three new higher education projects
• Ground source heat pumps with loops integrated into piled foundations
• Integrated working with architectural teams produces low energy buildings with minimal mechanical installations

Faber Maunsell has designed sustainable solutions for three new higher education projects.

Northumbria University winner at the Low Carbon Performance Awards

City Campus East at Northumbria University, winner of the New Build Project of the Year prize at the Low Carbon Performance Awards, is the first of a raft of higher education buildings to be completed, which have been environmentally engineered by Faber Maunsell.

It is a £100m development comprising two buildings built on a brownfield site close to the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. Opened in September 2007, the campus, which accommodates the university’s law, business and design schools, now resounds with the voices of 9,000 students.

Faber Maunsell’s sustainable solution use innovative design of structural elements to minimise the energy consumption of the building’s services. Reduced carbon emissions exceed the 2002 Building Regulations requirements by nearly 40% and around 95% of materials from the demolition of a former cinema on the site have been recycled.

Solar collectors on the roof produce hot water, rain water is harvested to flush toilets and sensor-controlled heating and lighting systems ensure energy is only used when rooms are occupied. A light-well, projecting above the roof of the Newcastle Business School and the School of Law building, allows natural light to penetrate into the middle of the structure reducing the need for artificial lighting. Solar shading to the buildings, in the form of stainless steel mesh panels and aluminium tube arrays, reduce solar gain and lessen the requirement for air conditioning.

David Burton, regional director for Faber Maunsell and project manager for City Campus East, said: “The development is a highly visible symbol of recognition in Newcastle and illustrates how sustainability can play a central role in the process of urban regeneration.

“It is a working example of how inspired design and quality of construction can deliver exceptional value and sustainability, within budget.”

Trevor Thurlow, Northumbria University’s director of estates, added: “The University’s firm commitment to sustainable development was a critical requirement of the brief to the project delivery team and has been recognised by this award.”

Eco learning in Lambeth and Nottingham

Faber Maunsell has taken its experience from the Northumbria University to maximise sustainable design opportunities on two further projects in the higher education sector: the new Sixth Form Centre and Threshold Services Building at Lambeth College in south London and the Jubilee Campus Extension (JCE) at the University of Nottingham. Work is progressing on site at both projects, with Lambeth due for completion in February 2009 and Nottingham in September of the same year.

At Lambeth, Faber Maunsell is engineering the phased development of the site, the centrepiece of which is a new performance space/auditorium. Ground coupled heat pumps will heat and cool the building. Piled foundations with integrated geothermal loops have been sunk into the ground providing both structural support and access to the stable temperatures in the substrata.

Other key sustainable features at the college include energy and heat recovery on all mechanical systems, intelligent day lighting and artificial illumination design and an extensive green roof on the threshold services building. The building’s architectural design has been an integrated approach to achieve the best possible performance with least dependence on mechanical systems. This includes flat, exposed soffits to utilise the thermal mass and facilitate easy distribution of services.

The Jubilee Campus Extension (JCE) at the University of Nottingham is located to the south of the original Jubilee Campus and is a re-interpretation of the original Hopkins Architects master plan, dating back to the early 1990’s.

Faber Maunsell has worked closely with MAKE Architects in the development of the Jubilee Campus Extension master plan by forming an Innovation Park Development, including initial concepts for a Global Business Connection Centre and a Fitness Centre.

Following completion of works on the master plan, the engineer was awarded the full design appointment for Phase I. Total contract value for Phases I and II is to be in the region of £200million.

Similar to the Lambeth project, Faber Maunsell’s design sets out to minimise CO2 emissions using systems that include ground coupled heat pumps for heating and cooling with the ground loops integrated into structural piles; solar thermal water heating; energy recovery on all systems; and, high passive performance to encourage low dependence on mechanical systems.