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4 I Spring 2010 I Campus Estate Management

With an open environment allowing for the constant access of students, staff and visitors, university and college campuses often present unique security challenges.Although hi-tech cameras and security

guards are on site, office doors are frequently left unlocked and unattended, offering thieves easy access to personal items and expensive ICT equipment.

It is an uncomfortable fact that anyone intent on theft can easily gain access to all but the most restricted areas on campus. Access codes or swipe card systems can be compromised if someone politely holds the door open for the person behind them (who could be a thief!), or if someone has wedged the door open.

increasing securitySo to tighten security, many colleges and universities in the UK are now using forensic property marking product SelectaDNA, which has been proven to reduce theft by up to 85% in some areas.

SelectaDNA is a clear, liquid solution, which consists of an ultraviolet tracer and a unique DNA code. The liquid can be easily applied by ICT or security staff to any item of value to identify it as belonging to the site. It is virtually invisible to the naked eye and does not cause damage in any way.

If the item is stolen and later recovered by police, it can be scanned (the marking is visible under UV light) and traced back to the rightful owner via the DNA marking.

James Brown, from security company Selectamark, which produces the SelectaDNA range of products, said: “Theft from colleges and universities is generally committed by opportunists.

“One of the first steps in preventing theft is to reduce the reward associated with the act. Thieves are now aware that forensic marking is making their job much harder – as marked items are harder to sell on. As a result that is proving to be a very effective deterrent in itself.”

it’s all in the genesAngela Singleton explains how forensic property marking can cut theft on campus

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Campus Estate Management I Spring 2010 I 5

dnA in actionChris Eales, Systems Manager at Clyst Vale Community College in Devon, confirmed that forensic marking was now being used on the campus after a break-in. “We have marked about 300 PCs and laptops using SelectaDNA and it is very reassuring for staff and students to know that equipment that they need to use every day is being protected,” he said.

Over at Exeter College, IT Manager Graham Thomas said: “We had a problem with theft of digital cameras and projectors about three years ago, so we were keen to get a system in place that would protect any items of value over £100. We are now using SelectaDNA to mark all our computers, monitors and TVs.”

He added: “The process is being done very openly, and we are using the orange deterrent stickers supplied with the kits on classroom windows and doors so that any potential thieves know that items have been securely marked.”

Meanwhile, West Suffolk College have been using DNA marking for all their new laptops, PCs and printers.

Claire Benham, in the college’s IT department said: “We have rare incidents of theft here, but just in case, all IT-related equipment that we buy in new is being marked.”

deterring theftSelectaDNA forensic marking is also being used by further educational establishments in the east London borough of Havering following the introduction of an extensive scheme in the area.

Havering Sixth Form College encountered problems with expensive equipment being stolen and they are now using DNA marking to deter theft.

Neil Siveter, a systems manager at the college, said: “Anything and everything that could be stolen is being DNA-marked. We have already permanently marked over 700 pieces of equipment and will also be protecting any new items we order in.”

Theft had been a major problem for Havering Local Education Authority (LEA), costing approximately £250,000 over an 18-month period prior to the introduction of the scheme, which originally launched in 2006. In 2008, the latest SelectaDNA forensic marking

product was introduced to the Borough. The police-backed crime reduction initiative led

by Havering LEA and Havering Community Safety Partnership has now ensured that all laptops, whiteboards, PCs, audio equipment and even musical instruments have been marked.

Local police have confirmed that forensic marking is extremely effective at deterring thieves, especially when the scheme is properly advertised and promoted locally with warning posters.

Limiting riskSet in extensive grounds on the northern side of Bath, the Royal High School is the leading school for girls in the area. Although it has not been a major target for thieves it was felt that an effective deterrent was needed to make sure they continued to stay away.

