Construction well underway at the UEA's Enterprise Centre

Work is underway on a £15.9 million development aiming to achieve Passivhaus and BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ energy standards. The project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, BBSRC, Norwich Research Park and BRE. The 3,400m² building will house a 200 seat lecture theatre, teaching rooms, exhibition space and offices which will act as a hub for up-and-coming ‘low carbon’ businesses.

Construction of Enterprise Centre. Photo Credit: Yogini Patel

The Enterprise Centre will be incorporating local bio-renewable materials and recycled components with the aim to drive innovation and enterprise through the creation of high value–low embodied carbon supply chains.

'East Anglia in a building' is one of the key concepts for the Enterprise Centre which champions low embodied energy building materials.

Local natural products such as timber from Thetford and reed, chalk and hemp from North Norfolk, will be provided by local craftsmen. An innovative Brettstapel timber panel structure is covered with a rain screen of prefabricated wheat thatch panels sourced from nearby Starston. Architect, Ben Humphries touched upon the biophilic benefits of building with natural materials:

The beauty of natural materials is featured throughout the project from the structure to the finishes such as interior linoleum floor and wood panelling to exterior straw cladding panels. Low toxicity materials combined with MHVR and Passivhaus construction will result in a great indoor air quality and superior occupant comfort.This building will look different and smell different! Ben Humphries, Architype

Concerns were raised during the visit regarding solar shading, however Architype have researched and concluded that there is a need for adaptable shading based on predicted weather patterns across the UK in the future and a variable shade height above the window opposed to a variable shade length as this proves to be more cost effective. The analysis has also highlighted the need to slightly re-think the allocation of South facing windows deemed essential by Passivhaus and consider the internal heat gains in parallel. The design provides a low carbon, high mass solution.

Morgan Sindall are new to Passivhaus construction, and they are on a learning curve. They have been training staff on site and have also appointed an airtightness champion. Challenges they have faced so far were touched upon in presentations at the 2014 UK Passivhaus Conference.

It was encouraging to hear different players speak about the project with such passion and echo a team goal to make this building a catalyst for change and foster innovation. The new amenities aim to inspire and facilitate creativity and collaboration with an unparalleled working environment.

The Trust look forward to a re-visit once construction has progressed. Completion is due early 2015.