The Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) has won the Higher Education award at the BREEAM Awards 2012.
The Awards honour the most successful sustainable buildings in the industry and are made annually to the projects that achieve the highest scores under BREEAM – the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings.
The £10m LICA building at Lancaster University has already achieved the distinction of being the UK’s first higher education project to be rated ‘Outstanding’ for both design stage and post construction review. As mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) engineers and BREEAM Assessors, we worked closely with the client, Lancaster University, and the project team, which included architect Sheppard Robson, to achieve this rating.
An exciting purpose built facility, LICA combines teaching and research activities in Art, Design, Film Studies, Music and Theatre Studies across a range of interactive and flexible spaces.
From the outset of the LICA project there was a focus on passive design to reduce energy demand. The pre-fabricated and cross-laminated timber construction provides high levels of air tightness and contributes to low U-values, two factors which were central to achieving the Energy Performance Asset Rating of 21, Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band A.
Solar photovoltaics and rainwater harvesting both provide operational feedback via live information displays in reception, and energy sub-metering and lighting controls further encourage effective energy management. The building also features low water-use sanitary fittings; 75% efficient thermal wheel heat recovery to maximize energy efficiency; and a link to the campus district heating with CHP.
Mark Swindlehurst, Lancaster University’s Director of Facilities said:
“We are delighted that Lancaster has been recognised as a pioneer of sustainable building in the Higher Education sector. We see BREEAM as the yardstick for the environmental performance of our buildings and the effect they have on the wider environment. Central to the success of the LICA project was the collaborative approach embraced by Hoare Lea and the project team – this enabled the delivery of a truly ‘Outstanding’ building that fully meets our commitment to sustainability.”
