Liverpool Everyman Theatre Case Study | Technologies Part A+B

Saif Hajazi &rchitecture

Technologies 3

Part A + B Submission

Part A

Building Case Study: Liverpool Everyman Theatre

Part B: Technologies Discourse

March 2023

BA3 Technologies Part A

Energy

Environmental Concepts

Natural ventilation Wind Tunnel EffectVentilation Inlets On the Eastern Facade

Environmental Design Strategies

The Everyman has a BREEAM excellent rating and prioritizes energy efficiency with LED light fixtures, which require less energy for illumination. Power is centralized in the basement and distributed via cables to the LEDs throughout the building. However, natural daylight could be utilised more effectively to further reduce dependence on artificial lighting, particularly on the north and south façades where there is a large dependence on artificial lighting. Further measures can be taken such as installing light shelves, further maximising natural daylighting.

Interior Environmental Analysis

Solar Shading - Summer and Winter Strategies

Summer - Daytime Summer - Night Winter - DaytimeWinter - Night

Throughout the summer, the Everyman Theatre employs a natural ventilation strategy to maximise user comfort. Natural air enters the building through inlets on Arad Street at the back of the structure and flows through plenum spaces beneath the building's floors. The air is then channelled beneath the theatre seats, providing attendees with a cool ventilated breeze. The air is then warmed by the auditorium's occupants, causing it to ascend and eventually be extracted outside of the building by ventilation extraction chimneys. As Arad street is very narrow and between two tall buildings, this creates a wind tunnel effect, further driving air into the rear of the building.

Constraints - Stage Lighting - Overheating

Being an Auditorium, the biggest constraint is managing the heat source created by the specialised stage lighting. The stage utilises 140kW of lighting, with 65kW minimum during a performance. Alongside this, with a capacity of over 400 occupants in the auditorium, this adds an additional 50kW of heat. To combat this, the natural ventilation strategy plays a huge part in ensuring user comfort, as it supplies a constant source of cool air to the audience, minimising the overheating caused by the stage lighting and the audience.

Interior Environment

Western Facade Solar Shading Solar Shading Interior Perspective (Render)

The theatre in the Everyman consumes a significant amount of energy due to its specialised stage lighting, which amounts to 140kW of energy usage. However, the Everyman ensures that all of its energy is generated from renewable resources offsite, thereby minimising unsustainable energy usage. The theatre lighting is likely powered by a power distribution unit (PDU), which efficiently distributes power to lighting fixtures and equipment through a series of outlets, allowing for more efficient and organised power distribution to various lighting elements whilst incorporating safety features such as circuit breakers and ground fault interrupters to ensure occupant safety.

Power Distribution Unit

Stage Stage Light Controller

Plumbing, Drainage & Rainwater Recycling

During daytime summer conditions, the solar shading panels remain shut, to avoid overheating through solar gain. The natural ventilation provides a cool breeze to building occupants.

At night in summer, the solar shading panels are opened,allowing cool air to ventilate into the building. Minimal heat is released from the thermal mass as the panels remain closed during the day

Building Orientation Solstice Comparison

Summer Solstice Winter Solstice

A major solar shading feature that significantly alters the interior environmental quality is the aluminium solar shading panels that cover the western facade. These provide user comfort to the occupants inside, limiting the amount of evening sunlight and minimising solar glare and overheating. This is most effective in summer and spring equinoxes and seasons, where there are much longer daylight hours.

Evaluations

Net Zero Operational Carbon

ïThe reclamation of materials such as reclaimed bricks from the existing site lowers the embodied carbon from the production of new brickwork, whilst also preserving the heritage of the site. ïWhilst the building isn’t net zero, the architects are dedicated to lowering the buildings impact on the environment. Since 2010, the Everyman theatre purchases energy from 100% renewable sources, meaning electricity used within the building is zero carbon.

ïThe building relies on a naturally ventilated system rather on mechanical systems, lowering the operational carbon of the structure.

ïResponsive local controls are provided through the solar shading system, allowing for the operation of the shades to prevent internal overheating and sunlight glare, maximising user comfort.

ïUltra low energy appliances are prioritised, particularly in lighting, where low energy LED fittings are installed throughout the building, lowering energy costs and operational carbon.

Good Health and Well-being

ïThe building utilises the orientation of the site effectively, to use operable shading and window placement to maximise the amount of natural daylight, bettering user comfort

ïThe use of natural ventilation through vent openings and stack ventilation methods provides a high level of air quality by maximising natural air in spring and summer seasons especially.

