Faber Maunsell’s innovative approach to sustainable design saw them scoop the New Build Project of the Year prize at the Low Carbon Performance Awards.
The engineering consultants picked up the award for their work on City Campus East at Northumbria University – a flagship development which had sustainability as a guiding theme from its very inception.
David Burton, Regional Director for Faber Maunsell and Project Manager for City Campus East, said: “The development is a highly visible symbol of recognition in Newcastle and illustrates how sustainability can play a central role in the process of urban regeneration.
“It is a working example of how inspired design and quality of construction can deliver exceptional value and sustainability, within budget.”
City Campus East is a £100 million development comprising of two buildings built on a brownfield site, close to the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. It opened in September 2007 and around 9.000 students now occupy the site, which accommodates the University’s Law, Business and Design Schools.
The buildings embody a truly sustainable design solution that uses innovative design of structural elements to minimise the energy consumption of the building’s services.
Reduced carbon emissions exceed the 2002 Building Regulations requirements by nearly 40% while around 95% of material from the site of the former cinema has been recycled.
Other green features include solar collectors on the roof to produce hot water, collecting rain water to flush toilets and sensor-controlled heating and lighting systems which ensure energy is only used when rooms are occupied.
A light-well, projecting above the roof of the Newcastle Business School and the School of Law building, allows natural light to penetrate into the middle of the structure reducing the need for artificial lighting.
Northumbria University’s Director of Estates, Trevor Thurlow added: “The University’s firm commitment to sustainable development was a critical requirement of the brief to the project delivery team and has been recognised by this award.”
Organised by the Chartered Institution of Building Services (CIBSE), the Low Carbon Performance Awards are presented to professional organisations who have delivered proven carbon savings in buildings.
The ceremony also celebrated the achievements of the current 100 Days of Carbon Clean-Up Campaign. Over 670 organisations, including Faber Maunsell, signed up to the campaign, in which participants made a real contribution to reducing the amount of carbon emitted from the workplace
