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Ironmonger Row Baths A path to sustainability
As reported last month, Synergy is project managing the £14.3m re-configuration of Ironmonger Row Baths for Islington Council.
The former 1931 slipper baths and public laundry building will be joined seamlessly with the 1938 swimming pools and Turkish Baths building, to form an integrated space fit for a 21st century public leisure service.
From the outset of this project, the client was clear that they required an environmentally sustainable development to be delivered, demonstrating the Council’s commitment to pollution prevention and to safeguarding the natural environment for future generations.
The client’s brief which was prepared by Synergy project management, required the design team to appraise a wide range of environmental considerations during the design stages, including how to:
- Achieve a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions and mitigate future energy costs through the use of energy efficiency, combined heat and power, and micro-generation technologies (renewables)
- Conserve water and potentially introduce rain and grey-water recycling
- Conserve pool water and minimise heat loss
- Incorporate construction materials that were reclaimed or recycled and responsibly sourced
- Prepare for climate change adaptation
- Incorporate sustainable drainage systems to the external areas
- Make provision for cycle parking as per BREEAM guidelines.
- Enhance ecology by creating new habitat areas or micro-habitats
The first challenge to the design team was to use innovative design to ensure the statutory minimum requirements relating to conservation of fuel and power, as defined by the Building Regulations (Part L), was exceeded.
The Council further specified that the building must achieve a BREEAM Excellent assessment. The Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method is an independent quality assured method of measuring a building’s environmental performance. It covers a range of criteria including energy, water, materials, ecology and pollution. To support this commitment, the Council appointed a BREEAM Assessor from BDP whose role was a proactive one, working with the client, design team and main contractor toward the BREEAM Excellent assessment goal.
The way forward.
After much consideration and debate, a robust two-fold environmental strategy was devised to meet the high standards outlined for the ronovation of the Baths by Max Fordham Consulting Engineers, the main goal being to minimise energy use and CO2 emissions. The first phase was to introduce passive measures, such as improving the building fabric to minimise heat loss and gain. The second stage involved calculating predicted energy use, carbon emissions and cost of running the building, based on CIBSE benchmark figures, and assessing the feasibility of different low and zero carbon technologies, to achieve the required targets.
Energy efficiency measures incorporated into the design, include the use of thermal insulation to the internal face of external walls; replacement of single glazing with double or triple glazing; insulation to minimise air leakage; natural ventilation to augment mechanical means; optimising existing windows and roof lights to make the maximum use of daylight; all air handling units to be equipped with high efficiency heat recovery systems; high efficiency, gas fired low temperature hot water condensing boilers and a building management system (BMS) to control mechanical systems and ensure they operate efficiently. The new lighting systems which will be fitted throughout will use modern high-efficiency fluorescent, metal halide and LED fittings to significantly reduce energy consumption.
Ironmonger Row Baths will also benefit from heat provided from an off-site combined heat and power (CHP) plant via a District heating system. This heat network cluster will connect the building with existing adjacent communally-heated council housing and other neighbouring developments, supplied from the CHP plant.
The design stage assessment awarded on 3 December 2010 scored 76.56% thereby achieving an Excellent score. The BREEAM Assessor has been retained to support the contractor during construction and collect the required evidence for the post-construction review.
The project is already a leader in it’s field in terms of sustainability and will form a flagship project for the London Borough of Islington.
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