Sustainable Water Cycle

ïAs a part of Everyman approach to sustainable water use, the building utilises rainwater collection and greywater recycling, which is used in the toilets of the theatre. As a result, 45% of WC water is directly from rainwater harvesting.

ïHot water is generated from a Combined Heat and Power Unit to meet the demand for year round hot water usage, in sinks, kitchens and showers throughout the building.

ïThe average water use in the Everyman between 2015-18 was 4131/m2/yr. This is 40% lower than the Julies Performing Arts Benchmark for 2015, portraying significant water savings.

The Everyman building has multiple levels, so a sophisticated plumbing system connects all water-dependent areas to a central boiler and freshwater source. Checking the plans,the basement likely houses the boiler in the plant room. Heated freshwater pipes travel through plenum floors and risers on each floor to reach necessary spaces like kitchens and toilets. To reduce the number of pipes needed, toilets and kitchens on each floor are stacked on top of one another, resulting in a simplified, linear system. The Everyman also utilises a rainwater collection system, grey water is collected from the roof, and is transported through pipes down to toilet tanks, and as a result, 45% of W.C water is usage is directly from harvested rainwater.

General Arrangement Services Distribution

Possible Lighting Light Fittings

Input: Fresh Water From Supplier Output: Foul Water to Sewage Works Stale Air Fresh Air STALE AIR OUT FRESH AIR IN NATURAL AIR THROUGH WINDOW OPENINGS Sprinklers Smoke Detector Loudspeaker Fire Exit

Plant Rooms, Mechanical Systems & Ventilation

The Everyman building has achieved an excellent BREAM rating for efficiency, largely due to its natural ventilation system. The only mechanical ventilation in the building is present in the basement, while the remaining floors are ventilated naturally through open windows. This reduces the reliance on energy-intensive mechanical systems.

Passive Cooling and Heating Thermal Mass Reclaimed Brick

WinterSummer

In Winter, the thermal mass insulates and stops cool air reaching the interior, whereas in summer, the thermal mass absorbs and retains the heat, keeping the interior cool.

Fire Safety Devices Distribution - Inferenced

The utilisation of an abundance of LED fittings with a warm hue in the Everyman contributes significantly to its indoor atmosphere. While using LED’s minimises energy usage, I believe that the amount of lighting employed is superfluous owing to the insufficient influx of natural daylight in the building's central areas. Other possible measures, such as incorporating light shelves, could have potentially reduced the reliance on artificial lighting and energy usage.

Horizontal Building Distribution - GR FLR Bistro Bar

LED Light FittingsSmoke DetectorsLoudspeakersSprinklers

Service Void Spacing - Roof

In accordance with the BS 5839-1:2017 regulations, the smoke alarms in the venue are positioned no more than 7.5m apart. Additionally, loudspeakers, capable of emitting evacuation announcements, have been installed alongside the smoke alarms by PAS sound engineering. The sprinkler distribution conforms to the BS EN 12845:2015 standard, with sprinkler spacing set at 3.5m to ensure full coverage. It is presumed that only the most critical areas, including circulation spaces, the theatre, and the workshop where combustible materials are present, are equipped with sprinklers.

Active Systems: Air Handling Unit

The Everyman utilises a mechanical cooling unit that is located in a plant room on the roof, but is supplementary to the natural ventilation system. It is only utilised when temperatures exceed 21 degrees.

Qualitative Environmental Study (Renders)

Foyer Skylight - Ground To First Floor

Service Risers - Distribution and Dimensions

Service Void Spacing - Air Plenum Space

The Everyman utilises large areas in the ceiling spaces and underfloors to carry essential servicing equipment. The ceiling carries lighting wires, pipes for sprinklers and electrical wires to power the voice system and the smoke alarms. The building also uses a large plenum sub floor, to facilitate natural ventilation in a stack effect.

The

service risers are located on the Western side of the building, and carry essential service pipes

and wires through four floors to the plant room on the roof of the theatre.

During daylight hours in winter, the solar shading panels are opened to allow solar energy to be stored in the concrete slab thermal mass, to be released in the evening hours.

