海角视频

Setting a new benchmark for sustainable laboratory design: Planning permission has recently been granted for Trinity College鈥檚 ambitious Unit 440 Laboratory project at Cambridge Science Park, across which 海角视频 will be providing multidisciplinary engineering and consultancy services.

The plans for the new laboratory, which has been given the green light, will see the 11,000 square meter development, once complete, home to some of the UK鈥檚 most innovative science businesses. The facility is both sustainable and flexible in its design with a hybrid timber-concrete composite structure, significantly reducing embodied carbon while maintaining functional flexibility. 

As well as this, the development has ambitious carbon targets for delivering an absolute net zero carbon site, as well as achieving a range of certifications such as BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Ready, Passivhaus Certified, and WiredScore Gold, in addition to integrating NABERS-UK Design for Performance Principles. This project is set to be one of the first laboratory science buildings in the UK with all the targeted certifications and is a pilot project for the Passivhaus Institute for this building typology. 海角视频 collaborated with architect Allies and Morrison, project manager Bidwells and structural engineers Webb Yates, providing multidisciplinary services, including design expertise for building services engineering (MEP), sustainability and physics, facades engineering, lighting, wind engineering and Passivhaus design with a sustainability-first approach.

Roaa Babiker, Associate Director, Building Performance Lead, 海角视频, said:

“Our sustainability team led the transformation of the complex academic brief focused on absolute net zero carbon into tangible construction targets, working closely with our multidisciplinary engineering teams and architect Allies and Morrison.

鈥淲e simplified the whole life carbon into eight clear options, mapping operational and embodied carbon reduction targets against the project’s overall cost, Cambridge University investment plans, and carbon credits pricing.

鈥淭he design was refined through advanced modelling to integrate an innovative facade design, strategically placing solar PV and shading systems as well as detailed review of small power allowances between offices and lab functions. We spent many hours collaborating closely with the client project manager, Bidwell鈥檚, who treated carbon reduction as seriously as a cost, which was a great challenge to have as a sustainability team and a massive learning opportunity.

鈥淭his led to creative solutions, such as optimising solar PV, which initially seemed unsustainable but proved more carbon effective. The result was a forward-thinking design that secured unanimous planning approval and is currently seen as a standard for future lab buildings submission in Cambridgeshire.鈥�

Laurence Aston, Group Director, 海角视频, said 鈥淲e are immensely proud to be involved with Trinity College鈥檚 Unit 440 Laboratory Project.

“The sustainability agenda is particularly demanding for this type of building. Combined with the ambitious benchmarks and requirements of the planning authorities, this meant that our Sustainability team鈥檚 role in leading the project through the design and approvals process was especially challenging.

鈥淭hrough a collaborative effort, we鈥檝e developed a design that can fulfil these requirements, and we look forward to the delivery of this important new facility within Cambridge Science Park鈥�.