News
In this issue
Company News
• Q&A with Hector Black - CMA Managing Director
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Covell Matthews Aberdeen
• 9 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen
• Tel: (01224) 634040 • Fax: (01224) 631649
Covell Matthews Edinburgh
• 6 Manor Place, Edinburgh
• Tel: (0131) 226 3366 • Fax: (0131) 220 1177
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Energy Performance of Buildings
• Energy Performance of Buildings
Huddersfield Kingsgate Centre
• Valerie Carr’s Papers Published
Q&A with
Hector Black
- CMA Managing Director
Venture Production plc - Huntly Street, Aberdeen
The refurbishment of Venture Production's breakout area reached completion on 16th January 2008. Our client is happy with the area and
Hector, have you always wanted to be an architect?
Well I’ve always been fairly creative. I’d love to say I visited a Corbusier villa and I felt a higher calling, however when I did a bit of work shadowing at school I worked in an architect’s office in Inverness. He was a family friend, Hector MacDonald, and he had a Porsche. Accelerating uphill fast on the A9 convinced me this was the career for me. How misguided was that!
What is your average day at Covell Matthews like?
Busy sums it up fairly well. I enjoy the buzz and almost always get completely absorbed with projects of the day. As the Edinburgh office has grown over the past 18 months or so I’ve been able to focus on the aspects I enjoy most. Those are really the preliminary stages of the projects from inception and through Planning.
Are you best under pressure or well chilled?
Without doubt under pressure. I handle several projects at once and work best if I digest the issues surrounding a project and then often find my mind working overtime. I frequently come up with solutions outside the office. I find it incredibly rewarding to come up with a solution to a difficult design or an angle on how to resolve a particular problem. I’m not a wordy person so I suppose it’s my version of crosswords.
How do you think the company has changed over the last year?
It has changed a lot, which is good. I very much view the company as a living thing that needs to be carefully looked after. As important people have left we have replaced them with equally talented people. The recruitment process has been interesting as I view it very much as an opportunity rather than a chore. We all seem to get on great too. It was interesting to hear one client who was in late one evening commenting on seeing people still working away. He said he could tell there was a good vibe about the place and he could tell people were enjoying their work. It was a pleasant surprise as when you are so busy you don’t really realise it.
Where do you see the Company being in 5 years time?
I believe that very much depends on what our clients want to do. If they all retired at once we’d be in trouble! The Aberdeen and Edinburgh offices are roughly the same size now, but both have different sets of specialised skills. Over the past 5 years or so we seem to have communicated a lot more than we did in the past and we now share resources including personnel, skills and knowledge. I certainly see that fluid relationship improving further, especially as technology advances. We have recently opened an office in the Scottish Borders, being led by my fellow director Alyn Smith, and that offers dramatic opportunities. The office has considerable grounds which should easily accommodate a helicopter.
What is your work / life balance like?
Iain Eason here once said I seemed to be able to compartmentalise my life quite well and split work from the rest of my life. I suppose that used to be the case and certainly what I still try and do, but when the practice is busy this is increasingly difficult.
I’ve got two young boys and try and keep the weekend time with them sacrosanct. I never come into the office at the weekend. They are only young once.
If I do work at the weekend it’s in the evenings. I do enjoy my work though so I don’t mind too much.
I used to do a lot of hillwalking, solo, but haven’t got out much since the boys came along. Managed a quick scramble up Tinto at Christmas which was great. I am a keen golfer though and try and play as much as possible. It’s good for business I keep telling people!
Measuring your Carbon Footprint
Nearly 50% of the UK's energy consumption (33% worldwide) arises from the way in which our 25 million buildings are lit, heated and used.
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Even comparatively minor changes in the energy performance of and the way which we use each building would have a significant effect in reducing energy consumption, and hence, carbon emissions.