Spring &Summer Passive Cooling and Ventilation Strategy

In winter nights, the solar panels are closed, preserving the heat stored during the day by the thermal mass. The stored heat is released, heating the structure. Additional mechanical heating systems may be required. Whilst Summer has plenty of daylight hours to maximise natural daylight, the shorter daylight hours in winter makes user comfort less desirable, as there is a dependency on artificial lighting.

1 2 3 4 5 6

4 The air is further warmed by the large amounts of stage lighting, further driving buoyancy, causing the air to rise further

2 The cool air is channelled underneath the occupants in the audience, providing a cool breeze during spring and summer seasons.

3 As the cool air is heated by the occupants, it begins to rise, creating a stack effect.

The foyer utilises a skylight to maximise natural daylight, as it is covered by internal walls from the facade, making lighting natural lighting a significant challenge. To counter this, the architects opted for a skylight in the foyer area that covers the staircase core. The skylight is the most effective during midday when the sun is at its peak, it is particularly ineffective during early morning and late evening due to the small window opening.

5

As the air continues to heat and rise through the auditorium it travels through the technical grid, and into the extract plenum.

6 The warm air is extracted through the stack chimney at the top of the building, completing the passive stack ventilation effect.

First Floor Glazed Western Facade

Summer EquinoxWinter Solstice

The first floor bar houses a glazed facade and is not covered by the solar shading on the second floor above. This is a reasonable design decision, as it is much lower down on the building, and therefore is exposed to less daylight than the upper floors. Being on the west facade, it receives the most sunlight during afternoon to sunset hours, and receives more sunlight in summer seasons due to extended daylight hours.

Solar Shading - West Facade Window Module - Dressing Room East Facade

Summer EquinoxWinter Solstice

Summer EquinoxWinter Solstice

The second floor and above uses a solar shading system to provide user comfort and minimise overheating during summer equinox/season. Being on the higher floors on the Western Facade, the floor is exposed to lots of evening sunlight, especially in summer seasons with longer daylight hours. Therefore the use of a solar shading systems minimises harsh lighting and overheating to provide user comfort.

On the Eastern facade are small window modules that are angled with a view towards Arad Street. These windows, while exposed to morning sunlight, the narrow openings and quirky positioning of the windows makes it ineffective in maximising the amount of morning sunlight. Whilst they add visual interest to the eastern facade, they do not provide users with a reasonable amount of daylight.

Summer EquinoxWinter Solstice

BA3 Technologies Part A

Detailed Envelope Assembly

Synthesis + Argument

Detailed Assembly/Building Fabric

From an ecological viewpoint, the facade build-up attempts to minimise embodied carbon by creating a unitised system through offsite manufacturing. The glazed windows that span the western facade, the solar shading panels from the second floor to the roof and the Everyman LED signage are all manufactured offsite. The benefits of this ecologically is that pre-assembled components reduce onsite wastage, and less heavy machinery is required for manufacturing, as many components can be computerised and then precisely manufactured to reduce waste. In addition to the ecological benefits, offsite manufacturing also has many other secondary benefits, such as improved quality control due to being in a controlled factory environment, and a faster speed of production due to the ability to digitally manufacture components, alongside being fewer deliveries to site overall.

However, it must be noted that the use of materials in the construction of the facade is not environmentally sustainable from the outset, owing to the considerable amount of embodied carbon in certain materials used. Specifically, the excessive use of concrete and steel elements in the building's construction results in a significant amount of embodied carbon, with a total impact of 5435 tonnes, of which 26% is attributed solely to the foundations.

Upon considering the whole life carbon impact over a 60-year period from 2010 to 2070, the embodied carbon of the building's fabric constitutes 45% of the overall impact. Therefore, offsetting this amount of carbon would necessitate the Everyman to offset 109 tonnes per year, an unrealistic target. Despite efforts to reduce the embodied carbon of the facade through offsite manufacturing, the release of embodied carbon from the concrete and steel structure, foundations, and energy usage detract from the building's overall environmental impact.

Change Over Time

When discussing the future adaptability of the structure, feel it’s first important contextually to discuss the theatres programme, history, and the position it holds within the local community. The Everyman holds an important place in Liverpool culture. The original theatre, converted from the 19th century Hope Hall chapel was converted to a theatre in 1964, and has since served as a centre of creativity, theatrical energy and a social hub. The rebuild of the theatre from 2011-2014 set to expand upon this iconic institution, by providing spaces that allowed the programme of the building to grow. In turn, the Everyman is designed with a sense of permanence, and to continue to be a space for artisitcal expression for the foreseeable future.

