Modern Building Services

20 MODERN BUILDING SERVICES DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 FEATURE COMMISSIONING W hat are the current trends in today’s commercial buildings? Is it simply “use less energy” or are there other aspects of life that need to be taken into account? Of course, there are still, and always will be, those architects and designers that strive to produce signature buildings that stand out froma visual perspective and possibly pay only lip service to efficiency. There are also likely to be some buildings that strive towards the nirvana of net carbon zero. Perhaps not all of themhave paid or will pay sufficient attention to the internal environment and its effect on the people who inhabit those buildings. Most of us will likely accept that the ideal is a building that is visually stunning, provides an internal environment that engenders enthusiasm in the occupants, and does it in a way that minimises the carbon footprint and costs of both the construction phase and the ongoing operations of the building. Throughout the summer, the Commissioning Specialists Association, as part of its Annual Awards Programme invitedMembers to submit projects that they had worked on for the ‘Project of the Year’ category. Each of the entries was carefully considered by the independent judging panel against a set of pre-defined criteria, with the associated scoring being applied in secret. What was striking however, was the wide array of entries, the different approaches taken in the designs, and the innovative solutions that came about. It was also clear that, as might be anticipated, the local environments had a significant influence on the direction of the design of the building services. Let us look at some of the key elements of those entries that made it to the finalists list – and bear in mind that there is no judgement or evaluation here; it is just a simple identification of what those key elements are. You, the reader, should make your ownminds up as to which entry you think is worthy of the award. But if you are interested – and we certainly hope you are – the list of all theWinners that were announced on the evening of 6th October, can be found on the website – www.csa-awards.co.uk , and also on page 22 of this issue of MBS. Anyway, back to the buildings, which are addressed here in no particular order. One Za’abeel in Dubai Yes, it does have a visual impact and the cantilever effect is striking. But it also reflects the local environment in that it focuses not just on energy efficiency, but also on water efficiency – quite important in a desert locale. The latest phase of Battersea Power Station in London The iconic listed building has graced the London skyline since the early 1930s. Obviously, the listed status has some limitations on what innovations can be brought to the building. There is a focus on efficiency, not just in terms of energy use in operation, but also in terms of construction. University of Salford’s School of Science, Engineering and Environment This achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard through, amongst other things, the use of natural light, low power lighting and photovoltaic panels along with air source heat pumps. University College London’s PEARL (Person-Environment-Activity Research Laboratory) This is out of the ordinary in that it is a very flexible building designed to permit almost infinite variations in the environment so as to study the effects of those on people housed within them. Even so, the use of a ‘circular economy’ approach guides the building towards a net carbon zero classification. Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium East Stand A redevelopment is intended to provide flexible space so that one or more events can take place at the same time and spaces can be used intermittently. To achieve this some services use small local systems or larger plants with local control units for specific spaces. T Zone, Kings Cross, London Has a particular focus on local biodiversity and occupant wellbeing. The initial shell & core achieved BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, while the fit-out is to LEED ‘Platinum’ standard. 10% of the overall area is dedicated to roof gardens and terraces promoting biodiversity. Along with other initiatives, this results in a carbon- neutral building. Keith Barker , Marketing Committee Chairman at the Commissioning Specialists Association (CSA), highlights some wonderful examples of innovative buildings and their impact on the occupant’s experience. Innovative buildings: The CSA view University of Salford's School of Science, Engineering and Environment University College London's PEARL