Shell Beams
Construction
Concrete floor being poured.
CMM's Dave Fullbrook says that the building concept is based on the idea of a filter, acting to control the adverse effects of sun, noise and wind. It comprises a biofilter of deciduous trees, a facade articulated with sunscreens, and a building form offering wrap around protection."This approach develops the building with active spaces to the front and sheltered spaces suitable for passive control behind."
COP Outcome development and evaluation
An efficient building fabric with good levels of thermal insulation, and sunshading and lightshelves at the external perimeter, should minimise heat losses in winter and heat gains in summer, while maximising outside awareness and daylighting and controlling glare.
"We're also seeking to provide an excellent working environment to encourage high levels of health and productivity by virtue of good air quality, thermal comfort, daylighting, outside awareness, personal control and space planning," says Mr Fullbrook.
Significant cost savings were anticipated from effective natural climate control and innovative ventilation strategies, despite the large numbers of computers expected to be in operation in the complex. The aim is to provide a "long-life, loose-fit and low energy building" with an appropriate balance between capital and operating costs, suited to university use.
Architectus (with CHS Royal Associates) used the same integrated planning approach working with Mr Fullbrook (then at Arup Associates) and Mr Boardman (then at Holmes Consulting) on the award winning Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Sciences building at Canterbury University.