In 1997 many countries around the world recognised the growing problems of ever increasing levels of greenhouse gases and agreed to take action to reduce this problem. These countries signed up to the Kyoto Protocol which agreed a set of measures to reduce C02 emissions.
The UK Government is leading the introduction of a number of energy and cost savings measures to make all buildings more efficient. The measures are being applied across all European Union countries and are in line with the European Directive for the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD). The energy saving measures are three key areas:
1. Air-Conditioning Systems
Many commercial buildings and an increasing number of homes have air conditioning systems, which will be required to be carefully maintained and managed in order that they do not consume too much energy. Measures are being introduced to ensure that systems are regularly inspected, and will include an assessment of efficiency, a review of their sizing and advice on improvements or replacements and alternative solutions. By 4 January 2009 the first inspection of all existing air-conditioning systems over 250 kW must have occurred.
2. Boilers
Making businesses and homeowners aware of the energy efficiency of their buildings, and in particular their heating and hot water systems, is an essential part of the Government's programme to reduce energy demand and CO2 emissions from buildings. it is now the recommended good practice to provide the customer with a completed energy efficiency checklist, during a service or maintenance visit. This provides them with basic information about the energy efficiency of their heating and hot water system and an indication of whether the customer would benefit from a more thorough assessment of their system.
Domestic checklists
The checklists have been developed in conjunction with key members of the heating and hot water manufacturing and installation industries. They have been designed to be simple, quick to complete and should be left with the customer.
Business checklists
The checklist for businesses provides a record of the main appliances in the system. As the efficiency of appliances varies considerably depending on age and how they are maintained, a simple set of questions about the system controls and boilers gives an indication of whether further expert advice on the heating and hot water systems improvement would be beneficial.
3. Certificates
Energy certificates rate the energy performance of a building. The idea is similar to the well-established energy labels for the sale of white goods such as fridges and washing machines. Two types of energy certificate are required in different circumstances:
3.2 Display Energy Certificates (DECs) for large, public buildings occupied by public authorities or institutions providing a public service to a large number of persons which need to be displayed at all times; and
3.1 Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for all buildings when they are constructed, sold or rented out. Its purpose is to record how energy efficient a property is as a building. The certificate will provide a rating of the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient.
EPCs are produced using standard methods SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) for dwellings, SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) for all other building types) with standard assumptions about energy usage so that the energy efficiency of one building can easily be compared with another building of the same type. This allows prospective buyers, tenants, owners, occupiers and purchasers to see information on the energy efficiency and carbon emissions from their building so they can consider energy efficiency and fuel costs as part of their investment.
An EPC is always accompanied by a recommendation report that lists cost effective and other measures (such as low and zero carbon generating systems) to improve the energy rating of the building. The certificate is also accompanied by information about the rating that could be achieved if all the recommendations were implemented.
When the construction of a new building is completed, the builder or person responsible for the construction is responsible for obtaining the certificate and providing it to the owner. This is a duty under Building Regulations. This will also apply if a building is converted into fewer or more units and there are changes to the heating, hot water provision or air conditioning/ ventilation services.
Key Dates
6 April 2008: EPCs required for all new or converted homes
1 July 2008: EPCs required for the construction, sale or rent of buildings other than dwellings with a floor area over 2,500 m2.
1 October 2008: EPCs required on the sale or rent of all remaining dwellings
EPCs required on the construction, sale or rent of all remaining buildings other than dwellings.
DECs required for all public buildings >1,000 m2.
Further Information can be found here
Article written by Andrew Mowat, CMA Company Associate
CMA shop frontage visualisation
Further development at the Huddersfield Kingsgate Centre, completed by Covell Matthews in 2002, continues with a number of internal alterations. The planning application submitted last month is for a 140,000 sq ft extension including an extended mall, a major store, a number of new two level shops and an additional 200 car spaces. The proposals include the retention of the 1909 Huddersfield Palace Theatre facade.
