Rethinking the BIG Shed

Rethinking the ‘Big Shed’ Seven principles towards an alternative typology Volume 1

Designscape Architects

Rethinking the ‘Big Shed’ Seven principles for an alternative typology www.dscape.co.uk This guide is intended as a primer identifying the drivers which are now challenging the existing “Big Shed “solutions. It explores the opportunities presented by new and emerging technologies in Designing, Building and occupying large open plan buildings, whatever the function .

This guide is aimed at: Businesses that are considering moving / expanding.

Developers who see a site which is problematic and doesn’t fit the normal mould.

Agents who want to promote a difficult site.

People who are looking to the next 50 years.

Businesses and organisations who have a long term interest in the occupation of the building.

Building occupiers who value people and want to look after them and optimise their productivity.

Councils and planners who need new models to deal with the shifts that will be created by the planning and economic challenges of future technologies and social changes.

01 Introduction

05

02 What is a Big Shed?

07

03 Drivers for Change

09

04 Design and construction responses

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Redesigning the Structural Frame

Building Form

14

Thinking Outside the Box

Envelope and Structure - a Holistic Approach

18

Brand Identity

22

Sustainability

24

New Typologies

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05 Avoiding the Pitfalls - Designscape Briefing Document

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Contents

Introduction The term “Big Sheds” is used to cover a number of diverse building uses, but the actual buildings have, over the last few decades, developed into something which is very similar in terms of building structure and fabric, regardless of the use of the building.

A “Big Shed” could be a manufacturing building, or a storage and distribution warehouse, or a data centre or a retail or sports building.

But they are almost universally made from the same kit of parts - a steel portal frame with profiled metal cladding - almost a universal standard.

But there are some significant drivers for change emerging, prompting us to re-evaluate this standard approach and using the tools which are now available to us to make it possible to propose new approaches to the standard assumptions.

In this guide, we have examined the commercial, environmental and political drivers for the reinvention of the design of the Big Shed. In response to these drivers of change, a seven point design manifesto is presented which we believe promotes a more adaptable, sustainable, economically viable and future proof approach to the new opportunities for Big Sheds.

The BIG Shed

Big Data

Leisure

Warehouse

Retail

Innovation

What is a Big Shed?

These buildings commonly contain such diverse activities as: Manufacturing and Workplace Storage and Distribution Data Storage Retail and Leisure environments Sports Buildings Agriculture and Horticulture Waste Management New typologies need to evolve to address changing demands, such as city edge freight consolidation combined with housing ( where the competition for land is intense between different uses) or commercial buildings combined with horticulture and agriculture ( where there is a sustainability imperative to reduce food miles).

PUBLIC AREAS TECHNICAL SPACES

SITING

HOLISTIC

HOLISTIC DESIGN DESIGN WORK SPACES

BUILDING FORM

COMMUNAL SPACES

BUSINESS VALUES

Factors influencing the design and construction of the ‘Big Shed’

Park Grounds Resource Recovery Park Designscape Architects.

Waste to Energy facility, Wiltshire.

Drivers for change

01

Technical Innovation Design, Construction, Operation.

We have identified the primary drivers which will change the way that we design and build commercial buildings over the next few decades. These drivers all overlap to some degree but they are all moving us in the same general direction, changing the nature of the traditional “Big Shed” and making buildings which are better able to serve our needs into the future.

Rapid changes in Design and Manufacturing capability, driven by the computing and IT revolution is beginning to have a profound impact on the way we can design with greater optimisation without incurring the cost penalties which used to apply to the bespoke solution.

In the world of warehousing and distribution alone, innovations in cloud computing, e-commerce, omni-channel management, big data and last-mile logistics driven by ever changing customer demands are reshaping today’s distribution facility. Market forces are requiring distributors to seek new ways to move larger quantities of their product more quickly and efficiently to the customer.

Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) control and immediately report the movement of material up to 500% more efficiently than humans; providing a critical link in the chain of information systems that control work-in-process, manufacturing schedules, and distribution. AS/RS warehouses are typically designed for maximum storage and minimum personnel on site with a lower temperature operation, minimal heat and light, and work more efficiently with a tall structure and precision level floors.

02

Site Availability PLANNING CONSTRAINTS, LAND PRICES, LAND USES As operations become larger and suitable sites become harder to find, planning permission becomes an ever more important consideration.

