Paul McAlister Architects – A Partnership Approach

In April 2013 the team at Paul McAlister Architects submitted our proposal for the CREST Centre and Pavilion and in August we were delighted to win the open tender for the provision of architect led design team services for the project.

Over the following months, Paul McAlister Architects are writing a regular diary documenting its construction. In our CREST diaries we will discuss in detail the design and construction of the CREST Pavilion, focusing on the challenges and rewards of sustainable architecture. The CREST centre will comprise of three areas; the Hub, the Research & Development Lab and the Pavilion. The Pavilion will be newly developed while the Hub and Research & Development lab will be integrated into the existing Skills Centre building; works on this section of the project are now nearing completion. The Hub will form the central office area within the CREST centre and will comprise modern office and meeting space where the CREST team will meet with companies to discuss their requirements and outline the services available. The Research & Development lab will comprise a large workshop facility which can be divided into smaller project workspaces. Within the Research & Development lab a range of advanced prototyping, testing and development facilities will be available to enable staff at the centre to support companies with practical hands-on new product development. The Pavilion area of the CREST centre will provide demonstration and testing facilities to showcase innovative products and processes and the use of renewable technologies in construction. The Pavilion will be designed to engage industry through experiencing (seeing, touching) new sustainable technologies and materials allowing for a deeper engagement in and understanding of the techniques on display.

From the very outset it was made clear that sustainable design was key to the successful completion of the CREST Pavilion, the design team approach was to reflect the innovative aspiration of the CREST project as a demonstration building and showcase for the new technologies on display. We are delighted to be involved in this ground-breaking project with our client, South West College, who are committed to designing a building that will be remarkable in terms of sustainability. The project is the one of the most sustainable projects in the UK and Ireland and will be the first commercial building to have the following three sustainable credentials:

1. Passivhaus Certified for Energy efficient envelope and ventilation system
2. BREEAM excellent in terms of the BRE sustainable benchmark for UK commercial buildings
3. The building will also be Net Zero Carbon, this means that the building can provide, by renewable energy, its own source of heat and lighting.

Whilst a combination of two of these sustainable criteria has been attempted in other parts of the UK, this will be the first example of the three criteria together and will become a benchmark building for sustainability. Construction of the pavilion commenced on site on the 18th November 2013 with site clearance having already commenced as this is being written. This is a milestone for the entire team involved; the beginnings of the both the newest and largest CREST pavilion becoming reality. The contractor is currently stripping the existing concrete and substructure to lower the site levels to allow the foundations to be dug and the construction of the ‘Glulam’ frame is to begin in the New Year with the fitting of the SIP panels to follow at the end of January. The weeks leading up to the works commencing on site have been crucial to ensure all drawings and documentation were completed before onsite activity began. There has been a lot of work behind the scenes with the entire design team communicating to ensure that everybody was up to speed on all the intricacies of the project. For the construction to be Passivhaus standard, Net Zero Carbon and BREEAM excellent, it is imperative that the pre-build drawings are precise so that the construction team, from suppliers to builders, are all in agreement about how to proceed through the building phases. At Paul McAlister Architects we always aim for a partnership approach to construction, involving everyone, which facilitates team focused progress.

Paul McAlister Architects The Barn Studio, 64a Drumnacanvy Road, Portadown

Tel: 028 3835 5111

Fax: 028 3844 1571

Email: info@pmcarchitects.com