Articles:

It would be impossible to review and approve the design to ensure the required quality for these types of highly regulated buildings.

Bryden Wood’s strategy to achieve net zero carbon building is based on the adoption of a clear hierarchy for operational and embodied carbon..In order to substantially reduce operational carbon, our designs will adopt the following hierarchy:.

Be Lean (passive): minimise the use of energy via passive design measures such as optimised form, orientation and window-to-wall ratio (WWR); design energy efficient facades that incorporate thermal insulation, high airtightness, external shading and solar control glazing; use of natural ventilation and thermal mass and design transitional spaces and low thermal expectation spaces.. Be Lean (active): minimise the use of energy via energy efficient lighting (LED, daylight and presence control sensors) and ventilation systems (demand control ventilation, low SFPs, heat recovery); use technologies such as waste-water heat recovery and specify energy efficient lifts and appliances/equipment.. Be Clean: connect to district heating networks that have plans for decarbonisation; explore plans and feasibility of local hydrogen district networks.. Be Green: use onsite low and zero carbon technologies such as air source heat pumps (ASHP), ground source heat pumps (GSHP), photovoltaic panels, solar collectors for domestic hot water and wind generation among others.. Be Smart: implement innovative technologies such as electric batteries, heat storage, post-occupancy evaluation and develop smart-metering systems..Offset: any remaining carbon should be offset via Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) or recognised carbon offset schemes.Offsets used should be publicly disclosed.. An example of specific design strategies that Bryden Wood have adopted follow the proposed operational carbon hierarchy is shown in Figure 5 and is demonstrated with examples below..

Step-by-step hierarchy for net zero operational carbon.In order to substantially reduce embodied carbon, our designs will adopt the following hierarchy:.

Build Nothing: identify opportunities to reuse existing structures, refurbish and reuse demolition materials onsite.

Build Less: optimise the building’s form, structure, structural grid, WWR and DfMA components; recommend the use of durable materials, design-out basements and false ceilings (exposed soffit); design spaces which are adaptable and can be easily deconstructed..The hallways are very spacious, particularly when compared to the ‘narrow corridors’ of other hospitals in which he has worked.

‘For safety reasons,’ he says, ‘I feel very reassured that it’s very safe in terms of evacuation and day-to-day movement.It’s very good.’.

Head of Nursing Paul Highton expresses this same sentiment when discussing the various options he has if needing to move quickly to another area of the facility.‘It’s very easy, really,’ he says.