10 REASONS TO BUILD GREEN FOCUS


WSP has designed and delivered many sustainable buildings in many markets around the world. Wherever we work, we apply the same fundamental principles, but our solutions are always tailored to our clients’ unique objectives. Whether the drivers are financial, social or environmental, the impetus for sustainable buildings is growing. Here are just a few of the reasons why our clients are challenging us to become ever greener.


1. BECAUSE ASPIRATIONS ARE RISING


Increasing awareness of sustainability is leading to much higher standards across the board, enforced in many countries’ building codes. “We’re seeing a global move to very tough sustainability regulations,” says David Bownass, Sustainability Director at WSP UK. “Even the minimum requirements can be very testing.”


The UK is a good example, because it has among the toughest regulations, with several different mandatory standards. All buildings must meet the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations, and many public buildings must also achieve


a BREEAM accreditation, with a minimum of Excellent for healthcare projects, and Very Good for schools. There are also local targets – in London, local authorities demand a 25% improvement on Part L or planning commission will not be granted. Public sector clients often have the highest aspirations. On New South Glasgow Hospital, WSP’s design needed to achieve not only a BREEAM Excellent rating, but also meet a range of targets including minimum recycled content, local employment and on-site energy generation from renewables. “That was all driven by the client,” says Bownass.


The key, he says, is to work out which benchmark is the most demanding and design to that – which means maintaining an intimate knowledge of the multitude of applicable standards and how they are evolving. “Targets change all the time, and every time they revise the Building Regulations they become more challenging. For example, we’re working on a new housing development in White City that will be delivered over the next 10 year. From 2016, all new dwellings must be zero carbon, so we’ve designed to anticipate that in four years’ time.”


TOUGH SUSTAINABILITY REGULATIONS… EVEN THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CAN BE VERY TESTING


WE’RE SEEING A GLOBAL MOVE TO VERY


PILKE HOUSE, LAPLAND


ONE GLASS WHARF, BRISTOL


NEWSOUTH GLASGOW HOSPITAL


SOLUTIONS 07

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