Campus Timeline:Phytobiology Building (2013)
The Phytobiology Building is a state-of-the-art controlled environment and glasshouse facility for research into plant science and food security.
- An energy-efficient glasshouse building (no mean feat).
- 30% of the building's cooling will come from "free-cooling".
- A thermal heating storage vessel will generate more energy-efficient cooling.
The design concept has been to meet the buildings heating and cooling demands, which are considerable for a ‘glasshouse’ facility, in a manner which mitigates energy costs and associated CO2 emissions.
As a result of the design strategy, this building has significantly reduced its heating and cooling loads by 73% and 65% respectively when compared to a traditional glasshouse design.
Essential Information
| Start & Finish dates | June 2012 – February 2013 |
| Funded by | Capital Projects |
| Budget | £5M |
| Requested by | School of Life Sciences |
| Managed by | Estates Office |
| Architects | BMJ (Boswell Mitchell Johnston) |
| Quantity Surveyors | Jacobs |
| Mechanical Engineers | CPW (Couch Perry Wilkes) |
| Electrical Engineers | CPW (Couch Perry Wilkes) |
| Structural Engineers | CTM (Cox Turner Morse) |
| Main Contractor | Willmott Dixon |
| Landscaping | Willmott Dixon |
Statistics
| Basic Building Cost | £2,700/m2 |
| Services Costs | £900/m2 |
| External Works | TBC £/m2 |
| Gross Floor Area | 1,130m2 |
| Total Area of Site | 2,000 m2 |
| Function Areas and Their Size | Controlled Environment Hall Glasshouse (polycarbonate) ‘Gro-Dome’ Laboratory Space Preparation Room Storage Facilities Office / Rest room and Toilets Teaching (wet) Lab 270m2 |
| Area of Storage | Circa 50m2 |
| Area of Circulation | Circa 100m2 |
| Electricity Consumption | TBC kWh/m2 |
| Fossil Fuel Consumption | TBC kWh/m2 |
| Low Carbon Energy Generation | Yes |
| Water use | TBC m3/year |
| Steps taken to reduce environmental impact |
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