Particular concerns include; sustainability and job creation issues, visual impact and the effect on adjacent road networks and residential areas. Many local authorities do not perceive distribution centres as significant generators of employment, although this is not always the case as some picking and sorting processes can be more labour intensive than modern manufacturing. However, the market is polarising with other trends such as new ‘flex’ warehouses, in well-landscaped industrial park settings, catering for smaller often multi-tenant businesses that do not require exposure to heavy retail traffic. A particular challenge will be to find sites for quick turnaround “freight consolidation” facilities in urban edge locations - where there is ever increasing competition for sites.

03

Transport CONGESTION, POLLUTION, LOGISTICS NETWORKS From automation of delivery services to self-driving vehicles, our cities are about to go through some far reaching changes in the transport of people and goods. This is driven in part by the rapid development of the digital world, and in part by the desire or need for cleaner air in our cities.

One trend that’s emerging is the consolidation of distribution systems into fewer, but larger regional facilities that sit on city peripheries. However, not all companies are consolidating their distribution centres. For smaller suppliers of goods there is a growing need to be able to send goods via third party carriers to a freight consolidation facility where bigger loads can be broken down into smaller packages and distributed with other suppliers in smaller, cleaner vehicles. For example, electric delivery vehicles in city centres, or drone deliveries. Experts suggest that new logistical handling systems and greater outsourcing (in particular the increased use of third-party logistics providers) will continue to drive this trend.

04

Corporate Identity BRANDING, CSR, EMPLOYMENT WELFARE Many companies appreciate that their buildings are an important opportunity to project a positive symbol of their brand identity in an increasingly competitive global market. Aesthetically and conceptually this is where good design can play a critical role.

Corporate social responsibility and staff welfare are imperative ethical concerns to consider in projecting a positive corporate identity and are increasingly recognised as important for the future of corporations. As the public, employees and employers are all demanding more, the bar is being raised to meet a higher criteria.

Intelligent design and construction techniques are working with this agenda to ensure that it can be delivered cost effectively.

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Science Studios - Designscape Architects.

Art production, storage and Gallery facilities., Gloucestershire.

05

Sustainability DESIGN, MATERIALS, ENERGY USE, LOCATION The sustainability agenda is being driven by an increasing awareness of the implications of global warming and pollution, which is now widely recognized as a present and immediate danger to our quality of life. But this agenda also offers new opportunities in a range of different ways. The construction industry is the world’s third largest source of greenhouse emissions for new development.

Improving a building’s performance not only reduces lifetime running costs but it is also good for brand identity and meeting a company’s corporate social responsibilities goals. The regulatory framework is becoming more onerous, but still lags behind the other more commercial motivations, in turn being driven by local planning constraints, and corporate demands for a more sustainable operation.

Data centres are an extreme example as they use a significant amount of energy and as such present a far greater opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint while promising a rapid payback investment in energy saving systems. Increasingly new-build data centres are registering for environmental assessments such as BREEAM or LEED; there is a similar rise in demand for co-location data centres, where the need to attract clients can involve more than just providing a data rack and power supply.

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Humans EXPECTATIONS FOR BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENTS It is no longer tolerated for people to work in poor conditions and is in the interests of employers to ensure that they have an efficient and productive workforce. The humans involved in a commercial operation are usually the biggest cost for an employer, so the ability to attract the best people, improve staff retention, improve productivity and reduce absenteeism are all key in motivating employers to improve their workplaces. An improved working environment also speaks to the company’s public image and reputation.

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A New Perspective - Design and Construction Responses DESIGN BRIEF A Manifesto in seven points

Park Grounds Resource Recovery Park Designscape Architects.

Waste to Energy facility, Wiltshire.

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Park Grounds - Waste to Energy Aside from its inherent sustainability credentials, recent innovations in engineered timber systems offer better performance

01

Re designing the structural frame Advances in digital design technology - parametric modelling - coupled with digital manufacturing (automated CNC cutting robots) allow completely bespoke, complex and sophisticated forms to be designed and made at little or no cost premium. We are no longer constrained by the need for repetition in order to be cost effective. Greater efficiencies can be achieved by optimising the design of a building to better fit the site, to reduce the allowance for wind loading, or more accurately fit the internal functional requirements. This approach results in a reduction in materials and costs and a building which is more efficient throughout its lifespan.

