The British Council for Offices (BCO) has released an early update to its Guide to Specification, its most recognised publication, providing expert advice on how to specify office space. The update responds to challenges emerging from the pandemic and the accelerating need for the built environment to respond to climate
Bargate Homes has started construction at its latest development; Norton Chase, located in the East Hampshire village of Lovedean. The 2.61 Ha (6.45-acre) site straddles the boundary of East Hampshire and Havant, and will provide 43 much-needed homes for the area. Located off Lovedean Lane the scheme will provide a
The Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) assesses all energy used by buildings, processes and transport. With an unrivalled knowledge of a firm’s operations, facilities managers are often responsible for taking the lead on ESOS submissions and ensuring the assessment process is followed correctly according to Bureau Veritas, a world leader
Where access control is concerned, architects and design teams must find the right balance between aesthetics, functionality and security, says Daniel May of Consort Architectural Hardware. Following a period of innovation and integration, access control has developed into an ever-prominent facet of building design over the past decade. Where systems
RWE has appointed Humber-based firm Hobson & Porter to complete the construction of its new state-of-the-art operations and maintenance facility known as the Grimsby Hub. The multi-million pound contract includes an extension to the existing Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm operations base located at Grimsby’s Royal Dock, and includes the
Net-zero technology firm, IES, has collaborated with Dublin City Council on a Digital Twin project to identify how Dublin’s social housing stock can be decarbonised in the most efficient manner in terms of both operational energy and embodied energy. Using its world-leading digital twin technology, IES carried out modelling of
DSM, the global purpose-led science-based company active in health, nutrition and bioscience and BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design, engineering and project delivery company, have signed a contract to begin the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) phase of an innovative new production facility in Dalry, Scotland. The new facility will be
The British Council for Offices (BCO) has released an early update to its Guide to Specification, its most recognised publication, providing expert advice on how to specify office space. The update responds to challenges emerging from the pandemic and the accelerating need for the built environment to respond to climate change. The update advises designers how to create healthier offices that support changing working patterns, while reducing carbon emissions. New recommendations include: Reflecting the world of hybrid work The BCO has updated its guidance on space allowed for each employee when designing a speculative office building. 10m2 per person is recommended as the occupancy density design standard for general workspace. The former high occupancy density allowance of 8m2 per person has been redefined as a special use case for exceptional cases. Designing for the 10 m2 per person occupancy density provides greater scope for the variety of workplace settings needed to support hybrid working. It also avoids overdesign of core services, improves floorplate efficiencies, and minimises carbon emissions. The effect of changing technology The greater use of low-powered tablets, laptops, and smart phones, plus growth of cloud computing has allowed a reduction in small power load allowances 100 W to 60 W per person. This reduces the heat generated in the office space, which in turn reduces the cooling needed. Supporting the office sector to achieve net zero carbon Many developers already target BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ for new offices. Reflecting the rapid progress in the sector in adopting more demanding sustainability targets, the Guide is moving its minimum BREEAM target rating from ‘Very Good’ to ‘Excellent’, and introduces the latest building certification standard, NABERS UK – an energy performance rating relying on measured energy use. The update recommends targeting a 5-star NABERS UK rating for new building design. Market trends have fuelled a desire to create flexible, relatively column-free, open-plan offices. However, the structural solutions needed can be carbon intensive. The 2023 update to the Guide aids the future adoption of alternative structural materials such as timber by adding smaller 6.0 and 7.5 m spans to the recommended range. This wider range provides designers with more options to minimise the embodied carbon of the structure. The selection of high-performance facades, lighting and building services systems should also be made with net zero targets in mind, prioritising energy efficiency. Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said: “The BCO Guide to Specification often described as the ‘design bible’ for the office sector is an essential resource for the decision makers who invest in, develop or design millions of square feet of office space every year. The 2023 Update will drive the decarbonisation of the office sector, enacting change to help the industry deliver on the UK’s net zero by 2050 target. This new guidance for the highest-quality offices introduces more generous space standards and greater design flexibility to support wellbeing and sustainability as the office sector adapts to the world of hybrid work.” Neil Pennell, Chair of the BCO’s Technical Affairs Committee and Head of Design Innovation and Property Solutions at Landsec, said: “The BCO’s new guidance reflects changes in design thinking since 2019 driven by Net Zero Carbon targets, increased hybrid working post COVID-19, changes in regulations and improvements in equipment performance. There is a clear imperative to adopt a whole-building approach to decarbonise the sector which needs to start with the design and specification of new and refurbished office space. Developed in collaboration with the UK’s leading experts, the BCO Guide to Specification gives clear advice on how operational and embodied carbon can be reduced without compromising the need to provide flexible office space that meets the needs of occupiers and helps them to conduct their business in safe, healthy, comfortable and productive workspaces.” The BCO Guide to Specification update has been developed in consultation with experts from across the industry, including agents, investors, occupiers, and developers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bargate Homes has started construction at its latest development; Norton Chase, located in the East Hampshire village of Lovedean. The 2.61 Ha (6.45-acre) site straddles the boundary of East Hampshire and Havant, and will provide 43 much-needed homes for the area. Located off Lovedean Lane the scheme will provide a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments and houses, set amongst 0.81Ha of public open space. Bargate Homes has provisioned 40% of the housing on the development as affordable. The design of the spacious site is highly considerate of the local area and vernacular and includes a number of sustainable initiatives. The £13m Norton Chase scheme is expected to take approximately 22 months to complete. 180 construction jobs will be created during the course of the project, providing a boost to the local economy. The new development is the sister project to Norton Heights, which Bargate Homes completed during 2018. Situated close to Lovedean village centre, the new homes will be built to a high EPC – B rating and designed to include a number of sustainable features. Each house will have a mixed recycling point, with external and internal storage, and an improved air tightness specification to ensure the energy saving performance of the homes is above current Building Regulations. The first tranche of homes will be available for occupation before the end of 2023. Mark White, Managing Director of Bargate Homes, said: “We are excited to start construction at Norton Chase and provide much-needed new homes for Lovedean and the wider East Hampshire area. We are a community-led housebuilder, and for all our developments we consider how our customers will live now and in the future. In addition to the sustainability features, the 43 homes have been designed to be in keeping with the style of houses found locally – including beautiful flint detailing.” “Situated close to South Downs National Park, Lovedean benefits from a thriving community, which is well connected and serviced by local shops and village amenities. With nearby train links to central London, as well as other commuter locations such as Guildford and Portsmouth, it is an extremely desirable location. We are looking forward to releasing the first tranche of homes for sale, as there is already a high level of early interest.” New public open spaces will be created across the development, enhancing the character of the area, and delivering both recreational and ecological benefits. Green buffer zones will provide a valuable amenity function and retain and enhance local wildlife corridors. There will also be native tree and shrub planting to benefit local bird populations. A combination of both private and public open spaces will be created across the site, which will include a variety of enclosures to define the spaces. The new development is only 1.4 miles away from the town of Horndean, which has a local primary school, an array of shops, restaurants, and supermarkets. Horndean is also home to the Hazelton Common Nature Reserve, which is popular with locals. Rowlands Castle is the closest train station, which is two miles from the site, with trains running to London Waterloo in just under an hour and a half. The line also runs through Guildford as well as providing regular 21-minute services to Portsmouth & Southsea station. There is easy access to the A3 via the B1249, which leads onto the M25 and the wider motorway network. The design for the range of dwellings is in keeping with the local topology of the area. The site will utilise a single facing brick, with an alternative brick to add contrast where the house designs have traditional detailing elements. Key and corner homes will benefit from flint elevations to add variety and legibility to the street scene. Roofs will be simple in form with extensive use of reduced eaves and dormers in the principal elevations. Gables will be used occasionally on the larger dwellings, providing contrast and interest to the street scene, which is in keeping with the predominant architectural style found on the highly regarded neighbouring Norton Heights development. Established in 2006, Bargate Homes builds select developments in prime locations within Hampshire, Dorset, and West Sussex. The company is currently delivering 900 homes across six live developments and has a pipeline of future sites expected to deliver in excess of 2,500 new homes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) assesses all energy used by buildings, processes and transport. With an unrivalled