Jane Knights, Royal High School’s Business >

“We had a problem with theft, so we were keen to resolve this. We now use SelectaDNA to mark all our computers, monitors and TVs”

n Students at Loughborough University, pictured below, are among UK students protected by SelectaDNA

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Many educational institutions have committed to reducing carbon emissions on their campuses – whether by initiating bicycle sharing programmes, reducing parking spaces

or by offering shuttle bus services. One area in particular where environmentally-aware campuses can completely cut out emissions is within their facilities maintenance departments. While campus maintenance crews rely heavily on vehicles to help transport materials and staff, some are making the move from larger gas-powered pickup trucks to smaller, yet equally capable electric utility vehicles.“Electric utility vehicles offer facility and maintenance crews a great solution in the search for clean transport,” says Roberto Gorostiaga, Club Car Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “These departments frequently transport employees and materials using traditional petrol or diesel powered vehicles, but often the large size of these vehicles and the emissions they create are unnecessary.”

Gorostiaga recommends that campus estate managers check out the electric utility vehicles available on the market, including the full lineup of

Carryall utility vehicles offered by Club Car. Electric models run completely off of battery power, eliminating the need for fuels, the expense of these fuels, and more importantly in today’s “greener” society – the harmful emissions. “Don’t let their efficient and ‘quiet’ nature fool you,” says Gorostiaga. “The electric Carryall vehicles of today are tough, capable and ready to take on a full day’s workload.”

Electric Carryall models feature Club Car’s exclusive IQ Plus System, built to help Carryall vehicles excel, go anywhere and do anything. A high output charger, controller, onboard computer and battery system provides fast charging, and superior power and range. With IQ Plus, users can customize top speed, acceleration and motor braking for optimal performance. The majority of Club Car’s campus customers add options such as cabs, van boxes, ladder racks, toolboxes, cab heaters, and lights, according to Gorostiaga. In addition, Club Car’s Custom Solutions has created modified vehicles for many educational applications, from campus mail delivery to security. Custom Solutions also provides standardized offerings tailored to other campus needs, including packages for campus maintenance and ambulance/medical vehicles.

vehicles go greenElectric utility vehicles are helping cut carbon emissions across campuses

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When it comes to estate management, today’s universities face a myriad of challenges; not least is how best to boost investment in improving inefficient and outdated facilities,

and deliver an improved working environment for staff, students and visitors, while simultaneously achieving tough new sustainability targets.

In February 2010 the HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) announced that the 2010-11 capital funding for universities and colleges would be £562 million — that’s a 14.9% reduction in cash terms on the 2009-10 allocation. With funding under the cosh, universities need to explore innovative new approaches to campus estate management.

What’s more, with the HEFCE announcing that from 2011 capital funding will be directly linked to

carbon performance, creating a sustainable campus is fast becoming an operational – and strategic – imperative.

Creating capital from energy savingsAs a major consumer of energy, it is in a university’s interest to reduce the amount of money it spends on energy. By doing so, it can then release these funds for other purposes. Simultaneously, by implementing technical investment alongside behavioural change programmes, a university can reduce its energy consumption – thus lowering its environmental impact. This ‘win-win’ scenario enables estates departments to clearly demonstrate the impact they can have on a university’s financial, operational and environmental performance.

The Texas Women’s University, for example, has successfully employed a self-funding investment

A sustainable futureJon Cleaver explores how estate managers can release value for new capital investments and achieve lower operational costs

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n Energy management specialists offer universities the capability to self-fund investment programmes

strategy to upgrade and replace campus infrastructure and achieve operational cost-avoidance objectives (see case study on page 20). Faced with growing pressure on capital budgets and the more prescriptive linkage of performance and capital allocation, this pioneering approach to self-generated investment is now being adopted by UK institutions.

Maximising strategic investmentsWorking in partnership with a building and energy management specialist like Schneider Electric, universities can undertake energy conservation measures that generate operational savings and guaranteed energy savings. These savings are utilised to finance capital investments that improve facilities and raise the standard of the entire estate.

This strategic approach represents a cost-neutral solution that enables universities to make the necessary investments in energy conservation measures – and larger facilities improvements – in a relatively short time frame. Guaranteed energy savings are generated, along with an intense focus on lowering reactive maintenance costs and optimising planned maintenance. The introduction of a more targeted and rigorous ongoing maintenance strategy, for example, can help to reduce a university’s annual maintenance bill by around 6% (see graph on page 20.

