Performance to CISL is... |
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- Customer
- University of Cambridge
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- Procurement Route
- Framework: Two-stage
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- Completion Date
- February 2022
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- Value
- £12.69m
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- Area
- 3000m²
Entopia Building is a deep green retrofitted 1930s telephone exchange at 1 Regent Street, Cambridge. It has been transformed into an ultra-low carbon headquarters for the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), part of Cambridge University. CISL prides itself on being a global institution, with thirty years of experience working at the cutting edge via networks across the globe. The Entopia building demonstrates that a 鈥榙eep green鈥� retrofit of an existing building can be delivered at a comparable cost to a traditional office refurbishment. Additionally, the project is a world first for a retrofitted sustainable office building, leading by example with high standards for low energy use, carbon emissions, and impact on natural resources. It is aptly named in reference to the Entopia concept developed by funding partner Envision Group to shape a future where access to clean, secure, and affordable energy is available to all.
Entopia building currently offers roughly 3,000m虏 of refurbished workspace dedicated to the Cambridge-based staff of CISL. This includes the new Canopy incubator, designed to foster and support small businesses and startups committed to addressing global sustainability challenges. The headquarters now provides a virtual hub for CISL staff across its Brussels and Cape Town offices, it鈥檚 16,000 international network of alumni, fellows, associates, researchers, visiting academics, and corporate partners.
Evaluate
Our involvement with the Entopia Building project began in 2019, when we were appointed at RIBA Stage 3 under a pre-construction services agreement to develop the design and undertake construction. Collaborating with CISL, we established an aligned vision of how we could transform a former 1930s Telephone Exchange into an ultra-low-carbon sustainability hub, with the ability to deliver its climate change and wider sustainability targets in the built environment. Collaboration was one of the most crucial elements to ensuring the success of the project, and we believe our ability to have a strong understanding of the issues and buying into the shared vision was fundamental.
We were also committed to assist the CISL in their mission for its new HQ to support and inspire the leadership and innovation society needs to transition to a sustainable economy. It was imperative for us to ensure we delivered on specific targets, for example achieving BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Gold, EnerPHit Classic, while utilising bio based and reclaimed materials. Throughout the timeline of the project, we ensured every decision taken in accordance with CISL, had sustainability as the priority goal. This resulted in the sustainability standards for this project being some of the most ambitious ever set for any built environment project. This project is an example that the most sustainable building is the one that already exists.
Design and buildability:
During the design stage of the project, we held conversations with CISL to establish the best approach we could take to design and deliver the most sustainable retrofit possible within the programme and budget parameters outlined. The design strategy was based on a 鈥榳hole life鈥� perspective that considered the evaluation of sustainability impacts and benefits across the lifespan of the building to be vital parameters of the design.
Utilising cutting edge technology such as 3D modelling was crucial in the design process, which allowed us to calculate the embodied carbon associated with the proposed materials efficiently and accurately. Over 40 3D animations were created in the design process, to allow the client to envisage the construction detailing, and for us to demonstrate complex interface details. This approach detailed stages of preparation, sealing and insulation of connections to ensure reduced thermal bridging, air tightness and fire safety. This project is also one of the first of its kind to reuse lighting from another office refurbishment, retesting and repurposing more than 350 LED lights. Leftover furniture in the building has been diverted from landfill avoiding 21,000 Kg of carbon dioxide, with 21,600 Kg of chairs, tables and storage cabinets donated to local communities.
A particular challenge encountered in the design phase of the project was trying to ensure a building that wasn鈥檛 designed with great air tightness in mind, is completely air tight as possible. It was also vital that every component introduced in the design of the project was compliant across all sustainability parameters.
Deliver
Entopia building was delivered by a committed project team, fully aligned to the vision CISL wanted to achieve for their new HQ. After being appointed at RIBA Stage 3 under a pre-construction services agreement, our Science & Health team deconstructed the old office building to gain a detailed understanding of its construction. This included keeping the raised access floor for reuse and donating the old office furniture to reduce waste.
Overcoming challenges
Although challenges were encountered in the delivery of Entopia Building due to its exemplary sustainability credentials delivered at a comparable cost, they were embraced by the project team. During the stripping back off the building, the team discovered asbestos requiring remedial works before the refit could commence. Another challenge encountered during the project was sourcing materials from niche suppliers, due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19. It was tough to get the precise materials needed for the project due to them usually being manufactured in Europe and in small quantities. Quality of materials during this stage was an equally important factor, as materials that were loose could slump inside the cavity over time, and we had to guarantee performance of the external envelope.
Environmental initiatives
Currently the built environment contributes around 40 per cent of the UK’s total carbon footprint. Therefore, prioritising sustainability criteria as core drivers for every single element of the retrofit was highly important.
Performance
Performance to the Entopia building is about creating a hub that embodies the values of CISL; of continuing to develop leadership solutions for a sustainable economy. Our role was to support CISL in transforming this 1930s telephone exchange into one of the world鈥檚 most sustainable buildings, setting new standards in architecture and design. Being a part of this project has enabled us to assist in the creation of a deep green retrofit that maximises operational utility, value, and energy efficiency, while pursuing opportunities for holistic sustainability and resilience. Entopia building can be a catalyst for the world鈥檚 most important leadership and innovation to achieve sustainable development goals by the end of this decade of action. The project scooped several awards at Building, Construction News, Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry (CFCI), Education Estates and The AJ100 awards. Entopia building was opened by the former HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership. HRH attended a reception for the launch of the Entopia building and Canopy, where he met with design and construction firms, business leaders, SME鈥檚 and innovators.
鈥楾hey used a proper process, where you have a project charter,鈥� said the judges. 鈥楾he whole team had buy-in with that. It was a golden thread that ran through right from the start and everybody put in that effort to deliver it well. Then there鈥檚 the study of the process, the open book approach, so people could learn from every stage. It鈥檚 a really powerful approach to retrofit.鈥� In short: 鈥榃e collaborate to create something and make change. It has to have a meaning. This collaboration achieves that.鈥�
AJ100 Collaboration of the Year judges.
鈥淐ISL鈥檚 new HQ at The Entopia Building will exemplify and enable our mission to support and inspire the leadership and innovation we need to transition to sustainable economy. Our aim is to create a highly collaborative and sustainable workspace to bring together Cambridge鈥檚 academic and innovation communities with our network of companies and sustainability leaders to accelerate solutions to global sustainability challenges.鈥�
Dame Polly Courtice, Founding Director, CISL
