The building is located on a restricted brownfield site that previously formed part of the Newbattle High School grounds. Goodson Associates managed to optimise levels on site to ensure no material needed to be moved off site saving in the region of 197 TCO2e. Through this we were also able to remove the need for a split-level school and importantly the cost and carbon of a 4.0m high x 60m long reinforced concrete wall saving in the region of 41 TCO2e.

Working closely with the architect and design team, the area of ground floor was optimised to limit the amount of suspended structure. The grid system was standardised to design out the need for any transfer structures. Discussions with the architect allowed the structurally complex roof to be rationalised into a more efficient form while still offering the desired aesthetics. All of the above design driven solutions allowed significant carbon savings to be made prior to material specifications being considered.

It was requested through the tender process that steel produced through the ‘Electric Arc Furnace’ (EAF) method be used wherever possible on the project. On appointment of the steel fabricator, we worked closely with the fabricator and steel supplier to rationalise members and optimise as many members as possible to be procured from this source. In total 80% of the steel on this project was produced through the EAF method saving in total 370 TCO2e carbon.