A holistic approachDelivering the energy efficient management of campus buildings is the first critical step to achieving energy savings. But investment in new and more efficient plant, the refurbishment of existing heating, lighting and distribution systems, and the installation of an intuitive Building Management System (BMS) is just part of the story.

The implementation of robust and appropriate metering and data collection systems to monitor energy consumption in individual buildings is also crucial to achieving energy reduction goals. Recording and analysing energy consumption enables the accurate assessment of performance relative to targets and the identification and correction of energy wastage scenarios. Similarly, energy sourcing strategies and tariff structures can be reviewed to ensure best value objectives are achieved.

The final piece of the puzzle, however, is empowering the estates management team with the long term operational capabilities that boost energy efficiency – from assessing the usage patterns of individual buildings to ensure heating and lighting controls are consistent with requirements, to understanding and undertaking the planned maintenance activities that minimise energy wastage and eliminate the cost associated with unexpected reactive maintenance.

Alongside the critical knowledge transfer and competency development that enable estates teams to secure – and better – projected savings, a campus-wide education programme to encourage energy responsible behaviours and a greater understanding and awareness of energy issues among staff and students completes the circle.

sustainable by degreesIn partnership with an energy management specialist, today’s universities now have the capability to self-fund capital investment programmes from existing operational budgets, leveraging guaranteed energy savings to develop their estates and improve sustainability and performance.

As universities prepare to meet the carbon-reduction challenge in an era of financial restraint, energy savings and new technologies can help pave the way to a more sustainable future. CEM

n CONTACT Christopher Buchanan, Marketing Consultant, Schneider Electric Building Business +44 (0)7792 234 686 [email protected] >


For those parties engaged in construction procurement across the educations sector, the commercial imperatives are predictably consistent. Cost is critical, programme is important and quality is assumed as constant

irrespective of any differences between the varying construction methods. Expert clients also realise that the health, safety and wellbeing of those people engaged in the construction, operation and eventual demolition are directly affected by design intent and the choice of build methodology.

In its most basic form, volumetric modular construction is the design and factory manufacture of volumetric units that are joined together on site. More recent developments have introduced a far more sophisticated level of factory fit out, specifically that lightweight steel frame can produce an entire building, including common areas and lifts, without the need for

any additional supporting structure.Engagement with a client team early in the process

is critical for the purpose of optimising the modular benefit, though it is important to stress that this does not mean that a modular approach should stifle architectural creativity and flair. The high technology employed in the manufacturing facility allows bespoke design solutions to be created with no adverse impact on build quality.

Provided due consideration is given to the differing nature of constructing a building using a volumetric modular approach, there are a string of positive conclusions to be realised. Firstly, it is cost competitive and offers a reduced programme leading to an earlier revenue realisation. It also offers enhanced build quality and reduced operation and maintenance costs, as well as offering a significantly improved health and safety performance and not to mention the reduced carbon

Building for the future Volumetric modular construction is revolutionising university campuses, bringing with it myriad benefits

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n Volumetric modular construction in action (facing page and below left); and students make themselves at home in Bristol’s Phoenix Court accommodation

impact to create and dismantle the volumetric pods.For example, at Unite Modular Solutions’ (UMS)

state-of-the-art factory it takes two-and-a-half days to create a fully fitted lightweight steel frame module from the point where the first steel is fed from a coil through a rolling machine through to end-of-line where a waterproof shroud is fitted and the module is then transferred to a buffer store. Currently, a completed module typically comes off end-of-line every 55 minutes though this output rate can be improved on to yield a total productive capacity of circa 10,000 modules a year.

Once each module rolls off the production line and onto the back of a lorry, it comes complete and fully furnished with a shower pod, bed, furniture, carpet and even curtains. Further to this, all services are incorporated, such as plumbing and electrics, ready for simple connection on site before students move in.

Initially, UMS had established the methodology of using innovative modular manufacturing for new buildings up to seven storeys. However, with ever changing market conditions and the increasing numbers of students needing accommodation, UMS further developed its technologies to deliver buildings up to 11 storeys. Alongside this development, the advancement of the lightweight steel frames used means that modular structures weigh up to 30 per cent less than traditional masonry buildings, which further reduces the foundation material requirements and means that it uses less embodied energy during the manufacturing stage.

