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Estates

Campus Timeline:
Mechanochemical Cell Biology Building (2012)

 
The Mechanochemical Cell Biology Building represents the University's strength of ambition, its energy performance setting a benchmark for the buildings on campus that follow it.
  • Solar panels on the roof.
  • Outer walls designed to maintain a constant temperature.
  • Variable Air Volume (VAV) system to maximise the energy saving potential of the building's air conditioning.

The Estates Office are aiming for a BREEAM rating of "Excellent" for the building, and have designed its systems so that they should achieve an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate.

It houses research laboratories, equipment suites, and offices. Warwick secured grants from Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and the Wolfson Foundation to help cover the construction costs. Given that it was built at the front end of Gibbet Hill campus, next to one of the main entry points for traffic coming into the University, the building needed to look good.

Statistics

Basic Building Cost £3,097/m2
Services Costs £1,533/m2
External Works £131/m2
Gross Floor Area 1,443m2
Area of Circulation 247m2
Electricity Consumption 48kWh/m2 (including equipment)
Fossil Fuel Consumption 104kWh/m2 (all from Warwick's CHP installation)
Low Carbon Energy Generation Yes
Water use 3.07m3/person/year (excluding lab basins - 3.67 including lab basins)
Steps taken to reduce environmental impact

The steps taken during the construction process to reduce environmental impacts, i.e innovative construction management techniques:

  • Stepnell Ltd. have their company Environmental Policy displayed on the site notice board. Targets have been set for fuel, electricity and water consumption with present consumption well below the targets set.
  • Waste is sorted and recycled by the waste carrier off site (with 75-80% being recycled/reused). All granular fill for the site is also recycled material, with recycled pallets having been purchased for movement of materials on site.
  • Water suppression is in use to reduce dust and local materials and plant are being used wherever possible. Water and electricity are taken from the University’s existing supplies and are metered.
  • Fuel is stored in a double-bunded tank, with a spill kit adjacent and in the Site Office.
  • Two satisfactory audits have also taken place under the Co. BSI 18001 accreditation scheme.
  • Tree protection measures have been provided where necessary. Protection for wildlife has also been provided.
  • Noise readings are being taken on site to compare with back-ground noise.

Through the above measures, Stepnell Ltd. have scored a high 34 points on the Considerate Constructors Scheme.