New Head Office
Project: New Head Office, Fitzpatrick Contractors
Location: Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire
Architect: Black Architects
Bricks: Ibstock - Tudor Brown Blend
The Carbon Trust has commended Fitzpatrick for their innovation in procuring this project
and their efforts in engaging a reduced carbon design. Indeed, when reviewed, the current design can only be improved with the application of variable speed drives and controls
the main air handling unit and the provision of low energy consuming computers.
The proposed 3,106m2 building will provide 3 floors of office space (including basement)
along with car parking and landscaping. The internal space includes a reception area, cellular and open plan offices, meeting rooms, training rooms, canteen, gymnasium, coffee and printing stations and lifts.
Fitzpatrick procured the scheme as a contractor design and build contract, working with
Black’s Architecture, and structural engineers Terry Collier Associates. The sustainability
and mechanical and electrical performances specification has been produced by Fitzpatrick.
The construction team is led by Fitzpatrick Contractors (Eastern Region), the mechanical
contractor is Encon Special Contracts and the electrical contractor is Phase Building
Services. The principal design intent is to achieve a BREEAM excellent score whilst
demonstrating the good business sense of sustainable buildings.
Design Features
The building has been designed to be sustainable with the following design features
incorporated.
The building has been orientated on an East/West axis with a good level of perimeter glazing
on the South of the building. The Southern facade is provided with a shading structure which
is constructed using steel work with the shading devices being photovoltaic cells. Good use
has been made of surrounding trees on the East and West elevations to provide natural
solar shading and as a result the site is classed as sheltered.
The basement is constructed using pre-cast concrete supporting a steel framework
construction above. The maximum depth of the building does not exceed 15m and is classed
as narrow plan. External walls are constructed using block work internal skin and brick outer leaf with cavity insulation. The roof is a Sarnafil insulated flat roof. All glazing is double
glazed clear glass and all glazing units are non opening and classed as seated.
Internally the building has raised floors with de-mountable internal partitions and suspended
ceilings. The building is to be constructed to achieve a 5m3/hr air leakage test at 50pa
pressure exceeding the minimum building regulation requirement.
Specially designed storage areas to segregate waste to minimise the amount sent to land fill
and maximise recycling combined with a waste compactor to reduce the frequency of waste
collections.
A green travel plan including the provision of high quality on site catering to reduce journey’s
off site during the day coupled with video conferencing to reduce unnecessary travel.
For more information about this project, click here.