The first example of an 11-storey lightweight steel modular frame was at Phoenix Court in Bristol – the tallest self-supporting building of its kind in the country. Consisting of 80 standard bedrooms, 78 enhanced bedrooms, 13 enhanced premium bedrooms, 84 micro-pads, four standard studios and 23 kitchens, installation on the project was completed in just 35 days at an average of eight modules being fitted each day. Coming in at a significantly shorter timescale than traditional build, this project showcases one of the most striking benefits of off-site construction for the

education sector; the ability to meet the restrictive time demands of taking a building from concept to completion by the start of each academic year. It’s also worth stressing here that the Phoenix Court project was a perfect example of a modular building that had no requirement for structural support, as the building’s support came from the pods itself.

Many volumetric buildings are located on brownfield sites in a bid to create new, dedicated student housing to help regenerate the local area and make city centres look and feel smarter. Fully furnished modules are highly beneficial in the development of these constrained, urban infill sites where it is less economical to build using traditional construction because of restrained access and limited capacity for storage of materials on site. Shorter construction periods that come with modular building techniques also significantly reduce the whole project >

“UMS had established the methodology of using innovative modular manufacturing

for new buildings up to seven storeys”

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Event security and crowd management specialist Showsec has over two decades’ experience in this unique sector. It supplies an expanding number of colleges and universities across the UK, encompassing

student club nights, freshers, summer and graduation ball security, full concert security with specialised pit teams for visiting bands, through to conferences.

Showsec enjoys ongoing close relationships with many student unions. Indeed, the company frequently offers part-time jobs and training to students at the universities they look after. Employing students has a positive economic impact on these universities, allowing for investment of funds back in to the campus community.

As well as providing job opportunities this can be valuable work and life experience, allowing students to explore a different career path and enter Showsec’s

in-house training afforded to all staff. In fact, some of the current senior Showsec security staff began their careers in the company while at university themselves, a further example of the ties between universities, colleges and the company.

Robbie Jarvis joined Showsec in 2003 as a steward, and after working at hundreds of events at both Liverpool and Preston is now Senior Manager overseeing the running of staff at the universities in the North West. Jarvis says: “Working student venues needs a different attitude to non-student venues like pubs and clubs. Staff appreciate that for many students this will be the first time they have been away from home and socialised in large numbers, and as a result we adopt a different approach to other audience demographics.

“We place great importance on investing time discussing and advising on house policy with venue

Qualified for success The demands of Student Union security are very different from mainstream entertainment venues. We asked Showsec to explain why

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n Showsec staff keep a watchful eye over revellers in Cardiff, facing page; while concert-goers in Preston seek friendly guidance, below

managers, guiding the most appropriate approach to the rolling intake of students depending on cultural characteristics and standards of behaviour expected. We apply student-specific safeguarding policies to ensure the wellbeing of all students. With regards to our role we are more than just a security service in that we play a large part in their enjoyment and experience; but ultimately their safety is paramount.”

He adds: “Showsec operations teams liaise with each venue weekly to plan for incoming events. For a non-exclusive student dance night or concert this includes researching the acts playing, risk assessment, and ensuring that staff most suited to each job are brought in. All venues have a regular team who are familiar with the venue, the venue management and most importantly with the people attending the events.”

Showsec has secured Liverpool University union since 1998. The university hosts two of the country’s biggest student nights, Double Vision and Time Tunnel, each attracting over 2,500 visitors, as well as various student fairs, freshers festivals, comedy nights and conferences. In addition, the venue caters for the live music scene, with four rooms (with capacity ranging from 50 to 2,300) having

hosted the likes of Scouting for Girls, Kasabian and the Zutons.

Showsec provide anything from two to 25 staff at these events, with both SIA door licensed personnel and stewards working at the venue. Continuing their strong relationship, Liverpool University have extended their contract with Showsec to 2012.

