Loughborough University East Park Design Centre

The brief for the East Park Design Centre called for state-of-the-art facilities that would allow a broad spectrum of design disciplines to collaborate within an open and transparent environment, including workshops, laboratories, teaching studios and lecture space. Architect Nicholas Burwell met the challenge by designing an impressive 8,000m² three storey building with an attractive zinc, glass and concrete exterior. The £21m project has received plaudits from its users and achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’.

The architects set out to produce an open environment that encouraged conversation and interaction between the different design groups. But there was the problem of noise and vibration emanating from the workshops and the potential for fumes from paint and glue etc. The challenge was to ensure none of this disturbed other building users. The solution was essentially twofold. First, the layout was arranged on either side of a long circulation area, or street, which runs the length of the building.

This space has been used to separate workshops and machine rooms, situated to the rear of the building, from lecture theatres and offices, placed towards the front. Large glass partitions keep the escape of noise and fumes from workshops to a minimum, while simultaneously retaining a visual connection with the rest of the building. The second solution was to use concrete for the frame, floors and walls to dampen noise and vibration. This had the further benefit of providing thermal stability to enhance comfort and optimise energy use. “Using exposed concrete gives the building a substantial thermal mass and it is this which really underwrites the building’s low-energy usage” says Burwell.

Ventilation is provided in a number of ways - most obviously through windows the occupiers can open, but also through louvres in the exterior, with heating batteries behind them to warm the air if necessary. In the open spaces, around the central circulation area, air can simply pass over the exposed concrete walls and soffits and make its way up to the opening roof lights above the street. In more enclosed areas a different approach is used and vertical ventilation shafts are positioned every 7.5m, with integral fans that gently draw air from the space through wall louvres. The system is not immediately noticeable – the shafts simply being built into toilet blocks and other parts of the rear of the building.

The extensive natural ventilation control and actuation system was designed and installed by SE Controls to not only manage the CO₂ levels, but also ensure the temperature within the building is maintained within comfortable limits. This is achieved with over 400 chain actuators which control the louvres and high level vertical vents.