Skelly & Couch

The Hexagon could be the first theatre in the country to be heated by using naturally occurring warm water from underground. Ground source heat pumps work by harnessing heat from water which flows naturally underground. This is pumped to the surface where heat is extracted using a heat pump and transferred for use in a building. The cooler water is then returned underground. It is like a fridge in reverse. This form of renewable energy is one of the sustainable initiatives being used in the redevelopment of The Hexagon. The old inefficient high carbon gas boilers are set to be removed and the ground source heat pumps will reduce the carbon emissions of the theatre. This method is a sustainable and low carbon way of heating the building which fits the Council’s ambition to create a carbon free Reading by 2030. Over the summer contractors Drift Services Group conducted an exploration of the Queen’s Walk site to see whether the area would be suitable for extracting the water found in the chalk aquifer running under the town. Two 120m deep, 35cm wide boreholes have been drilled and tests were conducted to see if the flow and the temperature of the water are sufficient to support the heating needs of The Hexagon complex. Results show that 15 litres of water per second can be extracted and raised to the surface to a heat pump which will extract the heat and use it in the building before replacing it at a lower temperature further downstream. The geology of the area means that water can flow through the fractures in the chalk, making it particularly suitable for the new way of heating buildings. The water levels returned quickly after extraction throughout the testing process meaning it will have minimal impact on the surrounding area, which forms an important part of the test. The Council has now applied to the Environment Agency for a licence to use the boreholes for this purpose. The heat pump system will be funded through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme through Salix who work on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Alkerden Hub has been unanimously approved!   The Hub will be a landmark community building at the centre of Whitecliffe in Ebbsfleet Garden City, purposefully designed as a focal point for health, education, and social interaction. The scheme translates the robust, industrial forms of concrete production facilities into an elegant composition that is characterful, civic and generous in its level of articulation across all facades. The layout adopts a ‘long-life, loose-fit’ approach allowing the building to adapt to future changes of use and ensures long term flexibility and resilience. The internal spaces are bright, open, and easy to navigate, with intuitive wayfinding and level access throughout. Sustainability is at the core of the design targeting a BREEAM "Excellent" certification, with features such as air-source heat pumps, solar panels, and green roofs contributing to a 26% reduction in the building’s carbon footprint. Community engagement was integral to the design process, with workshops and consultations ensuring the Hub meets the needs of local residents and stakeholders. The wider team: Client: Henley Camland Project Manager Academy Consulting Planning Consultant: CBRE UK Landscape Architect: Define Planning and Design Ltd Structural Engineer: Momentum Structural Engineers MEP Engineer: Skelly & Couch Sustainability Consultant: Twin and Earth Ltd Transport Consultant: The Transportation Consultancy

Topping out at the Old Vic Annex! The “Backstage Building” topping out ceremony was held on the 17 October to mark reaching the highest primary structure of the Glulam timber frame. To mark this milestone, tours of the building site were led by Haworth Tompkins and speeches took place in what will be the new event space with a toast in the Back of House rehearsal room. With only 9 months to go on site, the new, six-storey backstage building will include a daytime café and script library, writers' room, Clore learning studio, green room and event space. Its realisation will also make the Old Vic stage and back-of-house areas accessible to visitors as well as staff and working creatives for the first time in more than 200 years. https://lnkd.in/eJyuGPsW #HaworthTompkins #OldVic #Theatre #annex #toppingout #site #construction #progress 📸 Jonny Ruff HT Team: Lucy Picardo, Hannah Constantine, chester kendell, Gabrielle Wellon Client: The Old Vic Design team: Lambeth London Borough Council, Skelly & Couch, Momentum Structural Engineers, Charcoalblue, The Fire Surgery, Equals Consulting, Steam, Twin and Earth Ltd, BDP LIGHTING LIMITED,  RISE CONTRACTS LIMITED, AECOM

Somerville College is proud to announce a new flagship building at the heart of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, enabled by a significant philanthropic donation from the Tata Group. The project is the culmination of the decade-long friendship between Somerville College and Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group, Mr Ratan Tata, in whose memory the building is named. The Ratan Tata Building, designed by Morris+Company, represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand Somerville’s teaching and learning space, support research and articulate our vision of a sustainable and forward-looking academic community, and will also be the new home of the The Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development. While the decision to name the building in honour of Mr Tata was taken some time ago, his death last week, felt so keenly throughout India and the world, gives even greater meaning to this lasting tribute to him. Read more here https://lnkd.in/e6Fzk6fs