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Timber structures are generally now able to compete on cost with steel for spans greater than 12m. Aside from its inherent sustainability credentials, recent innovations in engineered timber systems offer better performance, design flexibility and in some cases larger spans than steel. Laminated veneer lumber has been proven to be cheaper than steel in some applications and in many others no more costly. Timber also provides advantages in changing perceptions of the building which can be appealing against the ‘standard metal box’ solution.

- John Spittle, Weihag

“

“

If the roof is clear spanning less than 12m steel is likely to be cheaper than Glulam, but if it’s a longer span Glulam is usually cheaper: On the continent Wiehag’s bread and butter work is factory and logistic hall roofs and the clients are doing this mainly on commercial grounds rather than trying to make an eco-statement.

Science Museum - One Collection.

Designscape Architects A basic form and structural frame inherently more efficient and stronger than a steel portal frame.

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02

Building Form In the world of logistics and materials handling , driven by greater efficiency in materials and handling systems, there is a trend towards higher racking and smaller footprint buildings, particularly where the materials units are predictable in size.

This approach is only made possible by the advances in making super flat, joint free concrete floors. With careful mix design and crack controlling fibre reinforcement - rather than the traditional mesh reinforcement, it is possible to cast very large joint free slabs.

Taller buildings may incur some additional planning challenges, although this could be offset by the reduced site area and consequent planning gains, for example, reduced land take and surface water runoff . If well designed, taller buildings can present an opportunity for a distinct and positive corporate image.

Nephon Pharmaceuticals, West Columbia USA Racking used as building structure.

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- The Shed of the Future, Deloitte

“

“

Requirements for what takes place within a warehouse environment are changing and having a big impact on building specifications. Increasingly, Big Sheds will have to accommodate a wider range of activities, cater for more people and utilise a greater amount of data, technology and automation. They will become more tailored to individual occupiers.

Science Studios - Designscape Architects.

Art production, storage and Gallery facilities., Gloucestershire.

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20,000 sqm 2:1 Ratio = Perimeter 600m

2 x 10,000 sqm

= Perimeter 700 sqm

20,000 sqm 3:2 Ratio = Perimeter 576m

Circle 20,000 sqm = Perimeter 501m

Energy and food self sufficient town, Wiltshire.

Designscape Architects - Concept / research project design for a scheme to use surplus waste and CO2 from waste to energy plant to create a food and energy self sufficient town.

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Exploring non rectangular geometry.

Right: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects.

Worlds largest waste handling building, China.

03

Thinking Outside the Box Freedom from the presumption that a building has to be rectangular can offer numerous advantages; factors such as wind-loading, flexibility, site constraints and catering of non-linear production methods are enabling designers to explore other forms. Digital design / manufacturing methods allow much more sophisticated forms to be used without the cost penalty usually associated with the “bespoke� solution.

A curved building footprint - even just with radiused corners - improves the area : perimeter ratio, and can make a significant reduction in the wind loads on the facade, again reducing structural costs.

Placing a building on a site not only creates the internal spaces of a building, but will also define external spaces around the building. So the placement of a building on a site almost always presents opportunities to create external spaces which add value to the occupier, whether that is for parking and services or social / recreational spaces for the building occupiers.

A different approach to the roofscape of our commercial buildings can also add value, by reducing surface water runoff, or by making the roofscape useable for other functions.

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04

Envelope and structure; a holistic approach

6m

wind load

6m

wind load

It seems obvious that a well designed building will consider all of the design parameters and drivers together - not only the requirements of the brief, the site constraints and the budget, but also the lifetime cost, the environmental performance and the quality of the spaces (internal and external) that will be occupied by people.

The traditional portal frame has limited capacity to support suspended loads from above and relies upon columns within the space to achieve large roof spans. More effective roof forms can be designed to allow greater efficiency and flexibility and at the same time also addressing issues such as lifetime costs and maintenance requirements.

The three dimensional shape of the building can maximise the volume to envelope ratio, and minimize common problems or risks such as roof leakage. Careful consideration of materials and issues such as building mass can improve internal comfort while reducing energy, maintenance costs and dramatically increasing the lifespan of a building.

vapour control and airtightness line

hygroscopic materials

minimum wind load

+/-

perimeter insulation

mobilise ground as structural support and thermal mass 20

=

Efficient building structure and envelope.

