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Matthew Hay among capital projects showcasing green technology
The three major capital projects in the next phase of the University’s £230m infrastructure investment plan will feature exciting new design concepts for environmental sustainability.
Design features, high-spec materials, and engineering systems being incorporated into the Matthew Hay building, the new library, and new regional sports centre, are aimed at capturing the contribution of natural light, heat and water, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels and consequent carbon dioxide emissions.
Maximising the use of natural daylight - and reducing solar gain – are among the measures designed to create a healthy, high-quality environment which will benefit the experience and performance of students, staff and members of the public using the buildings.
Angus Donaldson, Director of Estates at the University, explained: "Our new library, for example, will not only be visually stunning. The unique façade that will give the building much of its aesthetic appeal will also play a major role in conserving energy, through thermal properties optimised to minimise heat gain in summer and heat loss is winter. Internal roller blinds will further reduce solar gain, while the aluminium framing of the façade will be thermally broken to avoid cold bridging. The process will save electricity since conventional chillers will only be required on the very hottest of summer days."
The façade will also be designed to capture precious daylight, as will the unique 'free form' twisting open atrium which will be the heart and lungs of the £57m building.
Where artificial light is required, a centralised system combining natural and artificial light will provide high quality illumination, visual comfort and low energy consumption.
Electricity for use within the building will be generated by a roof-mounted photovoltaic system comprising an array of monocrystalline solar collectors mounted on a structural frame.
A further feature of both the new library and the Matthew Hay building at Foresterhill will be a 'grey water' system involving rooftop harvesting of rainwater to use in flushing toilets throughout the buildings.
In both cases, rainwater collected from the roof will be filtered and transferred to a bulk water storage tank, from where it will be treated, pumped and distributed throughout the buildings.
In addition the Matthew Hay building has achieved the highest BREEAM rating of "Excellent".
A Bespoke BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) assessment was carried out at design stage looking at the best ways to minimise the adverse effects on the environment at global and local scales, whilst promoting healthy indoor conditions for its occupants.
The environmental implications of the new building were compared with good practice by independent assessors giving an overall rating of the building's performance using the terms Pass Good, Very Good, or Excellent.
The new £28 million sports centre being built in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council and sportsotland on the Linksfield site adjacent to King's campus has been designed by architects Reiach and Hall. The use of roof lighting and the innovative use of cladding materials will to maximise the natural daylight in the sports areas and minimise the energy use. The facilities will also be linked to the Seaton Central Heating Plant which provides the simultaneous generation of electric power and useable heat in a single process.
The CHP system generates electricity locally and captures the heat produced to provide space heating and hot water to nearby buildings. This achieves an efficiency of around 85% for the combined production of electricity and heat at the point of use.
A building's landscaping, relationship with its neighbours, and contribution to biodiversity is also important, says Angus Donaldson, who added: "While the new library gives us the opportunity to transform the west side of our campus, with an inviting 'academic square' between the Meston and Fraser Noble buildings, Edinburgh architects Bennetts Associates have built into the £18.5m Matthew Hay development, a 'village green' right in the heart of this incredibly busy health campus, featuring plants which have been used for centuries for their medicinal properties."
City construction company Mansell Excavation has begun work on the site west of the Polwarth Building at Foresterhill to establish the substructure for the 4,000 square metre, five-storey building which is scheduled to be finished in April 2009. The building has been designed to achieve a rating of 'excellent' in industry standard BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method).
Look at the Matthew Hay website to find out more, and follow progress on the site webcam