This is expressed through the seemingly lack of adaptability and material re-use in the building. The use of a heavy concrete structure, conjoined with large steel spanning elements has the ability to last over a century when properly maintained, and as the building is designed with a sense of permanence, there is little consideration about the post life of the building. This clearly has it’s disadvantages, for example if theatre as an art was to become irrelevant in future generations, the building cannot be easily dismantled, in turn wasting the embodied carbon it took to create the building. if it was to be demolished. Although, due to the size of the building, and the large amount of programme it houses, it could be possible that the building can remain with programmatic elements.

In conclusion, the building is designed for longevity, potentially lasting decades to a century. However, this durability comes at the cost of adaptability, disassembly, and sustainability.

Evaulations

Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

Saif Hajazi - &rchitecture

Integrated 3D Envelope Study (West Facade)

9

1.1. Cantilever bracket attatched to steel Beam

2.LED downlight for night-time illumination

3.Aluminium bracket connecting beam that holds the LED light fittings

4.Steel I beams connecting the roof to the solar shading facade panels

5.Aluminium Roof Flashingprevents water penetration for roof junction components

6.300mm primary structure concrete roof slab

7.DPM

8.150mm rigid insulation

9.EPDM roof finish

10. 8mm aluminium solar shading panel at 90 deg rotation

11. Steel U beam connecting the solar shading panel to the facade

12. Pivot arm facilitating solar shading panel rotation

13. Narrow profile aluminium framed sliding doors

14. Steel U beam connecting glazed panel balcony to the concrete floor slab

15. Glazed panels - walkable balcony flooring

16. Wire mesh upholding LED sign

17. LED Everyman sign

18. Eletrical and Telecom wires running through 200mm suspended ceiling void, powering LED light fittings and smoke alarm detectors.

19. Pipes carrying water for sprinklers for fire extinguishing.

20. Steel I joists connecting the ceiling to the floor slab above, small holes cut through joist to allow for wires to run through if necessary

21. 15mm gypsum panel suspended ceiling

22. LED light fittings

23. Primary loadbearing concrete column

24. Ground floor primary loadbearing floor slab300mm thickness

25. DPM to prevent water penetration

26. 150mm rigid insulation below concrete screed

Junction Details (1:10@A4)

1.Steel UC beam fixed to cantilever brackets

2.LED downlight fitting for nightime illumination.

3.Aluminium bracket connecting shading panel to steel beam.

4.Steel H beam

5.8mm aluminium solar shading panel at 0 degrees rotation (dashed line 90 degrees)

6.Steel Beam connecting solar shading facade to the roof

7.Aluminium roof flashing

8.Primary Concrete Roof Slab

9.DPM

10.Rigid Insulation below single EPDM membrane roofing.

1.Pivot arm - facilitates the rotation of the solar shading panel.

2.8mm solar shading panel at 90 degrees rotation

3.Double glazed window fixed to aluminium head and cill

4.Flashing over window cill

5.Batt insulation upstand

6.Rigid insulation filling cavity in window frame

7.Laminate floor finish

8.concrete screed under floor finish

9.Primary concrete floor structural slab

1.PVC protection board

2.DPM

3.Batt Insulation between two DPM layers

4.Concrete primary wallstructural

5.52.5mm insulated plasterboard internal finish

6.Concrete Footing

7.Hardcore

8.Sand binding underneath concrete floor slab layered with DPM to prevent moisture

27. 75mm concrete screed below floor finish

9.Batt insulation below concrete screed

Consider Modular

The building utilises offsite manufacturing for the solar shading, glazed facade and LED sign, allowing for higher QC under factory conditions, quicker manufacturing times and less on-site wastage.

Offsite Construction Prioritise Low Embodied Carbon Detailing To Be Long Life and Robust

The use of heavy materials such as concrete and steel provides longevity, but comes at a cost of embodied carbon giving the building an embodied carbon of 5435 tonnes, making offsetting a difficult challenge.

Net Zero Embodied Carbon Sustainable Life Cycle Cost

The selective use of primary materials such as concrete and steel allows the Everyman to remain a social hub for artistical expression, as the building was designed with a sense of permanence to serve future generations.

Carry Out Whole Life Cycle Analysis Measure Energy CostsAdded Value Of Occupant Wellbeing

The Everyman has carried out whole life cycle analysis to estimate the amount of carbon that would need to be offset by the embodied carbon of the structure, 109 tonnes per year for 50 years.