Designscape Architects - Science Museum “One Collection� long term storage facility

arch can support hanging load

additional storage space

8m

6m

max 70m+

valley gutter

parapet gutter

6m

8m

max 30 - 40m

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Designscape Architects - Exactaform, Coventry

05

Brand Identity In an increasingly global market, many clients appreciate the opportunities that their buildings present in projecting a positive symbol of their brand identity. Good design can play a critical role both aesthetically, in the skin of the building, and in a deeper way, changing public perception positively towards a company and the values they present. Even in a building which is not actually open to the general public, commercial buildings are often located in highly visible locations such as close to motorways, and therefore present a great opportunity to make a public statement.

The environmental credentials of a building can also be quite visible and will help a company to establish and reinforce a positive public perception of their brand.

Staff welfare and corporate social responsibility are imperative ethical concerns to consider in order to project a positive corporate identity and are recognised as important for the future of successful corporations, as well as enhancing productivity.

Planning requirements are becoming increasingly complex and demanding. And with land becoming increasingly difficult to find, the quality of a building’s design will have an important bearing on the outcome - or at very least the speed of planning decisions. .

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Royal Wootton Bassett energy and food self suffi

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Sustainability

Key Waste C02

Climate change is the single biggest challenge that the human race faces today. The UK Government has recognized this and pledged that the UK will become a net Zero Carbon economy by 2050. We have no option but to put our faith in our ability to adapt and survive.

Technology is evolving at a breathtaking pace - traditional repetitive and manual jobs are increasingly being done by machines - which will make us more productive - and many of the jobs of the future, high quality, high skilled jobs have yet to be invented. The “Green Economy” is seen as a key growth area, and the UK needs to be leading the world in this new paradigm.

So the buildings we design and build now need to be ambitious in their intent, and to meet this agenda we need to use all the tools at our disposal to make them as low carbon and as resilient as we can. The traditional “Big Shed” is essentially a managed problem, deteriorating from the day it is completed. But with clearer design thinking it is possible to turn our commercial buildings into a much more positive and long lasting asset.

Heat Energy Produce

Population : 13,000

One person produces 1kg of waste per day

Park grounds produces enough CO2 to help grow plants in up to 30 ha of greenhouses

25m2 of greenhouse can sustain the average person. So 32 ha is sufficient to feed Royal Wootton Bassett

Reducing energy and using more renewable energy is a key starting point and it is possible now to make very low energy and even carbon positive buildings.

These design possibilities tend to run in parallel alongside many of the other positive objectives that we have identified, such as reducing lifecycle costs and improving working environments for building users.

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Rooftop farming - is becoming a reality in major urb employment and benefits to the local microclimate -

fficiency Energy and Food Self Sufficiency Designscape Architects - 2030 masterplan for Royal Wootton Bassett Using waste to generate energy , heat and CO2 which are then used in food production and integrated into the local economy.

Co m

mu

nit

y In ter e

st C om

pa

ny

1kg of waste can produce 12.5MJ of energy

Community interest company (CIC) will benefit Royal Wootton Bassett

ban areas, with benefits in reducing food miles, local - Brooklyn, NYC.

format

STRUCTURE|DESIGN|GEOMETRY|RESEARCH

ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT 2030

www.forma tenginee rs.com

Aquaponics and hydroponic food production can be integrated in urban areas.

Benefits include reduction in land take, food miles and use of pesticides.

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07

Diagrams to illustrate new Big Shed typologies

New Typologies The “Drivers for Change” identified earlier in this document will undoubtedly challenge the old building typology assumptions.

decisions ranging from regional planning to the design of individual buildings.

The increasing competition for sites is already evident, so some smart solutions will be called for in order to make building viable despite rising land costs - There is no technical reason why, for example, an edge of city freight consolidation warehouse operation could not include housing built above it. There is a need for a change in thinking by the funders and in traditional tenure arrangements, but these things are already beginning to happen. The high cost of housing is prompting developers to think of building housing specifically for the rental market - and this change in thinking is having the benefit of raising quality as it is in the landlord’s interest to

In order to survive and thrive, and to gain a competitive advantage, some lateral thinking is required. With more unconventional thinking about building typology we could make scarce sites more viable. Mixing uses such as housing and storage, or waste recycling with data storage and horticulture. Some examples may include:

have happy tenants, who are invested in the long term and create a community.