knowledge of a firm’s operations, facilities managers are often responsible for taking the lead on ESOS submissions and ensuring the assessment process is followed correctly according to Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection and certification Organisations that qualify for ESOS must carry out assessments every four years and for this latest phase, should submit its compliance notification to the Environment Agency (the scheme’s administrator in England) by 5 December 2023. These include audits on the energy used by a business’ buildings, industrial processes, and transport to identify cost-effective energy saving measures. Last year, the Government released the outcomes of its ESOS consultation, aimed at raising the ambition and standard of ESOS reporting, to make it a greater driver for energy efficiency action and align it with UK decarbonisation goals. Key introductions include a reduction in the amount of energy that can be excluded from the assessment – known as the Total Energy Consumption (TEC) – from 10% to 5%, meaning 95% of total energy used across buildings, processes and transport must now be assessed, leaving a much tighter margin when it comes to data collection. There are also new compulsory action plans, which participants must set following the phase three compliance deadline and report progress annually as part of its Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting framework; however, meeting these targets won’t become mandatory until phase four. ESOS has also introduced an energy intensity metric whereby a business will need to detail kWh/m2 for buildings, kWh/unit output for industry and kWh/miles travelled for transport. Whilst businesses still have nine months to comply with the latest changes, Bureau Veritas is on-hand to support facilities managers to file their submission sooner rather than later. Every business that must complete an ESOS assessment has the same deadline, which results in resource scarcity as the deadline approaches, therefore achieving compliance sooner could be more cost-effective and offer more choice when it comes to appointing a lead assessor – driving additional benefits for the business. David Murray, Business Unit Manager – Sustainability at Bureau Veritas, comments: “Whilst ESOS reporting must only be carried out every four years, it’s vital that businesses get ahead of the curve to ensure any required audits are completed and submitted ahead of the strict 5 December 2023 deadline. Penalties for non-compliance can be up to £50,000 fines plus £500 per day, so as well as the opportunities to reduce energy usage and better a business’ carbon footprint, there are clear financial gains to be had from early compliance. “Facilities managers form a key part of the ESOS process, given they have vast knowledge of a businesses’ operations, including buildings, processes and transport, and a solid over-arching view of the company’s corporate structure – an imperative aspect of filing an ESOS submission. “Phase three has introduced a number of key changes, most notably the tighter scope on energy reporting, new metrics and the requirement for an energy efficiency action plan to be drawn up. It’s important for facilities managers involved in this process to ensure they understand the full scope of the new strengthened requirements, engage a lead assessor early on, and have a understanding of the data collection requirements.” Bureau Veritas is also urging facilities managers who may not have previously had to report to get ahead for their first assessment. Companies which qualify for the mandatory assessment under ESOS include those which employ 250 or more people, have an annual turnover in excess of £44 million and an annual balance sheet total in excess of £38 million. David continues: “The ESOS qualification criteria are complex and many organisations will need to take significant steps in order to comply with all requirements. Furthermore, businesses which may not have had to report under phase two of ESOS but have since met the criteria to comply with the reporting scheme this time around, may be in the dark when it comes to what they need to do first, and the business drivers to push forward with the process. “There are clear benefits to ESOS, other than compliance – although this is the main driver for many. Firms that have a clear vision when it comes to sustainability and sustainable policy are able to have an increased awareness of energy issues within their business, save money when ESOS recommendations are implemented, support the business’ net zero transition, and improve their corporate sustainability reporting. “As an independent third-party with experience helping many clients comply with the ESOS regulation in the UK, we’re able to support businesses with UK and European operations to take action towards compliance. Our global network of energy experts offers a wealth of knowledge to help your company achieve compliance in a cost-effective manner. In many cases, going beyond compliance can also maximise the business benefits that can be gained from reducing and optimising energy consumption.” With vast experience and technical expertise in energy assessment and verification, Bureau Veritas is uniquely placed to help organisations achieve compliance with the ESOS regulations and take advantage of energy savings opportunities. With qualified Lead Energy Assessors available to guide the process, Bureau Veritas can support businesses through every step of its energy efficiency journey, starting with full ESOS compliance. To further support businesses in meeting phase three of ESOS regulations, Bureau Veritas has released a brand new downloadable guide, to help navigate the process. For further information on ESOS and how Bureau Veritas can support your business on its energy efficiency journey, get a free quote. