City University London, Enhancing Thermal Performance
Our feasibility study enabled City University London to review and consider options for thermal improvement to their Northampton Square campus in order to achieve their HEFCE commitments for carbon reduction.
The University, Drysdale and Tait buildings are a suite of buildings to the north of the campus designed by Sheppard Robson Architects using similar construction, materials and forms. They were built for City University over a thirteen year period from 1961 to 1974.
The Tait building, completed last, was taken as representative of these and after carrying out a visual analysis of the external fabric, we grouped options for improvement into low, medium and high levels of intervention with lessons that could also be applied to the Drysdale and University Buildings.
A thermal model was then built and tested, which established the reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions for each option compared with the baseline, (existing condition). From this, the costs to implement each option against its life-cycle costs and associated payback periods were set out. Maintenance, phasing, interfaces with other planned projects within the University and any Planning implications were also considered.
The conclusion of the report therefore, set out a clear comparison for each option to assist the University with their decision making.
In appraising each option, we also considered how decisions made now could keep other options open for a later date. This is important when the benefits relate to an uncertain variable, such as the future cost of fuel.