The changes in technology, and the changes in the type of work that we will be doing in the future are all having an impact on the types of working environment we need. The need to live more sustainably and desire to reduce pollution and travel are all beginning to influence a broad range of

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• • • • • • • • •

Taller buildings with smaller footprints “Odd “ shaped buildings which are a better fit to the site constraints Use of different design and manufacturing tools as well as different materials and building technologies Student housing above a supermarket or warehouse A data centre adjacent to a waste to energy centre A city centre school with playspace on the roof Mixing city centre offices with housing, leisure and entertainment uses Parkland on the roof of large warehouses Manufacturing businesses in residential areas

BIG’S Waste-to-Energy Plant, Copenhagen – Incorporating a ski slope and Public Park on the roof of a waste to energy plant.

Agripolis – the world’s largest urban farm, Paris – A 14,000m² urban farm on the rooftop of a six-storey building.

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PUBLIC AREAS TECHNICAL SPACES

BRIEFING DOCUMENT

WORK SPACES

SITING

1

BUILDING FORM

Gardiner Brothers

COMMUNAL SPACES

BUSINESS VALUES

Designscape Architects

Avoiding the Pitfalls Designscape Briefing Document

PUBLIC AREAS TECHNICAL SPACES

WORK SPACES

2

COMMUNAL SPACES

The biggest mistake that a Client organisation can make is approaching designers too late in the process: The Designscape Briefing document is intended as a primer, to help potential clients to pose the questions they need to ask and to help in the formulation of the brief. Ideally this process should be started before a site has even been identified.

Clients undertake building projects for a variety of reasons, but generally to fulfil at least one specific need; need for growth, relocation, expansion to a new location, problems or inadequacies with an existing premises, changing needs or requirements for the users. The scale and type of project can vary significantly and each project will to a greater or lesser degree have unique characteristics. Nevertheless with each and every project there is the potential opportunity not only to fulfil a specific immediate need, but to consider improvements to benefit the wider organisation or users as a whole as a result of the process of change already anticipated. This document is intended to provide a primer to explore the scope for improvement on the basis that existing arrangements need not necessarily be the optimum solution for future activities.

During the early stages of project development, it is unlikely that detailed requirements for specific rooms and departments can be identified, these will emerge through design and briefing development, however it should be possible to identify high level, strategic aspirations and opportunities and consider which may be appropriate or desirable at the start of the project.

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SITING

BUILDING FORM

BUSINESS VALUES

PUBLIC AREAS

SITING

3 COMMUNAL SPACES

TECHNICAL SPACES

WORK SPACES

COMMUNAL SPACES

BUILDING FORM

BUSINESS VALUES

SITING

4

BUILDING FORM

BUSINESS VALUES

Business values

PUBLIC AREAS

Determine the wider business values to inform content and specification for the building.

TECHNICAL SPACES

SITING

HOLISTIC

HOLISTIC DESIGN DESIGN WORK SPACES

BUILDING FORM

COMMUNAL SPACES

BUSINESS VALUES

Siting Utilise the site to serve the priorities of the business and widest functions of the development.

Work spaces

Determine the spaces and inter relationships needed to fulfil the various activities of the workplace.

TECHNICAL SPACES

WORK SPACES

5

COMMUNAL SPACES

BUILDING FORM

BUSINESS VALUES

Public areas Understand the relationship between building, visitors and wider public.

PUBLIC AREAS

Communal spaces Find ways to encourage better working relationships.

6

WORK SPACES

COMMUNAL SPACES

SITING

BUILDING FORM

BUSINESS VALUES

Technical spaces The largest element of the brief will have the biggest impact upon the result building. Coordinated understanding required.

PUBLIC AREAS

SITING

Building form Should be a reflection of the whole brief.

7

WORK SPACES

COMMUNAL SPACES

BUILDING FORM

BUSINESS VALUES

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Designscape Architects Bath Brewery Toll Bridge Road Bath BA1 7DE

t:

01225 858500

e: enquiries@dscape.co.uk w: www.dscape.co.uk

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RETHINKING THE ‘BIG SHED’ Designscape 2019 edition Designscape Architects