Today Arup announces its ambitious design strategy aimed at encouraging greater development of truly sustainable buildings at Think.
At the start of every project Arup, as part of its normal service, will provide all clients with a strategy to show how a project might be designed within the natural capacity of the planet and fulfill what Arup has identified as six key objectives to achieve full sustainability.
The objectives are to create buildings that are ‘carbon neutral’ in terms of CO2 emissions. Self-sufficient in using and recycling water, built using sustainable materials, able to cope with future climate change, make a positive contribution to the community and built environment and are sustainable in operation.
“Sustainable development is critical to future business success and is leading to significant change for our clients and the industry”, comments Alistair Guthrie, leader of Arup Buildings Sustainable Network. “Arup is committed to providing creative and viable strategies that will enable our clients to imagine how it is possible to move towards fully sustainable buildings”.
The design strategy consists of two distinct parts; a strategy document and a Sustainability Design Plan (SDP).The strategy document forms the basis for a workshop or discussion between client and project team with the aim of agreeing project goals and producing an SDP.
The SDP then outlines the sustainable development aims and building design performance parameters for the project. It sets out what is agreed for the design and what can be done at each stage to meet the agreed design strategy.
To enable project teams to deliver the strategy and ensure that sustainable building design is at the core of every project, Arup is providing access to a mix of training and resources for example, a dedicated intranet site, e-learning for all and specially prepared sustainability briefing notes.
The strategy has already been applied successfully in a number of projects including the redevelopment of St Paul’s School, London.
Alistair continues: “Right from the beginning of a project we want to set out a strategy for the design as it is much harder to incorporate key sustainability concepts later. The strategy shows how all of the objectives might be met and enables us to help our clients to imagine what is possible”.
Arup’s 6 Sustainable Design Objectives:
1 – Carbon neutrality
In a world reducing its carbon emissions new buildings should be ‘carbon neutral’ in terms of CO2 emissions. This is expected to be a stepping stone towards new buildings eventually becoming ‘carbon negative’.
2 – Self-sufficiency in water
Water availability will change from site-to-site so Arup’s aim is to use what the site and location provide and explore how to re-use this supply. The objective of self-sufficiency means reducing consumption and maximising the collection and re-use of water for the building.
3 – Built using sustainable materials
This encompasses many aspects of material use and re-use that need to be judged for each project such as incorporating design for the whole or part re-use of buildings, using more recycled materials, low energy embodied carbon or environmental impacts, local or certified sourcing, non-toxic products, reducing energy demands, recyclability, materials from rapidly renewable sources.
4 – Able to cope with future climate change
Arup will look at ways that buildings can adapt to emerging scenarios for climate change. They need to be able to adapt to changing temperatures, wind and rain patterns. Our designs will consider what this might mean and help clients to consider what strategies should be put in place for the future.
5 – A positive contribution to the community and built environment
In future it must be ensured that what gets built adds to the development of more sustainable communities rather than just provide more commodity. Arup want buildings that enhance overall quality of life. This may be through linkages with transport systems, more equitable access and stakeholder engagement etc.
6 – Sustainable in operation
It is essential that buildings are designed to operate efficiently and be managed easily. This includes not only energy use but waste, water and overall maintenance. Arup will design buildings that consider operational sustainability and will help clients put in place strategies for monitoring and managing the building for optimal performance.
Arup unveils new green design strategy
