face to face dan epstein
The site that we are working on is one
that has suffered severe social and environmental deprivation for many years. It has always been our aim to create a new development, not just for the Games but one that will bring long- lasting benefits to the area. For example, we are building 2,880 homes on the site to house up to 17,000 athletes. These are all being built to the Government’s new ‘Code for Sustainable Homes Level Four’ which is a national environmental standard, resulting in a 44% reduction in carbon emissions and 30% reduction in water use (55 litres per person per day), as well delivering a range of other environmental benefits. The Village buildings include double glazing and high levels of insulation. The Village will be connected to the Energy Centre and the wind turbine. It will be the first time that a large-scale development will meet ‘Level Four’ in the UK. After the Games, they will be converted into private homes, including 1,379 affordable homes and housing for sale and rent. The development will become part of the overall Stratford City regeneration scheme. With regard to the sports venues, the
foundations for the Aquatics Centre, Handball Arena and Stadium have used the concrete described above. Designs for the Olympic Stadium ring beam that supports the fabric roof were changed so that recycled gas pipes could be used. The Velodrome roof has also been redesigned to accommodate additional gas pipes and cable roof supports, instead of the original steel trusses. This has been done before in Germany and South Africa but is unusual here in the UK. The roof is quicker, safer and easier to erect, is lighter and offers another reduction in carbon emissions. PM-Select: Having gone to great lengths
When people talk about sustainability, all too often they are
talking about buildings - the energy carbon footprint. What is often forgotten is that
sustainability applies equally to the people using the facilities and this is something that I believe both developers and property manages can learn from.
to ensure that the maximum degree of sustainability has been built into construction and for the period of the Games, how can you ensure that you are maintaining sustainability standards? Dan Epstein: This project has not just been conceived as lasting until 2012. To begin with, the London 2012 Sustainability Plan is structured around five key themes – climate change, waste, biodiversity, inclusion and healthy living. These have then been divided into 12 objective areas – Carbon, Water, Waste, Materials, Biodiversity and Ecology, Environmental Impacts, Supporting Communities, Transport and Mobility, Access, Employment and Business, Health and Well-being and Inclusion. Each of these is monitored and assessed regularly. The ODA has challenged projects to reduce carbon in all buildings across the Park. With regard to water, non-drinking water used during construction comes from rainwater harvesting, from the re-use of surface run-off water collected in on-site ponds or from a licensed borehole. A reduction in the use of potable water is achieved by the use of water efficient fittings, including waterless urinals. In venues, non-potable water is used for toilet flushing. Waste and materials we have already discussed. Biodiversity has been a key part of the
overall project - of the 105ha involved, 45ha will feature species-rich habitats. We have already cleared a huge area of Japanese knotweed and plants and animals are already beginning to inhabit the East Marsh, a 1ha off-site area created by the ODA. A large number of bat and bird boxes are being installed while more than 16,000m2
of living roof will be
installed on venues across the Park and Village; 2,000 semi-mature trees will be
28 l Property Management Select l july/august 2010 l
www.pm-select.co.uk
planted in the Park with a further 2,000 in the Village and more than 300,000 wetland plants in the Park. PM-Select: What can other Property Managers and Property Developers learn from this? Dan Epstein: During this project we have worked with some of the biggest contractors – 17 Tier 1 with hundreds of subcontractors – and at the peak the Park, the Village and Westfield have employed some 10,000 workers. We have shared experiences and have become extremely proactive. We have shown that the biggest projects can develop and share expertise and we believe that there is no reason why other projects cannot do the same. Furthermore, we are demonstrating that, even on a project as massive as this one, it can be completed on time and to budget. Furthermore, we believe that people are now beginning to see the value of buying into sustainability. We believe that this project will clearly demonstrate that people value these resources and their response is repaid in less days lost, better productivity through having a better environment in which to work. All too often, developers focus on energy, but this only accounts for about 1% of the total cost whereas staff can account for 50-60%, and so improvements in staff attitude can be more rewarding in financial terms than energy savings. We have designed and worked to a 2030 horizon in all our planning and we believe that we have created something very special from which the construction and property management sectors can learn. PM-Select: Can you expand on this? Dan Epstein: When people talk about sustainability, all too often they are talking about buildings, energy carbon footprint.
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