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Where access control is concerned, architects and design teams must find the right balance between aesthetics, functionality and security, says Daniel May of Consort Architectural Hardware. Following a period of innovation and integration, access control has developed into an ever-prominent facet of building design over the past decade. Where systems were once rudimentary, modern user requirements have led to several operational and technological advancements, resulting in a versatile selection of options that move beyond the limited capabilities of centralised deployment architecture. The push for smarter buildings has played its part too. In fact, according to a 2022 report, the number of smart buildings worldwide is projected to climb from 45 million to 115 million by 2026, with global market size estimated to hit $201.16 billion by 2031 – and this growth shows no signs of slowing down (omitting another global pandemic). In order to meet growing market demand, manufacturers continue to modernise access control solutions, introducing the use of mobile credentials, cloud control and even bio-metric systems. As such, the specification process for access control hardware continues to become more nuanced, and for architects in particular, there’s an increasing challenge to ensure all design objectives are met. With this in mind, how can professionals strike a balance between seamless integration and design? Aesthetic choices For many decision makers, access control is viewed as an efficient and flexible route to securing their building. But more than that, it has become critical to the operative performance of our built environment, where from residential settings to commercial space, the adopted use of interconnected systems is further boosting accessibility, functionality and security. Take modern hotel environments for example. According to a 2022 report, 56% of hospitality consumers expressed locking and unlocking rooms using biometrics and facial recognition would enhance their experience. From Wi-Fi infrastructures to cloud services, technology has almost become synonymous with a hotel guest’s experience and is designed to improve their stay. Where digital access control systems are adopted, guests can interact with the premises independently, streamlining their access to essential entry points while safeguarding rooms against unauthorised visitors. Similarly, hotel operators benefit from enhanced building security and increased traceability, not to mention improved business efficiency and higher guest ratings. However, while security and accessibility are frequently top of the agenda when it comes to specifying hardware, from an architectural perspective, a solution’s aesthetic is just as valuable and plays a crucial role in the decision-making process. Often, door hardware can feel like the finishing touch to a design project, and so, careful consideration must go into consistent design choices that make a positive impact on the building’s aesthetic. Ultimately, better-quality aesthetics enhance environments by making them more welcoming. Again, hospitality is a good case in point, where hotels must ensure their environment is visually pleasing as part of the service quality offered to their guests. However, a survey on urban design revealed 40% of architects find incorporating security measures into new developments without impacting aesthetic appeal a key design challenge. With this in mind, architects and design teams can be forgiven for past frustration towards the unattractive and cumbersome access control systems that were once in their infancy. In reality, today’s systems offer a much more seamless design, and with end users placing value on key elements such as accessibility, fire safety and reliability, it’s now possible to incorporate a solution that works for everyone. Combining value and visuals Upon recognising today’s access control systems promote functionality and seamless installation without compromising aesthetics, there’s a growing demand for comprehensive, single-package solutions across many contemporary projects. As a result, architects and designers are increasingly met with questions on door hardware and access control and must keep up to date with the latest solutions that are available. As such, the initial design stage provides an opportune period for architectural teams to consider the needs of the end user in relation to access control systems. From a building’s security elements to its flow of movement, there are various objectives to reflect upon, and architects must look to develop their knowledge on access control solutions to ensure all end user objectives are met, and all while considering the final aesthetic. Naturally, projects can often benefit from greater collaboration and architectural professionals are urged to lean on the expertise of manufacturers where required. By working closely with trusted manufacturers early in the process, teams can incorporate the latest technology into buildings at the initial stages of design, as opposed to being an addition later in the process. In many cases, manufacturers now offer bespoke access control solutions too, each designed to adapt around the end user’s needs while working with the architect on a design level. Through greater collaboration and the use of tailored solutions, architects are given the ability to choose consistent finishes and materials that fit the planned aesthetic, removing the need to try and match across various suppliers later down the line. Seemingly, access control will continue to play a larger role in building design as the industry progresses. And while the adoption of new technology may inherit an element of uncertainty for some, by introducing tailored solutions with seamless integration at early stages of the design process, architects can rest assured that their proposals address core challenges such as security and fire safety, while keeping their aesthetic vision intact. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
