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Sustainable, Energy Effiicent and Future Proof Refurbishment at Arup Scotland offices.

Scotstoun House has been Arup?s Edinburgh Office since 1964 having been designed by Arup Associates to suit their own needs as an engineering consultancy. Due to the expansion in staff numbers and the inflexibility of the building infrastructure it was decided that the building should be redeveloped. The aim of the redeveloped building was to bring new life to the building and provide a contemporary environment to suit ARUP? needs, now and into the future.

At the time the design for the project was being developed Historic Scotland placed a Grade B listing on the existing building. This listing placed onerous conditions on the scope to amend the existing building and became an important consideration for the design.

The existing office building and out buildings were retained and refurbished. A new extension was constructed to the main office building to house relocated ancillary accommodation.

The extension also provided much needed meeting rooms. A key aspect of the brief was to promote sustainable design by ensuring that the office operates passively, uses low energy systems powered by low carbon fuel source. The improvement of the internal environment of the building was key to the project brief in terms of enhanced thermal comfort and also increasing daylighting.
It was at this point that Mr Douglas Wylie, Arup Scotlands? Senior Electrical Engineer [and Project Manager for the Scotstoun House project] decided to use Jung KNX as his total building control system. The ability to control all elements of the building on the one system, plus the fact that by using the KNX protocol his building was “future proof” were major points in his making this decision.
As this was to be the practice?s first experience using KNX, Mr Wylie contacted Barry Bilclough, the Jung UK Manager to guide him through the process of his “wish list” on how Arups? would like their building to function, and to introduce Mr Wylie?s Electrical and Mechanical team to local KNX system integrator, and approved Jung partner Seeland Systems Integration Ltd.
Meetings were held sufficiently early in the design process between Arups and Seeland Systems Integration that the Arup design team felt really comfortable with the proposal and were able to brief the successful M & E contractor F.E.S. Ltd regarding how they would work with the KNX system integrator, especially during the first fix period.
The building has been occupied since its completion in May 2010 and monitoring over this period has demonstrated that the key objectives have been achieved.

Special challenges, objectives or constraints and their design solutions

The most significant challenge for the project was a result of the Grade B listing that Historic Scotland placed on the building. The listing imposed a number of constraints such as retaining the existing walls and elements of the internal furnishings.

The project was subject to the 2008 Scottish Technical Standards for energy usage. The performance requirements of the technical standard were difficult to achieve given the listing constraints. Not only did the Arup team achieve the standards but they exceeded the performance significantly.
Planning constraints required that the building should achieve BREEAM rating of Very Good. Again, this goal was exceeded by the project which has been certified as BREEAM Excellent.
Planning constraints required that a minimum of 15% reduction Carbon emissions by the systems serving the building be provided by Low to Zero Carbon technology. This planning requirement was in direct conflict with the constraints of the Grade B listing which limited significantly the type of LZC systems that could be used.
The planning condition was achieved through the use of a biomass boiler system.
The main project objective was to create a world class environment for employees and visitors combined with an energy efficient sustainable design.
The project team took a hierarchical approach to the design. Firstly the building form was optimised. By considering building massing, orientation, the envelope performance it was possible to create a highly energy efficient building. Only once the building performance was optimised were the low energy systems selected.
The design maximised passive strategies for ventilation, thermal comfort and lighting. The design approach has been successfully implemented in the completed building creating a modern, low energy comfortable environment. As a result of a holistic approach to the design process integrating the disciplines of architecture, services and structural engineering, a comfortable modern refurbished building has been created. The design team have produced an exemplar sustainable and low energy environment utilising passive design techniques alongside the use of renewable energy technologies.

Specific elements of excellence and innovation in terms of design, equipment or application

The project has many examples of excellence and innovation. The building has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating.
The occupied spaces of the building are entirely naturally ventilated with key consideration given to the thermal comfort of the occupants. Optimisation of thermal comfort is in part achieved through the use of Energain phase change thermal mass which is incorporated into the ceiling construction. Solar Powered „Windcatchers? have been provided for natural ventilation of internal meeting rooms.
Daylighting has been provided throughout the working spaces of the building. Sola tubes are used extensively throughout and create a much improved working environment which rarely requires artificial lighting. The daylighting scheme provides a very uniform level of daylighting.
Low energy LED lighting for outdoor lighting with solar powered bi-directional road studs used to define the roadway into the site.
The glazing used throughout has been selected to optimise performance in terms of maximising light transmission (73%) and minimising heat gain.
The project includes a Sustainable Urban Drainage System. Low energy consumption appliances are used throughout.
Biomass boiler Specification of energy efficient plant and building services systems Good work environment

The low carbon design features of the project, including energy metering, monitoring and targeting

Evidence of performance and energy demand before and after refurbishment

A master student from Herriot Watt University looked at the energy consumption before and after. A master brief was prepared which detailed the improvements in energy usage from the old building to the new.
Modelling was done to show how much the light pipes saved energy costs and its predicted payback period of 17 years was calculated.
An EPC assessment was produced.

Green procurement, use of recycled/recyclable materials

The structure and façade of the existing building we retained and re-used. The garden wall was demolished, stored and rebuilt within the building as part of the new redevelopment. On site material was stored and crushed for fill and hardcore for granular fill and hardcore across the site and under road bases.
The Scotstoun House Redevelopment has been built using sustainable materials including:
Maximise use of natural, inert and recyclable materials.
Maximise pre-fabrication to reduce construction waste production.
Re-use of existing building, structure and façade
Use of on-site crushed aggregates
Use of Green Guide A rated Materials
Use of Zero ODP, GWP less than 5 insulation materials

Evidence of actual performance and how it exceeds the requirements of the Building Regulations

An A-rated building.
Were roofs and u-values could be changed they were. Windows with a u-value of 1.2 compared to the 2007 regs

Details of consequential improvements included in the works

Light-tubes

– Benefits are numerous. Introducing natural light improves productivity and reduces  absenteeism. Less artificial lighting allowed the natural ventilation strategy to work eliminating the need for mechanical cooling, and reducing overheating.

Natural ventilation not only provides free cooling but a much healthier working environment with users having control via openable windows.

The Jung KNX system controls the DALI lighting energy reduction without user interaction and reduced conflict.

Glazing

– more even /less direct solar/

Daylighting improves

Figures for BREEAM or LEED assessment

BREEAM Excellent rating.

Commissioning process and how it contributed to the building performance

The building is monitored by the KNX system which allowed for adjustment to be made.
Natural ventilation to the building is modulated by the the high level windowsAs designers and users the Jung Facility Pilot allows us a unique opportunity to monitor the building on a daily basis and make adjustments where necessary to optimise energy performance and comfort conditions.

Operation and maintenance: how the client was prepared for the efficient and effective management of the building performance

The Scotstoun House Redevelopment has been designed to be sustainable in operation through the use of the following:
Provision of a building user guide to ensure that the building can be operated easily and efficiently.
Provision of a Building Management System via the KNX protocol to allow energy to be monitored and managed.
Use of Passive Infra Red Lighting Controls.
Provision of occupant controls for heating and lighting.

The successful outcome: how it met or exceeded the original objective

The building has been occupied since July 2010 and has proven to provide an excellent environment for staff

and visitors alike.

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