Another ‘Outstanding’ rating was achieved by VolkerFitzpatrick under the latest BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ‘New Construction 2018’ guidance, for University College London’s (UCL) world leading Person-Environment-Activity Research lab (PEARL). This is the UK's first 'fully-fitted' BREEAM Outstanding building under new guidance.
The completed facility in Dagenham is a state-of-the-art reconfigurable space, which can house life-sized simulated environments, such as a train station or high street, creating controlled conditions in which researchers can analyse people's interactions.
BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability rating system for assessing the environmental impact of new non-domestic buildings. The organisation’s ‘New Construction 2018 update’ introduced new technical requirements during the construction specification process, including measuring unregulated and embodied energy; transport; health and wellbeing developments; and ensuring robustness in a changing climate. As of 2018, only one per cent of buildings achieved the ‘Outstanding’ rating1.
For the UCL PEARL development, VolkerFitzpatrick surpassed the contractual obligation of a ‘Very Good’ rating, to achieve ‘Outstanding’. The research facility scored 85.9 per cent and maximum marks in multiple categories. To gain an Outstanding BREEAM rating, the UCL PEARL project team fully embraced sustainability and embedded it into the earliest concept design stage and continued as a key driver throughout the detailed design and construction stages.
The Outstanding rating was achieved for the facility over several areas, including:
Stuart Deverill, divisional managing director for VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “This project pushed the boundaries of what’s expected in so many ways, so it’s fantastic to see our environmental diligence recognised with an Outstanding BREEAM certification.”
Nick Tyler, Chadwick Professor of Civil Engineering and Director of the UCL PEARL facility said: “Being the first completed building with a 2018-standard “Outstanding” award matches the overall aims of PEARL to provide the innovative research to enable the UK to have infrastructure and cities fit for people in the twenty-first century and beyond, by ensuring that the building we use is at the highest level of sustainability in its construction and operation”.
Work on the UK’s longest railway bridge ramped up this week as HS2 began production of 1,000 enormous concrete segments...
VolkerFitzpatrick was proud lead sponsor of the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) Bright Futures Student...
VolkerFitzpatrick is celebrating after receiving three International Safety Awards from the British Safety Council this year.