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Giving architects the tools to keep sustainability on track


Alan Yates, technical director, sustainability at BRE Global looks at how the BREEAM assessment method can assist architects in optimising building design, while keeping their clients happy too.


The commercial property sector is a fiercely competitive and fast-changing environment where clients have a keen eye on budget constraints as well


as seeking maximum return, BREEAM has offered architects the opportunity to substantially add value to projects by providing a set of guiding principles towards achieving a sustainable design and build. From the original building concep- tion in any construction project, the design team including project managers, architects, engineering professionals, surveyors and cost consultants, forms an important and influential stakeholder group. However, they are seldom seen as being central players in instigating the key strategic decisions on sustainability that are so vital in driving enhancements in sustainable design. This role falls to the funders, developers


and, in some cases, the building’s occupiers where they are known. Architects are often involved at an earlier stage than other design consultant, playing a vital role in ini- tiating discussion, exploring options, pre- senting cases and implementing decisions on the detail, but not on determining the fundamentals of the scheme that all too frequently restrict the ability of the design team to innovate in the interests of higher performance. For example, when Camden Council


planned its new council offices together with state-of-the-art public leisure and community facilities at Five Pancras Square in the heart of London’s King’s Cross, it placed sustainability at the very heart of the project at pre-design stage.


As Councillor Theo Blackwell,


Camden’s cabinet member for finance and technology policy put it: “We had a clear plan from the outset. Our work with the architects took on board the council’s main sustainability priority to focus on reducing


energy spend, and cut CO2 emissions by 27 per cent by 2017.” Consistent delivery on the sustainabil-


ity criteria throughout the Camden project was assisted immensely by the inclusion of a BREEAM Accredited Professional within the team who helped ensure that all commitments made at architectural and design stage were being implemented throughout the construc- tion phase.


‘The process begins with a framework that can guide an architect’s thinking through issues at the appropriate time’


In both the commercial and residential


property markets, developers and designers must understand the benefits to their clients from reduced operating costs, better corporate image and, most importantly, increased occupant well-being. These costs are by far the largest for any tenant and are key to the promotion of more sustainable solutions. In more sustainable buildings the range of environmental and social impacts will have been considered, along- side the economic ones in order to max- imise opportunities for achieving real benefits while keeping costs under control. The BREEAM certification mark is the


end of a process that begins with the setting up of a framework that can guide an architect’s thinking through issues at the


appropriate time, and allow them to explain and justify their proposals. The assessment method can also


provide a structure around which the design team, clients and other stakeholders can discuss, make decisions, specify and monitor performance – effectively a process of keeping an eye on the broader holistic objectives whilst considering the detail as the design evolves and the building’s constructed. Yes, for architects the certification offers


a simple label to show how credible the design is. But it can be much more. It also provides an overarching tool guiding the design process and ensuring timely actions and decisions are taken. It allows tracking of performance across


the life cycle to assist in understanding the performance gap. Such feedback, all too often lacking at present, is key to improv- ing the in-use performance of our newly constructed or refurbished buildings. High-profile, sustainable designs raise


the profile of design team members, and future clients requiring more sustainable solutions will often look for evidence of past experience and success. There is growing awareness of the need


to reduce the performance gap and architects will increasingly be required to demonstrate how buildings perform in practice. This will increase the importance of credible schemes which can demonstrate this performance to a relatively uninformed audience. A more holistic approach to design


means the likelihood of smoother running projects and greater client confidence. Involvement in such projects, especially high profile ones, can significantly boost the chances of future work.


www.architectsdatafile.co.uk


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