At Liverpool John Moores the venues are the Cooler, The Sanctuary and the Scholars bar, also offering a disco, chill out room and traditional pub. Hosting smaller-scale events such as small gigs, student quiz nights and comedy club evenings, John Moores has very different requirements to Liverpool University, and Showsec have adapted accordingly. They have been looking after the front door and internal security at John Moores since 2008, covering at least three nights a week with between two to five staff.

In Preston, 53 Degrees is the University of Central Lancashire’s £6.5 million facility, catering to a variety of events. The venue has two floors, with a capacity of 1,600 downstairs and 400 upstairs which can be combined. The venue runs a weekly club night that attracts up to 1,600, as well as being a favourite for visiting bands such as Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Stryder.

Mark Norbury has been with Showsec for 11 years, and is venue manager at 53 Degrees. He manages a core team of 25 staff who work at the venue regularly. He sees the relationship Showsec has built with the student body as key to their continued success in Preston: “In the three years I have been here no one has left, and having a constant team allows us to maintain relationships with the students, and get to know the familiar names and faces. Student cards are always checked and if we saw a ‘slightly wobbly’ girl going home at the end of the night we can check their companions identity if we don’t know them, or we can monitor then on CCTV. It’s all about their safety and they appreciate the checks – they know they are safer in this venue.

“Coupled with the fact that we employ some students, the consistent team has allowed us to develop a comprehensive understanding of the >

“All venues have a regular team, familiar with the venue, the venue management and the people attending the events”


It is now five years since Warren Junior School was chosen, as one of nine schools in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, to participate in a Government backed £27million ICT Test Bed project to use technology to help raise teaching

standards and improve the classroom experience.For Warren Junior School in Chadwell Heath, this

meant the opportunity to invest £900,000 in equipping its 16 classrooms and other teaching areas with the latest technology including laptops and plasma screens. Not all the equipment had to be purchased as the initiative was supported by various manufacturers and

among the equipment donated were two Samsung Techwin Visualisers.

Five years later, every classroom now has a Visualiser and according to headteacher Gary Wilder, it would be hard for him and his teaching colleagues to imagine life without them. “The Visualizers are an integral part of virtually every lesson and they act as the hub for all our other ICT-based equipment, including our PCs, electronic writing slates and digital overhead projectors,” he says.

Unlike many schools across the UK, Warren Junior School still does not have a single electronic

visualisers in a class of their ownHi-tech Visualisers from Samsung are helping raise educational standards in one outer London borough that tested the technology

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n Samsung technology is improving the classroom experience for pupils and staff alike

whiteboard and has no intention of investing in them within the foreseeable future. We asked Mark Jobin, Head of ICT, to explain why. “Our borough decided not to take up the whiteboard option. Although prices are dropping, they were at the time very expensive pieces of kit and my colleagues, quite rightly in my view, decided that with digital overhead projectors linked to computers and Visualisers in every classroom, we simply did not need whiteboards. OK, it’s nice to be able to manoeuvre data and information on a touch sensitive screen but it’s not the be all and end all. In any event the borough felt that the positioning of whiteboards was not always practicable in that wherever you might position a projector there was always the inconvenience of children or teachers standing in front of the screen casting a shadow.”

Jobin adds: “Visualisers are probably the most versatile tool that teachers have in the classroom. They allow a teacher to take a child’s piece of work and instantly share it in 3D with the whole class. I use mine on a daily basis and in virtually every lesson. It is at its best in science lessons when looking, for example, at mini beasts as you can zoom in very closely, but it can also be used as a teaching aid for almost every possible subject.

“The ability to freeze an image or to compare images side by side is also extremely valuable as is the ability to project a negative image. This can sometimes work really well with children with disabilities such as dyslexia as well as children who suffer from epilepsy, as projecting from white pieces of paper can sometimes bring on an attack.

“As well as the classrooms, we also have a Visualiser in our Junior Hall where during assembly children have the opportunity to share good pieces of work. Quite often on a Friday we have a ‘bring and share’ session. Children may bring in small intricate or delicate objects which they may not necessarily want to pass around. The Visualiser allows all of the children to see a detailed close up view of the object using the Visualiser’s zoom function.

