Butterfield Business Base & Innovation Centre
Luton, East of England
PROJECT TEAM & PARTNERS
- Project Manager- Laura Church from Luton Borough Council
- Architects - Hopkins
- Builders - Marriott Construction
CONTRACT VALUE
14.4 Million (then worth around €20m)
FUNDING
Funding from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) Luton
Borough Council and Objective 2 ERDF.
TIMESCALE
4 years
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The Innovation and Business Base (IBB) provides first class accommodation for start-up companies in the high-tech sector. Its outstanding architectural design incorporates a number of exciting energy saving features and provides a stimulus for creative ideas.
Companies based at the centre benefit from the state-of-the-art surroundings as well as specialist help and support to ensure their new ventures are a success. As businesses grow past the start-up phase they will be encouraged to move into other accommodation on the Butterfield site.
The IBB will act as a catalyst for boosting Luton's economy. It will create jobs and provide a strong focus for Luton's move towards a highly skilled, knowledge-based economy that can support high-tech businesses.
Designed by London architects Hopkins and built by Marriott Construction, the 70,000 sq ft centre provides over 100 supported units and aims to create over 450 jobs. Facilities will include office space, in-house business support facilities, meeting rooms and an e-commerce suite. Funding for this £14 million project has been secured from EEDA and Objective 2 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
PROJECT TARGETS & LEGISLATION
BREAM Excellent rating was achieved.
An "A" rating under the European Energy Performance of
Buildings Directive.
The building was awarded a Green Apple Award for achieving the
highest standards in environmental sustainability. See
http://www.thinkluton.co.uk/think_news/pdfs/Summer_of_Success_A4_OCT_08_PROOF_3.pdf
Legislative requirement- Planning laws
CHALLENGES FACED
This was a greenfield site, so all infrastructure had to be provided (roads, water, electricity, etc.). This included laying extensive earth ducts for the innovative ventilation system, which will reduce energy consumption by up to 75%, regulate air temperature and guarantee excellent air quality.
INNOVATIVE PRACTICE
The building's design incorporates many passive energy and energy saving features, including ground source heating. Sensitively designed by internationally renowned architects Hopkins, the centre is naturally ventilated, uses solar power to heat water, and features a spacious, vibrant entrance to encourage interaction between the building's tenants. Light and pleasant arcades on the ground floor make use of open courtyard space and provide circulation access to the ground floor offices. Additionally, a central lake forms part of the sustainable drainage strategy and supports a wide range of wildlife.
This is one of the first office buildings in the UK to incorporate the innovative ventilation system using earth ducts, which reduces energy consumption by up to 75%, regulates air temperature and guarantees excellent air quality. Fresh air is drawn through earth ducts below the ground, effectively using the earth as a source of heat in winter and of cooling in summer. The fresh air is supplied into the buildings via a pressurised floor plenum. The enhanced ventilation system provides a pleasant and comfortable internal environment to the business units, without the need for air conditioning.
Each earth duct is a minimum of 85 metres in length, has a diameter of 900mm and is being laid one metre below ground level where the temperature remains fairly constant. Altogether 13 earth ducts will feed into the five buildings that comprise the first phase of construction at the Business Village at Butterfield.
Chris Bannister, director of Hopkins Architects, said: "We are delighted to be involved in this scheme to help regenerate Luton's economy. The building uses a range of passive sustainable strategies to create a high quality low energy scheme that will hopefully provide an inspirational home for young start-up businesses in the region."
LESSONS LEARNT & APPLICABILITY IN OTHER SITUATIONS
That innovative building design can be striking and attractive as well as energy efficient.
PUBLICISED INFORMATION
See
http://www.thinkluton.co.uk/think_news/pdfs/Summer_of_Success_A4_OCT_08_PROOF_3.pdf
and
http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/references/news/news%20archive/2008%20news%20releases/september%202008/22_09_08%20-%20celebrating%20innovation%20in%20luton
for more info
CONTACT DETAILS
Laura Church or Angela Rowney angela.rowney@luton.gov.uk
+44 (0)1582 546270