Following the success of the Breakout area, we are about to start the refurbishment of Venture Production's Reception Area, due for completion at the end of May.
As Venture Production are to become the sole occupiers of their office in Huntly Street, it was felt that an upgrade and a re-branding exercise would benefit the direction the company are moving in.
Covell Matthews Architects have also been asked to look at the refurbishment of two Executive Board rooms. This project is at client presentation stage, and with the co-operation of the client, contractor, and design team we are hopeful of a May completion.
CMA visualisation of the proposed reception
Valerie Carr’s Papers Published
Valerie Carr, our workplace analyst has recently had some articles published (as one of a team of authors) which are drawn from the study she was involved in with the University of Dundee, evaluating maternity unit design for the Department of Health. The full report for the study, entitled ‘The effects of the interior environmental design on service users and staff in maternity facilities’ is available as a PDF on the Department of Health website.
An article in ‘Birth’, the pre-eminent scholarly journal pertaining to maternity research, examined the differences between obstetric led and midwife led maternity units. An article in the British Journal of Midwifery outlining the background to the maternity unit study is the first of a series of four articles which will be published over the next few months.
Birth, Volume 34, Issue 4, Page 323-330, Dec 2007
A comparison of obstetric lead and midwife led maternity units.
British Journal of Midwifery, Vol. 16, Iss. 1, 01 Jan 2008, pp 29 – 33
Maternity unit design: background to multi-site study in England
Covell Matthews Enviroblog
During the summer of 2006 a number of individuals within Covell Matthews formed a Environmentally Responsible Design Team (ERD). The aim of this group was to create a Sustainable Building Guide for the companies designers, which would also lead to a Accreditation from the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
Over this period the team has gathered a large body of research which the company can now draw from. The next logical step was to share this information with our clients and any other interested party.
Christmas Lunch
Both offices enjoyed festive lunches in December.
The Aberdeen office lunch took place at the Braided Fig in Aberdeen, whilst the winner of the Edinburgh vote was The Howgate Inn on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Left of photo - Aberdeen Office, Right - Edinburgh Office
Shell - Mossmorran
and St. Fergus
Following the official launch of the Rejuvenation Project for St. Fergus Gas Plant and the Fife NGL Plant in Mossmorran in April 2007, Covell Matthews Architects have been appointed to enhance the existing working environment of both plants to reflect Shell’s core values and business culture.
The increase in the work scopes and staff levels at St. Fergus Gas Plant signify the refurbishment of the main office building managed by the current Plant Installation Team as well as the new permanent accommodation and catering facilities managed by the recently-formed Rejuvenation Project team. More than just a refurbishment, the project involves the development of a workplace strategy. To this purpose, Covell Matthews has been working closely to the business, identifying and analysing the existing work patterns and processes in order to create an effective design solution which promotes well-being, knowledge-sharing and productive working.
The Fife NGL Plant, in Mossmorran, will also benefit from this discernment, aspiring to enhance the practical working environment of the plant and creating welcoming and valuable settings, in line with the needs of the business.
The impact of the increased activity levels means that both the Installation Team and the Rejuvenation Project can increase core levels of manpower throughout the calendar year and for the duration of the Project, now expected to be beyond the year 2021. This continuity of work is of significant benefit to Shell Exploration & Production in Europe, Covell Matthews Architects, Wood Group, ESS and everyone involved on the Shell Gas Plants.
feedback from their personnel has been good. The project was completed on budget in a very short time-scale.
• Covell Matthews Enviroblog
• Christmas Lunch
Milne Graden, West Mains, near Coldstream, Scottish Borders
Planning approval has been recommended for this third development for Mercat Cross Ltd. The development has been welcomed by the local authority and neighbours in design, conservation and regeneration. The development once again utilises a reed bed solution to deal with the drainage issues and will use this area as an amenity for the inhabitants.
The development is for 12 residential units, with a mix of conversions, new build detached units and semi-detached terraced cottages.
