Project brief in short: Design a successful building for the University of Huddersfield, limited by a portal frame structure, and certain spaces which are required by the client - offices of various sizes, research laboratories, specialist workshop spaces, confrence room and exhibition.

Located on Colne Road, Huddersfield, just north of the River Colne, the current site is a brown field site, currently being used as a carpark. The client requested the design to take sustainability into consideration.  There was a small building on the site back in the 1800's, which would limit the type of foundations I could use.

A tree survey of the site shows that none of the trees were protected by the council and most trees were mistaken for overgrown large shrubs. In the long run, I didn't have to tamper with the trees which is good as I prefer to preserve nature when possible.

The Design

The portal frame was requested by the client. It is a fairly quick construction method. Making this more sustainable was difficult, however I located local steel merchants meaning less distance to travel.

The extior of the design was constructed from three main wall types. The main front ground floor plannels where made from Oak shiplap cladding from a producer located less then 5 minutes away. This type of cladding has sustainabile certifiaction (FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification))

The secondflood of the design is more directed to the sun so was constructed using Solar PV Cladding. This cladding system provides a sustainable amount of solar electicity for lighting. 

On both East and West faces of the building a 40m2 vertical living wall system -Versa Wall was specified. The purpose of the Versa Wall is to extract carbondioxide from the ventilation system. The living wall consist of two types of plant: Asplenium Scolopendrium and Vinca minor as they have a higher rate of cleaning carbon pollution and particulate matter which the machinery from the workshop would provide at large rates. The living wall system provides cleaner air for its staff as well as the local wildlife.