Berkshire College of Agriculture

A cutting edge sustainable design for 4 new buildings to improve and expand the existing college. The following ‘easy wins’ were adopted across all four structures: natural ventilation, shading, solar control glass, avoiding excessive glazing, low energy equipment, low heat gains from lighting and enhanced U-values through building fabric. A biomass boiler has been introduced to serve all the new buildings providing hot water from burning woodchips that will be bought locally from a renewable source.

The horticultural and science teaching building itself is supported by a Glulam timber frame, with special attention given to the detailing of the connections to achieve a neat aesthetic finish. This teaching centre incorporates a sedum roof which will also lessen its visual impact (important as it is in the shadow of a grade 1 listed manor house) and has the added benefit of reducing surface water runoff. As well as having an impressive visual theme, many sustainable initiatives have been housed such as greywater harvesting, photovoltaic panels, natural ventilation and straw bale wall insulation.