RWE has appointed Humber-based firm Hobson & Porter to complete the construction of its new state-of-the-art operations and maintenance facility known as the Grimsby Hub. The multi-million pound contract includes an extension to the existing Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm operations base located at Grimsby’s Royal Dock, and includes the creation of a new Centralised Control Room (CCR) to oversee the operation of the vast majority of RWE’s UK Offshore portfolio, helping to cement Grimsby’s role as a leading location for the UK’s offshore wind sector. RWE announced the creation of the Grimsby Hub back in 2021, marking a major strategic commitment to the UK’s east coast. As well as Triton Knoll, RWE’s 1.4 gigawatt (GW) Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, currently under construction, will also locate its operations and maintenance activities to the new hub in the future. In total, RWE expects the new facility will accommodate around 140 RWE employees, with potentially around 70 new local jobs created, plus indirect jobs required in support. The Grimsby Hub will also enable the company to strengthen its relationship with the region’s businesses and local communities, by committing to a longer-term presence in the area. The location of the Grimsby Hub was chosen because of its proximity to existing and future projects and its deep-water quayside, which is suited to the use of Service Operations Vessels (SOVs). Construction is due to commence shortly and will take around one year to complete. Once construction has finished, the new facility will include a joint control room offering 24/7 monitoring of multiple sites, new shared office space, and separate warehouse facilities. Guy Middleton, RWE general manager for the Grimsby Hub said: “We are thrilled to have Hobson & Porter onboard to complete the extensive construction works required to extend the existing Triton Knoll facilities. It is great to have been able to award the contract to a local firm which brings a wealth of experience to the project. We can’t wait for construction to finish and provide even more locally based, skilled jobs for the region.” Hobson & Porter is an award-winning construction firm operating across the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire region and shares a lot of the same principles as RWE including being community focused, environmentally pro-active and they have a longstanding commitment to develop skills and training. Joe Booth, business development director for Hobson & Porter said: “We are delighted to be working with RWE on this exciting project and continuing our strong affiliation with both the Humber-based offshore wind industry and the town of Grimsby. This project will take our business revenues from the offshore wind industry beyond £25million in recent years having previously delivered the adjacent East Coast Hub for Orsted and the Aura Innovation centre in Hessle for The University of Hull; plus a number of other smaller projects. “For a local, family-owned business like ours, this is testament to the vast array of business opportunities the offshore wind sector is creating for local businesses, especially when you consider that not one of our 120 local employees have ever had to step offshore to attain or deliver these projects. We look forward to seeing this one, once complete.” RWE is a leading player in renewables and expects to invest more than €50 billion gross by 2030 to grow its green core business, globally, with £15 billion earmarked for the UK. During 2022, the 856 megawatts (MW) Triton Knoll offshore wind farm became fully operational, while RWE’s 1.4 GW Sofia offshore wind farm is now well into construction. RWE is also involved in four of the UK’s seven offshore wind extension projects and recently signed Agreements for Lease for their two Dogger Bank South offshore wind farm sites. Meanwhile the company is also exploring floating wind projects including in the Celtic Sea region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Net-zero technology firm, IES, has collaborated with Dublin City Council on a Digital Twin project to identify how Dublin’s social housing stock can be decarbonised in the most efficient manner in terms of both operational energy and embodied energy. Using its world-leading digital twin technology, IES carried out modelling of three residential blocks located on Lower Dominick Street. It assessed the full carbon impact and efficiency of four renovation strategies, over three different time periods, to regenerate the vacant buildings built in 1962. The strategies align with the council’s climate targets for 2030, 2050 and beyond. The project took a whole-life carbon approach, taking into account both embodied and operational carbon. Consideration of embodied carbon, which is the emissions associated with construction and materials throughout the whole life-cycle of a building, is a critical part of sustainable building analysis that is often overlooked. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a building, which uses real data, and physics-based simulations to behave as it would in real life. Powered by dynamic simulation modelling software, the digital twin models were used to identify which strategy, from shallow retrofit to demolition and rebuild, would result in the biggest reduction in whole-life carbon emissions. In order to determine the strategy which would lower emissions most significantly, the main sources of energy consumption were identified by calibrating data from existing energy bills of the social housing site. The results are included in the Dublin City Council Climate Resilient Housing Report, which highlights that over a 60-year life period, the best renovation strategy determined for social housing was Deep Retrofit. Under this strategy, each residential block can achieve around an 85% reduction in cumulative emissions by carrying out a deep retrofit. Because of the study, Dublin City Council can make evidence-backed decisions when developing the most optimal whole-life carbon regeneration strategy for the refurbishment of ageing, social housing buildings. The project was funded by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Public Sector Innovation Fund, with IES and DCC in partnership winning this project to create the digital twin. The results of the project will help Dublin City Council to meet emissions reduction and retrofitting targets for social housing, alongside housing delivery targets. As more targets are imposed by the government to mitigate climate change, new systems must be developed to assess the strategies for derelict buildings. Following its success, it’s hoped that the study can be scaled to other sites across Dublin and beyond to estimate the carbon impact of renovation projects. Don McLean, founder and CEO of IES, said: “Retrofitting vs demolition continues to be a widespread debate, particularly as higher targets are imposed to tackle climate change. With around 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 likely already built, retrofitting has a key role to play in decarbonising our built environment and driving energy efficiency. Whilst demolition is sometimes unavoidable, it increases emissions, through embodied carbon and materials required for rebuilding. “We hope that the results of this project will help local authorities to determine the best strategy for decarbonising derelict buildings and meeting targets. It’s a step in the right direction to making vacant buildings in Ireland as carbon neutral as possible, and one that we hope other councils will soon replicate.” Sabrina Dekker, climate change co-ordinator at Dublin City Council, said: “This project has demonstrated the results that can be achieved through working collaboratively, exchanging knowledge to drive innovation and meet targets. IES’s digital twin technology has enabled us to confirm the importance of retrofitting to reduce our emissions and we hope that the results can be utilised to inform future projects.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
DSM, the global purpose-led science-based company active in health, nutrition and bioscience and BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design, engineering and project delivery company, have signed a contract to begin the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) phase of an innovative new production facility in Dalry, Scotland. The new facility will be the first large-scale production plant for Bovaer®. Bovaer® is DSM’s innovative feed additive to reduce intestinal methane emissions from cattle by approximately 30% in dairy cows and 45% on average for beef cattle. With this innovation, farmers can significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and thereby make a positive contribution in the fight against climate change. DSM first collaborated with BakerHicks on the initial concept stage, which began in 2021. They were appointed Principal Designer in 2021, responsible for developing and coordinating the concept and basic design. BakerHicks will now take the project through the detailed engineering, procurement and construction phases, up to handover and commissioning, which is expected to take place in 2025. They have provided multi-disciplinary design and engineering services throughout, including process and mechanical; piping; electrical, control and instrumentation; architecture; civil and structural; building services; HSE; project and construction management; and procurement. The BakerHicks team, a collaboration of local expertise from their UK offices and specialist process knowledge from their Swiss operations, have worked closely with DSM throughout. This included producing a fully integrated, intelligent model to accommodate the complex process technology into the Building Information Management (BIM) model. DSM broke ground in November 2022, and construction on site has since commenced. BakerHicks are currently finalising the detailed design for the project, supporting the procurement phase and will soon appoint construction contractors and equipment vendors, with an emphasis on local specialists and suppliers to further ensure sustainable working practices. The development of the Bovaer® plant at DSM’s Dalry site has been supported by the Scottish Government through Scottish Enterprise, the national agency supporting economic development and innovation, and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, attended the site’s groundbreaking ceremony on 30th November 2022. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
