Edinburgh Futures Institute
One of Edinburgh’s most beloved historic buildings has undergone major renovation works to create a state-of-the-art teaching space for the University of Edinburgh.
The 145-year-old Grade A listed building has undergone extensive internal and external renovations, with its original features restored to their former glory.
Working with Bennetts Associates Architects and main contractors Balfour Beatty, the SAS design team created contemporary grey rafts to perfectly accent the newly refurbished Edinburgh Futures Institute, formerly known as the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The institute boasts impressive 150-metre-long corridors that showcase SAS600 rafts, finished in RAL7012 Basalt Grey to complement the original stone flooring and provide intuitive wayfinding throughout the building. Equipped with acoustic infill panels, the SAS600 rafts help absorb unwanted noise, which would undoubtedly occur in the expansive walkways specifically designed to encourage chance encounters.
SAS600 can be found throughout lecture rooms, staircases and collaborative spaces, providing modern acoustic solutions that work harmoniously with the institutes original features. Additionally, SAS600 is capable of housing fully integrated services without compromising on aesthetic finish. Within the lecture spaces and corridors, lighting, projectors and PIR sensors have been fully integrated within the SAS600 rafts, preserving as much of the original brickwork as possible.
Retro-fit beats new build
The upfront embodied carbon impact of the project was 361kgCO2e/m2 GIA and the whole life carbon was 603kgCO2e/m2 GIA. The former beats the current best practice LETI target for an educational building, and the latter meets current best practice standards.
The newly published limits for the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (NZCBS) are more nuanced than those of LETI, as they encompass specific targets for both new construction and retrofit projects. When benchmarked against the NZCBS limits for a higher education retrofit project, the initiative aligns with the target for projects commencing onsite in 2029. This highlights the significant sustainability advantages of retrofit approaches.
Sector:
Education
Client :
The University of Edinburgh
Architect:
Bennetts Associates
Main Contractor :
Balfour Beatty
Completion Year :
2024
System Type:
SAS600
Region :
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
