University of Sussex | Life Sciences Building


Elementa Consulting was appointed to collaborate on designing a state-of-the-art life sciences building incorporating disparate scientists from the School of Life Sciences. Their various research and teaching fields will be under a single space to facilitate improved interaction and collaboration.

Sustainability is at the forefront of the design process for this project. Elementa Consulting took the architect’s early model and ran a thermal model process – the tension within the brief of energy efficiency and being a visible and permeable building had initially led to a highly glazed envelope. Early modeling input to offer alternative solar and shading strategy options to reduce heating and cooling were vital to resolving this tension. The design satisfied both the architect and client while also improving the overall efficiency of the building.

External vertical fins in front of the curtain wall glazing help to minimize incoming solar heat gain and reduce solar glare. These were carefully detailed to match the concrete façade sections of the building, which reference the aesthetic of the original Sir Basil Spence-designed campus keeping the building’s style coherent with those adjacent. The fins reduce the cooling load of the building, saving costs on air conditioning, and increasing the longevity of the building itself.

Each space has its own specific demands with a complex set of needs. Typically, a lab planner leads user briefings; however, in this project, Elementa Consulting took the lead in the stakeholder consultation process. After the initial space planning and more detailed lab planning, the team undertook a process of specific servicing requirements meetings with all specialist groups. Direct development of the scheme design, in collaboration with PIs for their own individual needs, will mean the building is fit for use immediately upon completion and benefitting greatly from the realization of efficiencies through creating shared technological hubs where multiple groups share their equipment and knowledge.

Flexibility is vital in laboratory environments, and Elementa Consulting developed a basic concept that allowed this flexibility. For example, should the need for an extra fume cupboard arise, it could be implemented without issue by considering additional capacity in critical systems such as the fume extract. We were then able to suggest new auto-closing sash VAV fume cupboards for maximum efficiency, an investment that would have the client see a return on investment within six months.

Elementa Consulting has worked closely with the project M&E QS team to keep a live list of potential value engineering opportunities and maintain control over the cost plan at each RIBA Stage when new un-envisaged M&E requirements are introduced.

The result of this outstanding new facility helped the University to continue attracting the best scientists who can engage in vital research that will have a real impact on people’s lives.

[Sassy_Social_Share title='Please follow and like us:']


Get in Touch
×
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Top