New law building features illuminated ETFE system and sustainable design
A new £6.8m law faculty building extension opened in February, as part of a £150m upgrade to the University of Salford. The opening ceremony was attended by Shami Chakrabarti CBE, director of human rights group Liberty, and Lady Brenda Hale, the UK's first and only female law lord, whom the new Salford Law School's purpose-built Lady Hale Building is named after.
Sustainable both during construction and for the lifetime of the building
Buro Happold carried out the structural engineering design for this elegant building, and every effort was made to ensure sustainability, both during construction and for the lifetime of the building. Crucially, it uses a Trespa cladding system – a by-product of the timber industry, 70 percent of whose mass comes from cellulose sourced from managed forests.
For lifelong sustainability, Deltabeams were used on the first and second floors, maximising the benefits of the TermoDeck heating, cooling and ventilating system by allowing air to circulate through the floor planks and the beams. This maximises use of the natural heat storage capacity of the hollow core slabs, minimising energy consumption.
The cantilevered area of the second floor is interesting from both a structural and an aesthetic point of view too, as it is supported by the roof beams: deep, cellular beams which support the cantilever floor through perimeter-hung columns.
Tripping the light fantastic – inflatable bubbles create a colourful light display
One of the most notable aesthetic features of the faculty is a colourful ETFE system surrounding the lecture theatre.
“The building is clad with inflatable bubbles of ETFE (ethyl-tetrafluorethylene),” said Andrea Manenti, Buro Happold’s job leader on the scheme. “Coloured lights shine through it from an LED lighting system housed between the wall and the bubbles, to spectacular effect.”
ETFE is highly sustainable too: compared to glass, ETFE films are 1% of the weight, transmit more light and cost 24% to 70% less to install. ETFE is also resilient (able to bear 400 times its own weight), self-cleaning – thanks to its nonstick surface – and totally recyclable.
“We are very proud of our involvement in this landmark building,” said Manenti, “and the EFTE pillows make a pleasing architectural contrast with the panels of the Trespa cladding system on the main building.”
Project team:
Client: University of Salford
Architect: Broadway Malyan
Buro Happold services: Structural Engineering
Main contractor: Bardsley Construction
Ends
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Buro Happold is a multi-disciplinary international practice of consulting engineers established in 1976. We now employ over 1,700 staff in 21 offices worldwide, and our aim is to produce high quality engineering design in concept, in detail and in execution, on time, to programme and delivering excellent value for money. Our distinctive culture and ethos is still based on the same principles of care, value and elegance that were established when the practice was founded.
We offer structural, building services, civil, infrastructure and façade engineering, as well as a broad range of specialist consultancy services including sustainability, ground and environmental engineering, fire and security design, health and safety management, inclusive and urban design, project management, and specialist CAD and computer simulation provision.
