SportsDock
Introduction
The new £21 million SportsDock was opened in March 2012 and is the largest sports centre in East London. This world class sports facility has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. The total size of the site is 1.86 acres. The site comprises 10170m2 of grounds which are parking areas, paved areas and soft landscaping. In total there is 9707m2 of internal floor space and an external 1350m2 Multi Use games Area. 55% of the SportsDock is available for community use.
The UEL SportsDock is the largest sports facility in the East of London has been awarded an overall rating of ‘Excellent’ or a score of 71.39 % on BREEAM’s assessment scale, which takes into account a wide range of sustainability criteria. In total the SportsDock was awarded 90 out of an available 140 credits.
What is BREEAM?
BREEAM is the world's foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings, with 200,000 buildings with certified BREEAM assessment ratings and over a million registered for assessment since it was first launched in 1990.
BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operationand has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognised measures of a building's environmental performance.
For more information about BREEAM, click here
Environmental Management
The SportsDock has been awarded 13 out of 20 credits in BREEAM’s Management category.
- The UEL Environment Team has delivered 3 interactive environmental inductions to staff who work in the SportsDock.
- The induction introduced staff to the green features of the building and encouraged colleagues to get involved in environmental initiatives, from recycling to Green Impact.
- The overall aim is to make sure that the building is run as efficiently as possible. As part of the induction workshop, all colleagues were asked to take part in a survey to gauge their environmental behaviour at UEL and at home.
Waste Management
The SportsDock was awarded a score of 7 out of BREEAM’s 8 credits for the Waste Management category.
- During the construction, zero spoils have left the site, saving transport and disposal expenses and using the spoils for landscaping purposes instead such as the UEL Beetle Bump. Also, construction site waste management has met all of BREEAM’s criteria and recycled or secondary (concrete) aggregates have been used where possible.
- Inside the SportsDock are labelled recycling points with clear signage as to which items can be recycled at UEL.
Biodiversity
The SportsDock has received a score of 9 out of BREEAM’s 10 credits for the Land use and Ecology category.
- Two green sedum roofs increase the ecological value of the building and enhance biodiversity.
- Around the Sports Dock, the landscape design has created a new ecologically valuable habitat, with a diverse mix of grasslands, hedges (which provide cover for wildlife), trees, shrubs, climbers, and even a wildflower meadow!
- A new Beetle Bump has been created on Brownfield land adjacent to the SportsDock. The habitat was built using leftover construction waste from the SportsDock development. This includes 60 tonnes of chalk, brick and hardcore. The Beetle Bump is home to Streaked Bombardier beetles, one of the rarest insects in the UK. In addition, linnets have also been spotted at the site.
Energy and Water
The energy performance of a building depends on its building fabric/insulation, as well as its heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems.
Biomass Boiler and BMS
- SportsDock has received an impressive energy performance rating of B (on scale where A approximates carbon neutrality and G stands for the worst possible energy performance), with an average emission rate of 31.17 kgCO2/m2, compared to older existing buildings of a similar type with an emission rate of 68 kgCO2/m2.
- A biomass boiler will reduce the buildings CO2 emissions by about 20%. Energy efficient cold storage systems also contribute to a better energy balance.
- The Sports Dock uses a Building Management System to operate heating and ventilation in the Sports Dock to match occupancy patterns and external weather conditions. This helps to conserve energy as temperature sensors are automatically set between 19ºC - 21ºC.
Water efficiency
All artificial surfaces, including the car parking, access roads and paths on the site will be on a permeable layer which will have a positive drainage system located beneath it. This positive drainage system is connected to attenuation tanks which regulates flow to the Thames Water system by the use of hydro-brakes.
- 8 Water fountains in the SportsDock encourage staff and students to fill up their bottles rather than buy bottled water.
- All taps have a maximum flow rate less than 6 litres/min for a water pressure of 0.3MPa and are one of, or a combination of, the following types:
- Timed automatic shut-off taps e.g. push taps
- Electronic sensor taps
- Low flow screw-down/lever taps
- Spray taps
- All showers have a measured flow rate that does not exceed 9 litres per minute for a water pressure of 0.3MPa, assuming a delivered water temperature of 37ºC.
- Fitted with individual presence detectors that operate the flushing control after each use.
- All urinals are fitted with individual presence detectors that operate the flushing control after each use.
- The predicted water use is 5.445m3/person/year
Renewables
- SportsDock is improving its energy balance through its own on site renewable energy generation.
- 77 solar panels equivalent to 17 kWp on its roof, generating approximately 2328 kWh per annum.
Sustainable Procurement
The SportsDock has received a score of 13 out of BREEAM’s 15 credits for the Materials category.
- This is due mainly to the use of materials with a relatively low environmental impact, (specified by www.thegreenguide.org.uk), responsible sourcing of materials and the use of eco-friendly thermal insulation.
- The SportsDock’s catering outlet sells Fairtrade tea, coffee, biscuits and provides compostable takeaway bags on request.
Construction and Refurbishment
There is no specific construction and refurbishment category in BREEAM as the underlying concept of BREEAM is to draw together all the elements of planning, design and construction to create a sustainable building.
The SportsDock’s BREEAM Excellent Score demonstrates UEL’s commitment to designing, constructing and managing sustainable buildings.
- The level of the building’s footprint has been raised to minimise flood risk, taking into account the increased risks due to climate change.
- Kalwall has been integrated into the design of the main academic building and Sports Arena 2. Kalwall combines high insulation efficiency, with diffuse light-transmitting properties and is a structural composite. Kalwall can be all or part of the walls or roof of any building or be an entire freestanding structure. Typical configurations and systems include wall/window systems, skylights and clearspan.
- The construction of the SportsDock generally stands out for its eco-friendly choice of materials and waste disposal (see respective categories).
Transport
The SportsDock has been awarded a score of 9 out of 14 credits for the Transport category.
- The SportsDock is easily accessible via public transport (DLR and Buses) .
- Ample cycle storage space is provided for up 60 bicycles.
Insight
Resources
