2010 BREEAM Award winners

Announced at Ecobuild in March, the BREEAM Awards 2010 have again demonstrated the importance of adopting an evironmentally responsible and cohesive approach to the design of building services. With entries having to attain a BREEAM Excellent rating (70 per cent or above) in order to pre-qualify, the 11 winners featured here represent the some of the best examples of sustainable design.

The Bespoke award went to Bletchley Leisure Centre by Holder Mathias Architects with services engineer Venables Associates (79.64 per cent). A biomass boiler used in conjunction with back-up high efficiency, low NOx gas boilers provide hot water and space heating for the 9572 square metre scheme. The sports hall and bowls area are naturally ventilated using Monodraught units. A thermal wheel makes use of heat from the extract air to warm the fresh air intake. The fans and most of the pumps are fitted with inverter-driven motors, which allow motor speeds to be reduced in times of low demand, thereby increasing efficiency. Variable refrigerant volumes are used to exchange heat between warm and cool rooms. Rainwater harvesting supplies most of the wcs.



Winner of the Courts category was Salisbury Law Court by Stride Treglown/Fielden & Mawson with services consultant Foreman Roberts (72.59 per cent). The three-storey building makes use of an innovative concrete frame system, which is said to have reduced the amount of concrete required by 2000 cubic metres. A low temperature hot water system (LTHW) supplied by gas-fired boilers is used for space heating and hot water. Domestic hot water is preheated using a solar thermal system. Heat distribution to the office areas is via radiators, with either fan coil units or a constant volume system used in the court rooms. Ventilation is provided by both a central mechanical system and cross-ventilation. The courtrooms and noise-sensitive areas are cooled via the central system with air-cooled chillers.

A brownfield housing development on Sanderstead Road in Croydon by AHP Architects & Surveyors won the Ecohomes award (75.41 per cent). The scheme, which comprises 42 residential units, makes use of highly insulated and thermally-efficient timber frame construction. Heating and hot water are provided by highly efficient SEDBUK band A natural gas condensing boilers. Communal lighting and electrical services are supplied by photovoltaic panels.

The Further Education award went to Loreto Sixth Form College in Manchester by architect Taylor Young with services engineer Waterman Group (74.01 per cent). A combination of ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), evacuated tube solar collectors and high efficiency condensing boilers provide heating. Cooling demands are met by the GSHPs and a high efficiency flood plate evaporator chiller. Waste heat from the chiller is redirected to the hot water system. A 270 square metre vertical photovoltaic cell array will provide around24,300kWh/year of electrical power.

Architect Wilson Mason & Partners together with services engineer Zisman Bowyer & Partners won the Industrial category for the VLA Stores near Weybridge in Surrey (83.76 per cent). The two-storey building incorporates a bio-fuel boiler, which is run on pure rapeseed oil. Electricity is provided by four 6kW vertical axis wind turbines. Sunpipes supplement passive infrared (PIR) controlled lighting, while solar thermal heating boosts the LTHW system.



The Centrum Galerie shopping mall in Dresden by Peter Kulka Architektur was the recipient of the International award (76.46 per cent). The 52,000 square metre project is the first building in Germany and the first shopping centre in continental Europe to receive BREEAM Excellent. Heat loss has been reduced by 40 per cent – compared to EnEv 2004 requirements (German Energy Saving Regulations) – through the use of high quality materials and meticulous design. A comprehensive lighting management system and energy saving controls for the escalators and moving walkways have been incorporated.

Photo: Benjamin Struelens

The Multi-residential award went to Carnegie Village at Leeds Metropolitan University by GWP Architecture with m&e engineer Imtech G&H (76.1 per cent). The approach adopted by the design team was to reduce energy loads by passive means. The requirement for space heating has been significantly reduced through high levels of insulation and airtightness. Fresh, filtered air is delivered to all habitable rooms via whole-house mechanical heat recovery ventilation units with 80 per cent heat recovery efficiency. Other green technologies used include solar thermal collectors, aerated taps and showers, and dual flush wcs.

Winner of the Ofices category was Horizon House in Bristol by Alec French Architects with Arup and Hoare Lea (85.06 per cent). The 6600 square metre Environment Agency offices are heated using GSHPs supplemented by gas boilers. Fan coil units set within the raised floor voids provide zone heating. Mechanical ventilation is used at low temperatures to enable heat recovery, and at high temperatures when cooling is provided. The building is naturally ventilated in mid-season conditions using high level windows in the facades and opening rooflights in the atrium.

The Prisons award went to Littlehey II Young Offenders’ Institute in Cambirdgeshire by Capita Symonds/Premier Inter-link Waco UK (76.23 per cent). A biomass heating system used in conjunction with underfloor heating provides over 30 per cent of the building’s annual heating needs.

Chetwoods Architects with services engineer Hulley & Kirkwood won the Retail category for White River Place in St Austell, Cornwall (74.16 per cent). The £75m scheme employs passive strategies where possible, supplemented by low carbon technologies, such as heat pumps. A substantial rainwater harvesting system provides water not only for the landlord areas, but also for irrigation, wash-down and individual tenants. In the car park, carbon monoxide sensors are linked to pulse fans, which run at low speeds when required to provide fresh air. The fans are also linked to the smoke control system, and in the case of a fire can be used to create safe access for firefighters.

Last but not least, the Schools award went to Rogiet Primary School in Mon-mouthshire by White Design with m&e engineer McCann & Partners (78.18 per cent). Space heating is provided for the 1447 square metre scheme by an ultra-low NOx gas boiler. This is used in conjunction with zoned underfloor heating controlled via the BMS. A combination of manually and automatically actuated windows and rooflights are used to naturally ventilate the occupied areas, with a Passivent stack and louvre system used in the main hall. A solar thermal hot water system and vertical axis wind turbine provide 17 per cent of the building’s total energy requirements.



AT207/April 10 p64.