Envelope

(Western

The building management system uses a tracking system to log and review lighting load, energy produced, mains water usage and gas and rainwater collection data, to make better informed decisions about running costs.

While being a theatre, the building also has secondary elements such as acting as a social hub by incorporating cafes and bars, further encouraging social spaces, that in turn benefit the wellbeing of the buildings occupants.

28. 12mm matte finish laminate flooring.

10.Concrete screed below laminate floor finish

1.Internal CMU Blockwork - primary loadbearing wall

2.Batt insulation

3.Metal Tie - joins the veneer wall to the structure spanning through the cavity

4.Sheathing protecting water ingress from cavity

5.Local red brick - external veneer brickwork

6.Shelf angle - supports the weight of the brickwork and transfers the weight to the primary structure (concrete floor slab)

7.Concrete primary floor slab

8.Concrete screed

9.Laminate floor finish above concrete screed.

Assembly

Facade)

1.The glazing, solar shading panels and Everyman sign are manufactured offsite for better quality control, faster production, and less waste on-site.

2. The floor slabs and concrete beams and columns are independent from the facade, and help in supporting it structurally.

3. The first constructed elements of the facade is the glazed windows that spans the entirety of the facade, it is attached through steel I beams and supported by the concrete columns.

4. The solar shading panels are positioned at a distance from the windows and secured to the building's framework using a steel I-beam located on the roof, as well as smaller I-beams that extend along the structure.

5. The last element of the facade is the LED Everyman sign, and this is attached to the windows through flat glazing panels that give it separation from the rest of the facade, and is joint through a steel U beam.

Lecture One: Retrofit First

Date: 30/01/2023

Speaker: Glenn Ombler

Position: Adaptive Reuse

Organisation: Ombler Iwanowski Architects

Lecture Two: Future Vison For a Healthier, Greener City

Date: 06/02/2023

Speaker: Kevin Flanagan

Position: Timber + CLT

Organisation: PLP Partner

Lecture Three: Going Vertical

Date: 13/02/2023

Speaker: Rhodri Evans

Position: Advanced Facades

Organisation: Billings Design Associates

Lecture Four: Office Design

Date: 06/03/2023

Speaker: Laura Stafford

Position: Architect

Organisation: 5Plus Architects

Lecture Five: IDEAhaus

Date: 13/03/2023

Speaker: Ian McHugh

Position: Climate

Organisation: Green Triangle Studio

Design Methodology & Technological Strategy

The Zenith building, which was built in 1966–68 and underwent extensive retrofitting by Ombler Iwanowski Architects from 2001–2007, portrays the advantages and drawbacks of retrofitting existing buildings. As stated in the RIBA Sustainable Outcomes, which lists retrofitting existing buildings as a priority objective in attaining net zero emissions by 2030, one major advantage of retrofitting is the decrease of embodied carbon compared to demolishing and rebuilding a structure. The financial savings obtained during the retrofit of the Zenith building, where the total cost of adaptation was 12 million pounds rather than the estimated 25 million pounds of demolishing and replacing the old structure, highlights the economic benefit of retrofitting structures.

Ombler Iwanowski Architects greatly improved the thermal efficiency of the structure from 1.35 W/m2k to 0.35 W/m2k, but this result still falls short of exemplar U values such as in Passivhaus design, where the maximum U levels are 0.15 W/m2k. Conclusively, Ombler Iwanowski Architects was successful in modernising the Zenith building to comply with contemporary access regulations, replacing outdated HVAC systems with modern systems to ensure user comfort, and adding intrinsic worth to the structure by modifying the façade. However, architects must adhere to the developer’s brief, and therefore certain aspects of the design such as sustainability is lost in the final product as the developer prioritises commercial gains, which is the case in the developer prioritising a viewing deck level in the Zenith as it attracts customers.

Responsibilities

The main influencing responsibility that altered the design process was the ARB code of conduct, which in the case of the Zenith brief was to promote the services of Ombler Iwanowski Architects holistically and working with the developer to achieve their brief. Whilst Ombler noted his personal preference for wanting to maintain large parts of the original structure such as the cantilevers and facade, the developer had chose to renew the facade and remove the cantilevers, to add aesthetic value and to maximise space within the structure. Relating this to my own personal projects, it emphasises the case of designing for the user and to their requirements, putting aside personal preferences for the benefit of the client.