“I was ICT Co-ordinator at my last school and we initially invested in technology by ensuring there was a computer in every classroom. A decision had to be made where to go from there. For the juniors we decided during my first year with the school to

invest in some laptops as we could see they would be put to productive use. For the infants, I chose to equip classrooms with Visualisers as their first option. During the second year I made sure that all classrooms had Visualisers.

“To me Visualisers are like dishwashers or microwave ovens. Once you have them you wonder how you ever did without them!” concludes Jobin.

The Visualisers donated by Samsung Techwin were the SDP-950. This model is still part of the Samsung Techwin Digital Presenter range but as you would expect new, more technically advanced, models have since been introduced. These include the top-of-the-range 16:9 HD format UF-130DX ,which has a built-in AMD processor and an on-board Windows CE operating system. Also recently launched is the high resolution SDP-850DX which with 42x zoom capability and a 1/3” progressive scan CCD camera sensor, is able to generate superb XGA quality 850,000 pixel images, making it ideal for classroom applications. CEM >

“Visualisers are probably the most versatile tool that teachers have in the classroom”

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By improving the built environment, places of learning encourage a greater take up of places, and thus boost their revenue streams

It is now an accepted fact that universities have to work harder to attract and retain

students. They are competing on a number of levels, not just nationally but globally. So how can they improve on their league table ratings and how can they finance these efforts?

Enterprising landscape architecture practice Whitelaw Turkington has been developing solutions for a number of leading UK universities, including Leeds, Liverpool and Cambridge. The schemes involve helping these city-based universities realise their potential to generate income not only from their student population, but also from developers interested in siting buildings both among university buildings and on campus peripheries.

Estate managers are waking up to the fact that their

city-based campuses have the potential to contribute to the quality of the city centre, as well as to improve the urban fabric for people and businesses. Research by CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) suggests that providing high-quality public spaces increases people’s sense of wellbeing, reduces crime and antisocial behaviour and increases inward economic investment by up to 40%. Developers want to populate space that has a distinctive identity and a proven attraction; essentially, they want to invest where others have already invested. So the imperative to provide quality public space on campus is growing and is an area that has, until recently, been overlooked by universities.

“Over the years, this university, like many other universities, did not invest in its public realm because of limited capital and because of academic priorities which were seen to have an obvious return,” says

Built to be better Landscaping universities into places that students and developers want to be is not just a matter of aesthetics

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n Whitelaw Turkington was appointed by Liverpool University to rationalise its layout, facing page (Photo: Steve Mayes); below, the architects redefined the public space at London’s O2

Patrick Hackett, Liverpool University’s chief operating officer. “But three years ago, under Drummond Bone (the former vice-chancellor), we reviewed our capital programme and we talked about the student experience.

“I said: ‘There are some things we can do that would have a direct impact not just on the student experience but on the staff too and on the visitors, as well as the city and the local community.’ Everybody thought it a great idea. As a result funds were ring-fenced for investment in the public realm.”

Liverpool appointed Whitelaw Turkington to rationalise its layout, working with the buildings and spaces that had grown organically over the years to de-clutter, shape and give coherence to the whole.

“It is very important for the university to have a sense of arrival – a point at which you feel you have arrived at the heart of the university,” says Whitelaw Turkington Managing Director Guy Denton. “Often, visitors to a university don’t know where the centre is, or even that they are in a university at all. We have designed a new square at the heart of the campus that creates a real destination and which gives the wider campus a strong sense of identity.” This is all part of the distinctiveness and ‘branding’ that Whitelaw Turkington believes is

essential for successful place-making. It is a theory that they have applied across their practice, from redefining the area outside The O2 in London (which now has fountains, a video wall and public art to make it a place that Dome visitors want to be), to bringing landmark ‘Shared Space’ streets to Ashford town centre in Kent. The latter has not only reinvigorated community activity and triggered inward investment, but has also become a benchmark for such schemes nationally.

Steve Dickson, Facilities Director at The University of Liverpool, has found that it is not only the students who are responding well to the new environment, in which they feel safer, thanks to better lighting and better connections between buildings. His view is that improvements in the public realm will also act as a catalyst for commercial development: “The University’s Estates Strategy has identified a number of commercial opportunities. These opportunities can be better

harnessed within a high-quality campus environment that will make us a destination in our own right, as well linking us to the city centre.”

