Wessex Water, Bath

When it was completed is was the most energy efficient and sustainable building in the country with the highest BREEAM rating at that time for a commercial office building.

The Project

The client, Bennetts Associates Architects and Buro Happold Consulting Engineers created the most energy efficient and sustainable building in the country with the highest BREEAM rating at that time for a commercial office building. In environmental terms the project was acclaimed by the Building Research Establishment as the ‘greenest’ commercial building in the UK. It stands as an exemplary example of energy efficiency, low embodied energy, recycling including aggregate for the concrete structure and recycled storm and grey water and enhanced biodiversity. 


The Approach

Oculus were pleased to have been part of the team involved with this ground breaking project. Part L Conservation of fuel and power was well exceeded with the team’s sustainable approach. The ‘E’ shaped plan comprised of three stepped wings which hugged the contours of the sloping site. The open plan interior linked by a central ‘street’ created a dynamic space. The exterior made use of different materials including Bath stone. The building was naturally ventilated which greatly reduced its energy consumption with it not requiring air-conditioning.

The building was multi-award winning.


CASE STUDY
The Royal High School, Bath

Cranwell House is a Grade II-listed Victorian mansion house set within a significant historic landscape in the World Heritage City of Bath. It was purchased by The Girls’ Day School Trust as the future home for the Junior School of The Royal High School Bath, which was looking to move from outmoded facilities on its existing site elsewhere in the city centre.

Following a limited competition Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios were appointed to sensitively refurbish the main house, reinstating the principal rooms of the house as new teaching spaces and introducing a contemporary and sustainable extension building within the immediate context of the listed building and the wider parkland setting.

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CASE STUDY
Airbus - AWIC

The £40m facility will enable Airbus to perform structural tests on aircraft materials, components and large assemblies, including complete wings. The strong floor will support a 220-tonne, 10m-high steel wall where structural tests specimens will be attached to allow testing to take place.

The pour itself lasted a continuous 23-hour period, one hour under the scheduled 24. It required a lorry load of specially prepared concrete to arrive every six minutes to provide a constant supply to the pour and avoid any inconsistencies in the concrete.

A total of 1,440 cubic metres was poured into the floor, which measures 40m by 18m, to a total depth of two metres. The steel reinforcement amounted to a total of approximately 280 tonnes of rebar, estimated to be around 54 km laid end-to-end.

The AWIC facility is supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Innovate UK.

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CASE STUDY
Castle Drogo - Phase 2

Oculus have been involved in the extensive works been done throughout Castle Drogo since 2013. The Grade 1 listed castle in Devon was constructed of granite and built between the years of 1911 and 1930, and designed by Edwin Lutyens. Castle Drogo was the last castle to be built in England.

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