Compliance

Part M and Part B rules were the primary regulatory influences in the design. Originally, the building featured male and female bathrooms on different floors, therefore the architects decided to establish a central core of gender neutral restrooms to increase inclusion. Every floor is compartmentalised for Part B requirements, allowing it to comply with REI 120, permitting the building to endure 120 minutes of fire resistance.

Design Methodology & Technological Strategy

The lecture, “Future Vision for a Healthier, Greener City,” is intimately connected to &rchitectures position on designing environments that are user-centric and actively work to promote the wellness of its users. This is exemplified by “The Edge” in Amsterdam, which is noted as one of “the greenest office buildings in the world.” The building aims to create a nature biophilia through the synergy of people, nature, and technology to create spaces that promote user wellbeing and comfort while still creating structures that are sustainable through form and function.

Additionally, Flanagan is a prominent figure in promoting “timber skyscrapers,” which involves using CLT as a primary structure opposed to concrete and steel. This essentially makes the form of the building carbon negative, whilst also having secondary benefits such as ease of transportation and faster construction times. Linking this back to &architectures position, this is a notable example of circular economies, finding alternative materials for existing methods of construction to promote a zero carbon future. Timber skyscrapers is a viable method for multi storey, sustainable structures, but will require the careful management of forests to ensure that this does not come at the cost of destroying existing habitats.

Responsibilities

As timber skyscrapers an innovative method of construction, there is a responsibility through research and testing to ensure the safety of the residents involved. Flanagan explains how this has shaped the design of timber skyscrapers, particularity in regions prone to flooding, where if the wooden structure was exposed on the exterior, exposure to water would cause the structure to weaken. Therefore, the facade design of the building changes to ensure user safety, by placing the CLT structure behind glazing or cladding so it remains enclosed from moisture from the exterior. This can manifest into our own design projects, by ensuring and researching our buildings detail to maximise user safety, which may come at the cost of inherent aesthetic value.

Compliance

Part L is undoubtedly a key driver in regulations for the design, in creating construction methods that will help to achieve net zero by 2050. Flanagan achieves this through the use of CLT construction, in which Flanagan quotes 75% savings in CO2 emissions in his oakwood timber tower 2 project. Furthermore Part B is a big consideration in the design of timber towers, where utilising CLT is actually a very safe method of fire prevention opposed to steel and concrete, as the timber chars when exposed to flames creating a resistive barrier, whereas for structures such as steel, when the melting point is achieved the steel conforms and eventually collapses.

Design Methodology & Technological Strategy

In Rhodri Evans lecture titled “Advanced Facade” Evans demonstrates the technicalities of creating innovative facades. When comparing this to the &rchitectures position of sustainability and community economies, there are both benefits and drawbacks to the innovation in advanced facades. Firstly, the prefabrication of unitised systems offsite allows for a more sustainable approach to construction, as it facilitates less waste materials and a reduction in energy use compared to onsite manufacturing. Prefabricated construction also allows for higher quality control checks in a controlled factory environment, which in turn can lead to a longer material lifespan.

However, in the creation of advanced facades such as complex curtain wall systems, there is little commentary on the use of circular economies to recycle and to reuse materials to avoid material wastage at the end of the materials service lifespan. Curtain walls have a service life of thirty years, and after this period most of the replaced glass is often not recycled, and ends up being crushed up into landfills. Whilst the architectural sector continues to innovate to create advanced facade systems, end of life recycling must be considered, especially as we move to a net zero embodied carbon society, outlined in the RIBA’s 2030 climate challenge.

Responsibilities

After the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, in which the polyethylene aluminium composite panels caused the fire to spread faster, the responsibilities involved in the creation of facades that ensure the safety of its residents became a key point of discussion. In turn, this resulted in new legislation for fire safety regulations, altering the way in which we conceptualise and design cladding systems. In turn, this influenced Evans in the design process of his cladding systems, as he must ensure suitable fireproofing measures that ensures the safety of the buildings occupants. Alongside this, Evans must also consider environmental factors when designing his facades, such as wind loads, which when creating high rise buildings, the taller the building, the more sensitive the structure is to wind loads, therefore bracing measures must be carefully considered to avoid building sway.