An added attraction of Whitelaw Turkington’s work is that it offers significant results for relatively little investment, an appealing prospect for resource strapped institutions in current times. The work at Liverpool totalled £1.6m and involved linking the two university libraries with an impressive boulevard: the libraries are both open on a 24-hour basis and therefore have to have a clear and safe route between them. A further £1.2m was spent on creating University Square as a focal point for the campus, with a wider and more generous pedestrian crossing at its busy vehicular T-junction. Generally it is the university that has to take on various landscaping improvements to satisfy city requirements, but in cases such as the creation of Liverpool’s University Square, joint >

“It is very important for the university to have a sense of arrival – a point at which

you feel you have arrived at its heart”


The science of acoustics and its application within buildings can often be a confusing experience, with a seemingly endless

array of different criteria and rating methods. A number of solutions are available to ensure that the appropriate acoustic performance is met. Suspended ceilings, wall panels, acoustic baffles, partitioning and doors can be designed for a diverse range of building types with equally diverse acoustic requirements including school classrooms, radio station studios, swimming pools and large open plan offices.

There are two acoustic properties relevant to suspended ceilings – sound absorption and sound attenuation. Sound absorption refers to the measure of the ability of a surface to absorb sound, minimising the reflection of sound energy back into a space. This is important as a predominance of acoustically reflective surfaces in enclosed spaces, such as a classroom, that can lead to an overly reverberant environment; the sound of a single voice can be

less intelligible due to the many reflections of sound from the room surfaces. These reflections occur with a time delay compared to the sound energy that reaches a listeners ear directly and cause the sound to become less clear.

The room characteristic that defines this feature is ‘reverberation time’ – the length of time (in seconds) that it takes for a sound source to decay by 60dB. Different environments have differing demands, depending upon the use of the space, and there are differing subjective terms used to describe the different characteristics. Two extreme examples are a radio broadcast studio, where a reverberation time of around 0.2 seconds is required, the sound is described as ‘dry’ or ‘dead’, or a swimming pool, with a reverberation time that could be as long as 3.0 seconds, with a ‘bright’, ‘live’ or ‘reverberant’ sound.

Sound attenuation is used to describe the reduction in sound between two spaces separated by a dividing element, with two basic sound transmission paths that will affect the eventual perceived

sound level difference. Direct sound transmission is the level of sound passing through the dividing element, and flanking sound transmission is the level of sound passing through surrounding structures. Sound attenuation is measured in accordance with procedures set out in BS EN ISO 140, and defined in BS EN ISO 717. Performance is assessed in terms of third octave band values, with weighted single figure ratings provided to allow ease of comparison.

The education sector in the UK responded to the need to improve acoustics in schools in 2003 with the Department for Education and Skills’ Building Bulletin 93: Acoustic Design of Schools (BB93). All regulations within BB93 are mandatory and specify the acoustic design criteria requirements for all primary and secondary education facilities as well as containing performance standards for many areas within a school, including classrooms.

The research that led to these reg-ulations found that the development of language skills was often >

n Acoustic baffles suspended at Archway School, below


negatively affected by the acoustical environment in which it takes place. Being able to hear clearly through communication with teachers and peers was vital for children to grasp grammar rules and phonetic struc-ture through repetitive exposure to clear auditory. Studies have shown that exam results in state schools with good building conditions are on average 17% higher than simi-lar schools elsewhere. It was also noted that good speech intelligibil-ity helped limit teacher fatigue. It is recommended that a well-designed mix of sound absorbent and reflec-tive surfaces is specified to achieve maximum acoustic comfort.

SAS International has a strong history of working with design teams in order to meet the acoustic requirements of both new build and refurbished schools. It is vital that specifications consider background noise levels (indoor ambient noise levels); airborne and impact sound insulation between spaces, reverberation times, sound absorption in circulation spaces; and

a high speech intelligibility criteria for open plan spaces.

