Engineering Building Phase 5, QMUL

Engineering Building Phase 5, QMUL

Construction - Education

Client: Queen Mary University London

Location: Mile End

Value: £800K

What was our role?

The building itself is set over four floors with a basement and dates from c.1959. The building is constructed from a steel frame, clad in Portland stone with metal ‘Crittall’ windows. Internal walls and partitions are constructed from hollow clay pots.

The refurbishment of the SEMS PhD Space follows the design proposals which are based on tested principles from earlier phased projects and will continue to provide important upgraded facilities for the university.

The existing space was stripped out in its entirety of all finishes, fixtures and fittings including all redundant services.

The extent of the internal refurbishment meant that there was no new plant being added as part of the project. The aim was to improve indoor air quality and further reduce the buildings heating energy consumption through a mixed mode ventilation system. Natural ventilation was utilised in the warmer months when the windows can be opened without the risk of losing heat to outside. When external conditions are too cold, a high efficiency demand driven mechanical ventilation system was used. In mid and high seasons a night purge facility was used to pre-cool the space.

Highly efficient LED lighting was introduced throughout. The internal face of external walls was upgraded with insulation to improve the u-value and therefore further decrease heat losses through the external walls.

The refurbished PhD space was situated on the third floor and due consideration had to be given to the ‘live’ environment that we were working in. Access to the third floor was via a shared passenger lift and communal stair area’s for which students and staff were continually using to access other area’s of the building. Our contractors compound was also sited away from the work area which meant that movement of materials and plant had to be co-ordinated to avoid any disturbance to staff, students and the ongoing teaching timetable.