We have to start opening up our eyes and stop pushing down responsibility onto somebody else.
However, were this building to be designed now to achieve LETI/RIBA 2030 targets further learnings need to be taken forward..The Forge vs Benchmarks – whole life carbon analysis.
Lessons Learned.Superstructure: The platform system reduces embodied carbon.Further development can be undertaken to explore reducing whole life carbon further.
Ideas could include:.Replacing Comflor with a less processed material which can act as formwork.
Adjusting the concrete mix to be flowing rather than self-levelling which would reduce the cement content.
Exploring the use of low carbon concrete columns instead of steel ones.. Façade: Opportunities to improve the embodied carbon of facades, including finding alternatives to unitised and curtain walling systems, and their materiality.. Cladding: Elongating a material or components’ lifespan may increase the day one carbon but over the lifetime of the building the whole life carbon can be minimised, where replacement cycles are reduced.. Aluminium procurement: Minimising transport miles is important for materials.This would allow us to build the new refinery while keeping the old one going for as long as possible, before transferring operations to the new one.. As you can imagine, a refinery is a hugely technical building and the M&E element is the most significant part of the project.
We designed the building, it went out to tender and is currently in construction.It’s due to be completed later this year, with commissioning taking until 2023.
We are continuing to work on the project as Design Guardian.. A complete mechanical and electrical engineering solution.Over the years, design and build of complex facilities has become piecemeal.
(Editor: Ultra Smart Thermometers)