Although it is vital that all acoustic requirements are indeed met, SAS will also work with architects to ensure that bespoke solutions are available for specification so that good design does not have to be sacrificed for acoustic comfort. Aedas Architects’ design for award-winning Petchey Academy in North London called for a strong statement wall with a touch of colour that also provided a practical acoustic solution for its ‘state-of-the-art’ building.

Aedas created a striking design which features a large-open plan atrium area. In this area a robust wall panelling system for the internal space was required, with aesthetics also being an important consideration. Perforated panels were fitted with an acoustic material to assist in achieving the required BB93 reverberation time. The panelling was required to fit around a statement walled curved area within the building, situated in

a main entrance and thoroughfare area, visible from outside.

As a result, the purpose designed academy offers students vibrant, modern surroundings and facilities for learning and development. The bottom section of panelling in this high traffic area needed to be especially robust and achieve specific impact resistance, backed with Fermercell board for this purpose. A seamless flow was also achieved with panels wrapping around doorways.

In addition, Archway School in Stroud demanded an excellent acoustic solution for an additional facilities project. Multi-disciplinary practice B3 Burgess specified acoustic attenuators for the scheme from SAS International to work within the two-storey block’s open plan, naturally ventilated space.

Acoustic levels were a key consideration for this new build scheme, which comprises technology and entrance blocks totalling 2,715 square metres for the provision of ICT suites, offices and

‘Studies show exam results in state schools with good building conditions are on average 17% higher than similar schools elsewhere’

a recording studio. For the project, a sound attenuation rating of RW3/RW5 was stipulated.

The SAS International metalwork solution involved the design and installation of different types of acoustic attenuators. The acoustic characteristics of open plan spaces do not follow normal rules for regular proportioned rooms therefore a totally different approach was required to meet acoustic demands.

The SAS International acoustic attenuation solution for Archway School represents a series of acoustic baffles suspended vertically to provide acoustic absorption. They can be manufactured for all applications from commercial offices to large open atria. In this project they were used in conjunction with metal bulkheads as a means of linking the appropriate building elements.

Eliminating sound reflection from walls is particularly important for productive educational environments and acoustic wall panels are now commonly being used in halls and open atrium spaces, as well as classroom environments.

Perforations and acoustic pads can be used to ensure good sound absorption and reduce reverberation – combinations of plain sound reflecting tiles and perforated sound absorbing panels can be used to create the preferred acoustic environment, as is the case in this installation.

Sound absorbent suspended ceilings are able to provide a multitude of acoustic solutions while also allowing for significant degree of design flexibility. SAS International’s System 600 is an acoustic lighting raft or module that is suspended directly from a flat structural soffit or within coffers that allow for thermal mass cooling and free air movement to the structural slab. As with all

SAS suspended ceilings, they are available with a range of acoustic treatments which can absorb sound through the perforations in the face panel as well as reflected sound from the structural soffit. These acoustic rafts are able to be tailored to ensure design continuity regardless of a building’s design. Although rafts and modules are most often specified in a flat or curved design, SAS’s bespoke service allows for angular, radial or waveform designs.

SAS International’s System 600 acoustic lighting rafts were specified by leading architects’ Foster + Partners for the innovative Corby Business Academy (CBA) in Northamptonshire. Acoustics were a major concern for the client and the design brief called for very specific solutions that would meet the strict acoustic performance criteria, while also adding to the open and bright feel the client

wanted for the school. A bespoke design solution was provided that included the System 600 acoustic lighting rafts as well as acoustic wall panelling that was installed in the library and classrooms throughout the 11,600 square metre building. All SAS manufactured products had to reflect both the design needs of each classroom and the acoustic needs of the students.

When specifying building solutions that will provide the acoustic demands required, it is important that good and innovative design is not sacrificed just to meet to legislative requirements. SAS International’s suspended ceilings, acoustic wall panels and acoustic baffles and doors can be specified with a bespoke design solution that also meets and exceeds all necessary regulations. CEM

n Lianne Peters is Brand Manager at SAS International

n Corby Business Academy benefited from SAS International’s acoustic solution, facing page (photo: Foster & Partners). Aedas Architects’ state-of-the-art Petchey Academy in North London, below


CEM - March 2010

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