Post Graduate Building, University of Birmingham

With an exposed reinforced concrete in-situ frame, the building was designed to be architecturally prominent both internally and externally, with features including a triple-height atrium and flat roof with aesthetically pleasing lighting. The detailed brick and curtain wall exterior is matched by the high-quality internal specification, which includes terrazzo flooring and bespoke oak joinery.

Working within the University of Birmingham’s campus and adjacent to an existing Business School facility, our approach centred around minimising disruption and ensuring safety. The length of the construction programme saw works continuing throughout the academic calendar, and we held regular meetings with University representatives to discuss the progress of works and any upcoming developments. Through this, we carefully adapted our programme to avoid noisy operations during key periods such as examination season.

The building was heated through a combination of underfloor heating, trench heating and radiators, and our design ensured these features were coordinated with other design disciplines such as architectural, structural and civil engineering. Natural ventilation was provided through a combination of automatic opening vents and heat recovery units linked to central BMS and carbon dioxide sensors. The building also featured LED lighting throughout, as well as access control to help manage security.

We placed considerable focus on refining the reflected ceiling plans with combined building services drawings to ensure full co-ordination prior to installation.

The building achieved BREEAM ‘Very Good’ through effective mechanical and electrical design, and has an Energy Efficiency Rating of ‘A’.