Compliance

The main compliance and legislation that has the biggest influence in the creation of advanced facades is the Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety part B and part L conservation of fuel and power. The Building safety act is the newly revised document after the Grenfell incident, which gives strict regulations on the use of combustible materials in cladding systems. This goes in hand with part B, which ensures user safety through fireproofing prevention. Lastly, Part L ensures that the cladding systems involved are both sustainable and thermally efficient.

Design Methodology & Technological Strategy

During Laura Stafford’s lecture on office design, Stafford highlighted the fundamental principles shared by herself and 5plus architects that are in accordance with the atelier position of &rchitecture. The application of holistic design principles, such as the RIBA sustainable outcomes and the plan of work, serve as pivotal grounding frameworks within the &rchitecture atelier, ensuring a comprehensive design process from the planning stage to construction. Additionally, 5Plus’ office design principles are closely linked to the community economies principle, exemplified by the use of offsite manufacturing for unitised facades to minimize on-site wastage, and the creation of long-span, flexible structures employing sustainable materials such as timber and reclaimed steel. Consideration for the building’s lifecycle, including the ease of dismantling and material recycling, also plays a critical role in their design approach. Ultimately, 5plus’ vision of good office design is in direct alignment with &rchitecture’s conscious and holistic design methodologies.

Additionally, the use of human data driven design further seeks to demonstrate an alignment with &rchitetures view of people first design. By using statistical data from human occupants to inform the design of the building, 5plus are better able to design sustainable structures from a human perspective, that prioritise the wellbeing of the building occupants through design, informed by data measured such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels and skin response, allowing the architects to make informed decisions based on a human response.

Responsibilities

The RIBA sustainable outcomes is clearly demonstrated throughout the buildings created by 5plus, with a clear focus on good health and wellbeing, which has shaped the form of the buildings. Particuarly, this is demonstrated through the use of low energy design, by creating natural ventilation systems that are entirely operable, giving the occupants control over the ventilation. Furthermore, 5plus create spaces that are inclusive and promote social spaces, with the use of foyers to create a central social hub and the strategic use of furntiture and desk placement to promote a social culture.

Compliance

Being an established firm, there is a necessity to follow all legislated regulations, but for office design, there is a particuar emphasis on M (access) to ensure offices spaces are inclusive for all it’s occupants, and part B (fire safety) to ensure the safety of all occupants using the office space through the strategic design and placement of fire exits and stairways.

Design Methodology & Technological Strategy

In Ian McHugh’s lecture, McHugh illustrates the impact global warming will have on future house design and current adaption techniques in which we can design to mitigate the effects climate change will have on housing, such as overheating and risks of flooding. This relates intimately to &rchitectures climate position, the necessity for designing for zero carbon and environmental adaption using innovative and alternate methods of design to achieve carbon neutrality and passive house design.

This is demonstrated through the sustainable methods that can be utilised through passivhaus design methodologies, such as the use of natural ventilation, thermal mass and solar energy, These design principles can help us adapt to a changing climate as temperatures increase, to focus on natural systems of heating and cooling rather than having a reliance on mechanical systems. Furthermore from the offset, houses should be designed to be flexible, adaptable and future proof, by using renewable energy sources, having flexible internal layouts and most importantly, leaving the space for future upgradability, to ensure houses can continue to be retrofitted rather than rebuilt, lowering embodied carbon emissions. This can be achieved through the use of modularity, creating modular parts of a building that are repeatable, and can be dismantled and then upgraded. Ultimately, McHugh quotes “houses must be loved to live long” and this perfectly summarises the need for adaptable and flexible homes that are resilient to future changes in our climate.

Responsibilities

The UK’s goal to achieve net zero by 2050 serves as a major catalyst for innovative technologies in climate adaptation. As a result, the design of structures is undergoing a transformation, with a shift towards passive principles of ventilation, heating, cooling, and energy generation. In this context, the orientation of the site plays a crucial role in maximizing its potential for passive systems. Moreover, the incorporation of CHP boilers and solar panels necessitates the creation of plant spaces and additional cables that must run through the ceilings and floors of buildings. Therefore, the planning of floor-to-ceiling heights must also be adjusted based on the amount of wiring and space required for these systems.

Compliance

The main regulations fostering change to energy generation, climate change adaption and ventilation is Part L (conservation of fuel and power) and also part O, when considering how to mitigate against current and future overheating in structures. Furthermore, the introduction of the UK’s net zero strategy in 2019 further informs design decisions, such as a possible potential of a maximum embodied carbon level.