N G Bailey completes Super Green Bristol University building

5th December 2014

Construction services group NG Bailey has just finished a £11.5 million contract for its part in the erection of the £56.5 million state-of-the-art Bristol University Life Sciences building that will explore new horizons in biology and medicine. And it has been designed to be the best in sustainable design and energy efficiency.

 

N G Bailey has had a major role to play in the building of this important new 13,500m? building, and has been a part of the biggest ever project undertaken in the 100-year history of what is one of the UK’s top research universities.

 

The Ilkley-based company has provided all of the electrical, mechanical and water distribution services for the flagship ‘super green’ Life Sciences building, which has been officially opened by naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.

 

Created to inspire scientists and researchers of the future, this development is expected – among many other things - to further the university’s role as a favoured filming location for Sir David and the BBC’s Natural History Unit.

 

The new site provides outstanding laboratories for science teaching and will enhance the undergraduate experience by facilitating research-led study and staff-student interaction.

 

Highly sustainable

 

Located at the centre of the precinct, the new building couples central positioning with the best in sustainable design and energy efficiency, including a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, naturally ventilated offices, and the best use of natural daylight with automatic control of artificial lighting as back-up. 

 

In addition, the lighting is all low energy and has been designed to avoid night sky pollution. Also incorporated are solar PV panels to pre-heat domestic water, the use of high efficiency plant and equipment, and a system was installed to collect rainwater to be used to flush toilets. Finally, the stonework has been reclaimed from demolished buildings on site.

 

This 13,580m2 new build – designed by architects Sheppard Robson – will house the School of Biological Sciences and colleague from other disciplines working in the field of life sciences. Split into three zones, the state-of-the-art structure includes a five-storey laboratory wing, a double-height plant room and greenhouses for plant studies. The focal point, a central atrium, leads to both the laboratory wing and a five-storey office wing containing administration, computer facilities, seminar rooms and a cafe. 

 

At the official opening, Sir David said: “This great building will give you and its graduate’s pleasure for the rest of your lives. It will play an important role in tackling the great problems and difficulties that the world is going to face in your generation.”

 

A fully collaborative approach 

 

NG Bailey’s engineering, IT services and offsite manufacture divisions worked together to complete a full scope of mechanical and electrical services, alongside main contractor Vinci Construction UK.

 

The works included the installation of all electrical systems for the building, including CCTV and intruder detection, lighting control, and intercom systems. It was important also to ensure that all of the needs of people with disabilities were met.

 

Commented NG Bailey project manager Steve Cox: “This was an 18-month project that drew upon a raft of different specialisms across the company, creating a building for a university ranked among the world’s top thirty that will become a beacon for science.

 

“It is a state-of-the-art facility and its innovative design – incorporating a ‘sky lounge’ and floating meeting pods – is a stand-out major asset to the university, its staff and its students.

 

“The building’s location in the city centre generated a series of complex challenges to the contractors, but these were overcome thanks to good planning, a painstaking attention to detail, and ways of working that captured best practice in their field.”

 

Steve Cox added: “Reducing impact on the environment is always a major focus for any project NG Bailey is asked to deliver. We always aim to ensure we can incorporate some form of energy-efficient systems at the design stage in both retrofit and new build projects.

 

 “As such the building and surrounding area has been rated BREEAM Excellent, a mark of it being highly sustainable and environmental friendly,” he said.

 

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