2023 Summer Issue of Urban Land - 90

landwrites
Bay Technology Centre delivers on the
conceptual practice of the building as a
power station. The structure's design and
construction leveraged net zero design
techniques and technologies to create Wales's
first energy-positive commercial building.
as an electric heat pump or district
energy-because they can make very
positive and effective contributions
toward achieving net zero goals.
Unfortunately, all-electric systems
do not yet make sense everywhere.
Places with a cold-weather climate
may see extreme spikes in electricity
consumption that can trigger
concerns about energy affordability.
Cold weather in regions where buildings
are still operating on " dirty "
electricity grids may ultimately cause
the burning of more fossil fuels and
higher greenhouse gas emissions
than buildings with modern natural
gas boilers.
Thus, the analysis and determination
of what type of systems should
be used-and under what conditions-need
to be conducted holistically,
with a particular view toward
making sustainable building design
choices that support reduced energy
consumption and that can ultimately
offer opportunities for positive
regenerative inputs into both the
natural and built environments.
90
URBAN LAND SUMMER 2023
In Neath, United Kingdom, the
Bay Technology Centre is an example
of a self-sufficient, energy-positive
active building that-thanks to an
integrated renewable energy generation
and storage system-can
be self-sustaining in its operational
energy performance. It also features
an airtight building envelope and
uses renewable and low-carbon technologies
for heating and cooling. The
Technology Centre's design team
gained an Excellent rating under the
Building Research Establishment
Environmental Assessment Method
(BREEAM), with an almost unheard
of 100 percent score for Energy
Credit 01, covering energy performance,
prediction of operational
energy, beyond zero net regulated
carbon, carbon negativity, and postoccupancy
evaluation.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether the project
is new construction or a retrofit, the
urban projects planners and designers
lead need to be informed by
a holistic view that embraces the
power of nature and fosters integration
with the environment, reduces
the consumption of nonrenewable
resources, and minimizes waste, while
moving also toward the creation of
a carbon-positive and regenerative
building landscape.
At Arcadis, we are doing this by
putting the weight of our global
organization behind redefining
the future of urban environments
through people-centered planning
and design that reduces the carbon
footprint, guards against damage to
the natural environment, improves
quality of life for all, and pushes the
boundaries of design excellence.
The fact is, we are in the business
of designing structures as places that
inspire, motivate, and support people
to live, prosper, and grow now and in
the future. That is what sustainability
is all about. UL
MANSOOR KAZEROUNI is an architect and a fellow
of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. He was
recently appointed global director of architecture and
urbanism at Arcadis, following the acquisition of IBI Group
by Arcadis. He is a past board member of ULI Toronto.
MORGAN SINDALL
2023 Summer Issue of Urban Land

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