The development has taken it's influence from existing structures, both within the site and neighbouring the site and also the surrounding landscape to ensure that it sits comfortably within this beautiful setting.
One unit has already been reserved within this development.
Planning has been submitted for this 21 unit development at Carnbroe or client Blue Property Limited. Feedback to date has been positive from the planning department. It is due to go to committee in March 08.
Blue Property are developing this scheme to very high Eco standards and it is therefore an extremely informative and exciting project to be involved with.
Carnbroe, near Coatbridge
Whitsomehill Mains, Near Duns, Scottish Borders
A fourth unit has now been occupied at Whitsomehill. This is one of the two bedroom conversion units and is a similar form and layout to the showhouse. There are now 5 units handed over, four of these occupied by purchasers. A further three units are due for handover in the spring. Two of which are conversions and one new-build.
This development has received a significant amount of interest, and as more units near completion it looks to be making the positive statement to the area that had been envisaged.
Above Competed new build
Left progress of conversion
The houses have been factory produced in Austria by Griffner and the result is a high quality product delivered to site ready for assembly. The house kits are constructed from timber frames, with main walls 350mm thick before a site applied external stow render and the internal plaster skim coat. The windows are factory fitted, internal door opens are pre-formed and the roof comes complete just requiring the final covering, which in this case is natural slate.
The initial construction phase to arrive at a watertight shell, after slab formation, is approximately 2 weeks which is quite a breathtaking for a house in the region of 5000sq ft. As the project evolves on site it continues to exceed expectations and promises to be an extremely high profile and rewarding project for all involved.
A planning application for a second phase of 10 houses was lodged in January.
Garrion Bridge, Lanarkshire
Our Garrion Bridge project has moved on at considerable pace utilising new methods of construction.
The proposals for Errigal developments nine two-storey small office units at Houstoun Road, Livingston are programmed for completion by early September 2008. The buildings have been arranged as a terrace of six units and three pavilions, to form an enclosed informal courtyard with parking, amenity space and landscaping to create a pleasant working environment for business users. The terraced units, which step up the sloping site, are staggered to articulate the appearance of the terrace and reinforce the entrance to enhance the identity of each business user. In week No.11 of the construction stage the Foundations, Substructure and Ground slabs are nearing completion for all units, with the brick and blockwork cavity walling making rapid progress around the basecourse level.
Houstoun Road, Livingston
Loch Broom Free Church of Scotland, Ullapool
Covell Matthews are delighted to be involved with the redevelopment of Ullapool's existing Free Church building.
Following their five-yearly review the Church was instructed to investigate the feasibility of developing the existing church building to provide a more suitable facility for congregational and outreach purposes.
Covell Matthews worked with the Minister and Deacons to provide a short list of design ideas in response to the brief. The Deacons agreed on a single design which met their criteria in the most efficient, logical way. The preferred scheme was then issued to the congregation and posted on their Internet site for comments.
The preferred scheme creates an open and flexible worship area whilst introducing a larger hall, larger kitchen and servery area.
Covell Matthews were invited to present the design to the congregation at a public meeting. After a period of discussion the congregation gave their unanimous support to the Deacons proposals for the redevelopment of the building. It was also agreed, with a 75% majority vote, to replace the timber pews with new comfortable chairs.
CMA visualisation, click image to view animation
Stronachs, Inverness
Covell Matthews are delighted to be working with Stronachs in Inverness as they relocate to their new premises at Camas House, Fairways Business Park, Inverness. The new office has been designed to allow maximum flexibility whilst providing natural light to all offices and meeting rooms.
This is why we have decided to publish this research online as a weblog.
The blog gives the team a central location to keep team members informed of their research and generates a forum condition through the online commenting tools available through the blog site.
The blog is unrestricted to both viewing and commenting by the general public as we would like to hear your thoughts on the articles we publish.
We look forward to hearing from you. You can find the blog here:
