One of the University of Nottingham’s newest buildings has been singled out as an excellent example of sustainable architecture.
The Nottingham Geospatial Building (NGB) was highly commended in the ‘Sustainability’ category at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors regional awards for 2010.
NGB, which had its official opening in March this year, was designed as a sustainable, low-carbon facility and is the latest addition to the University’s award-winning Jubilee Campus, which has regenerated a large former brownfield site once occupied by Raleigh.
NGB is a £9m research centre devoted to global navigation satellite systems and geospatial sciences — a base for world-leading research and close collaboration with industry. It was funded with a £3.4m grant from the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) together with University investment.
The building incorporates a range of sustainable technologies, including a computerised Building Management System that ensures energy is used efficiently, passive ventilation, and the use of renewable energy from biomass.
As well as being commended in the ‘Sustainability’ category, NGB was also shortlisted in the ‘Regeneration’ category at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) East Midlands awards, held at the Belfry Hotel, Nottingham, on May 6.
Stephen Anelay FRICS, lead judge for the East Midlands, said: “The standard of entries for the RICS Awards this year was extremely high and the judges very much enjoyed the opportunity to see so many of the East Midlands’ outstanding projects and developments.”
The three-storey NGB houses three inter-related groups – the Institute of Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy, the Centre for Geospatial Science and GRACE, the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) Research and Applications Centre of Excellence — as well as business accommodation for companies from the GNSS and geospatial industry.
It was designed by a team of three Nottingham-based firms: Maber Architects, mechanical and electrical consultants d3-Shipway and structural engineers Price & Myers — who together won a national competition to design the Centre. The project was delivered by cost management consultants, the WT Partnership, and Clegg Construction.
NGB is the latest addition to the University’s successful new Innovation Park, which is set in a 12-acre site adjacent to Jubilee Campus and offers high quality incubation space for small- and medium-sized businesses and access to University researchers, facilities and support.
Professor Alan Dodson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Infrastructure at The University of Nottingham, said: “We’re delighted that the Nottingham Geospatial Building has been recognised by the RICS.
“This new facility, to house one of the world’s leading geospatial research centres, continues The University of Nottingham’s investment in new sustainable buildings and cutting-edge facilities. We’re determined to show leadership as we approach the time when, from 2018, zero carbon emissions become a design requirement for new public buildings.
“As a new addition to the Jubilee Campus, NGB has also made a significant contribution to the ongoing regeneration of this part of Nottingham.”
David Potter, Operations Director for RICS East Midlands, said: “All the entries to the RICS East Midlands Awards 2010 are a consistently high standard and this is a testament to the talents of the property developers, engineers, planners, architects and surveyors all looking to promote their high profile projects.”
For more information, visit: www.nottingham.ac.uk