Construction Technology In Architecture 3 - Emma Lee

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY IN ARCHITECTURE 3 COURSEWORK 2: REFINE AND DETAIL 59436 (ARCHITECTURE)

LOW CARBON SUSTAINABLE DESIGN SOLUTIONS EMMA LEE FRIDAY 1ST APRIL 2022

The Crescent, Salford.

Introduction The site is located in Greater Manchester and was originally built as three individual houses in the 1980s, ranging from 19-21 on the Crescent Road. When the houses later adjoined and became a pub named “The Crescent”, it gained recognition for being a meet up point for Karl Marx and Friedrich Engals where they drank and discussed ideas of communism during the 19th Century. Due to this historical interest, as of 18th January 1980, this building became grade II listed and so the front facades of the building must remain intact (Keeling, 2021).

Current State The building currently remains inactive as it was closed as of 2017 and is in a state of decay. Effects of weather and inactivity, as well as poor construction methods during the Victorian era that it was built, has resulted in dampness, mould and fungi in rooms, and moisture has harmed paint and plaster surfaces. The timber structure has become rotten due to lack of ventilation, and interior stonework has deteriorated due to moisture build up. In recent years, it has become more widely recognised the importance of retaining and refurbishing existing buildings rather than to demolish and replace them.

Building Proposal The building is set to become a Non- Violence Activist Centre which aims to raise awareness for violent activity and reduce acts of violence in all senses. Violence in Manchester has been recorded as the second most committed crime in Manchester in 2016. It is the second largest area for crimes in the UK per 1000 people, below London. And taking a closer look at records, it is increasing every year (Verisure, 2021).

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To select a fully refined design solution building following on from options explored in coursework 1.

The activist centre will provide specialist therapy, private 1-1 meetings and presentation of talks to the public in and around Salford to help mitigate any violent and unlawful acts. This is with the intention to bring about more positive actions with the goal to reduce create a more peaceful area and reduce violent crimes in Manchester.

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The chosen options must be presented with improved detail demonstrating the careful selection of appropriate materials and components that directly relate to the buildings function.

With this in mind the aim is to retain as much of the existing building as possible for heritage and sustainable purposes, and incorporating low carbon materials and systems in adherence to RIBA 2050 goals and UN Sustainable Development Goals to reach carbon neutral by 2050.

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The chosen building solution must be a coherent low-carbon design implementing environmentally conscious decisions in order to help reach global net zero targets.

Project Brief:

What must remain - Grade II listed

Figure 2: Exterior Photograph A of the Crescent, in connection with figure 1. (Souce: Keeling, 2021).

Figure 3: Exterior Photograph B of the Crescent, in connection with figure 1. (Souce: Keeling, 2021).

Figure 1: Floor plan indicating protected and unprotected walls of the Crescent Pub. (Source: Author).

Figure 4: Exterior Photograph C of the Crescent, in connection with figure 1. (Souce: Keeling, 2021).

Figure 5: Diagram of listed facade of the Crescent, Salford. (Source: Author).

Figure 6: Diagram of unlisted south facade of the Crescent, Salford. (Source: Author).

Current Condition The wall build up consists of a two brick layer with internal and external plaster rendering, with no vapour barrier, airtight barrier, or waterproof barrier to protect the building and its materials. As shown in figure 8, this has led to moisture and fungi ruining the internal walls. A facade retention scheme must be implemented to retain the exterior wall on the north and west facades for grade II listed purposes however due to the current state of the walls, a new internal wall will be installed to eliminate chances of further moisture and fungi build up, and and improve the buildings energy efficiency.

Photographs show the current state of the building, as evidently shown it is not usable in its present form for its proposed use as an Activist movement centre. Various causes have led to the buildings overall deterioration and failure over time, thus evident in its construction methods during the Victorian Era when it was built. As well as this, inactivity of the building since 2017 has led to improper maintanance and further failure.

Figure 7: Diagram indicating current exterior material palette of the Crescent, Salford. (Source: Author).

Figure 8: Interior Photograph of walls in the Crescent, Salford.(Source: The Urban Collective, 2019).

Figure 10: Interior photographs showing loss of strength in timber in the Crescent, Salford. (Source: The Urban Collective, 2019).

Structural members of the roof feature timber in a king post roof truss arrangement, and floors are made from timber joists and floorboards (figure 9), however deterioration has occured as a result of high moisture levels and an attack by wood-rotting fungi. This has led to loss of strength as shown in figure 10. As a result of this, the current roof structure will be replaced with a new open glulam timber beam frame. Due to the importance of retaining the existing structure as much as possible, timber will be re-used for glulam bracing, and timber joists where possible on new intermmediate floors.

Figure 9: Diagram of floor buildup in typical Victorian buildings. (Source: University of West England, 2021).

Current Condition

Figure 11: Interior photographs showing loss of strength within the walls and ceiling in the Crescent, Salford. (Source: The Urban Collective, 2019).

Figure 12: Interior photographs showing evidence of cracking through potential subsidence of the structure. (Source: The Urban Collective, 2019).

The overall load of the structure is materialised of flemish bond red brick (as shown in figure 7), while the foundation is likely to be a brick stepped footing foundation laid in shallow soil. Figure 12 shows potential evidence of subsidence through wall cracking, which could be a result of insufficient foundations or poor ground strength. Excavation and underpinning will be necessary for this project to ensure complete stability of the basement.

Figure 13: The current EPC rating for the Crescent, Salford. (Source: MHCLG, 2013).

Figure 13 shows the current EPC rating for this property, currently at an F. The recommendation report states a number of changes which can be made to improve the current buildings energy efficiency: • • • • •

Single glazed window with high u-values - consideration to install secondary glazing.

Uninsulated cavity walls - consider introducing insulation into cavity walls.

Loft spaces poorly insulated - Consider installing loft insulation.

Lighting fixtures - Consider upgrading to a lighting retrofit.

Overheating in some areas - Consider solar control measures such as shading devices to windows.

The windows currently do not have sufficient thermal performance and are not well insulated, indicating the transfer of heating and cooling is not very efficient.

The lack of insulation within the cavity walls and the roof creates further heat loss therefore needing more mechanical energy to heat the building. Introducing insulation will reduce heat loss and operational carbon footprint. Furthermore, installing retrofit lighting fixtures are more energy efficient and also have greater health and wellbeing advantages on users, eliminating headaches. On the south facade of the building where the sun spans, it is important to introduce shading devices to windows which will lessen cooling loads.

Building Use The Non Violence Activist Movement Centre is a friendly public space that has a goal to bring about positive change surrounding violence within the area of Salford and Manchester. Manchester is the second largest area for crimes in the UK per 1000 people. The centre’s aim is to bring people together to help those who are victims of violence, or those who are wanting to challenge the status quo in order to make Salford and Manchester a safer, more peaceful city.

In achieving this, there are three main public spaces that will be in use the most frequently.

• • •

Discussion pods (west side of the building on ground and first floor) are central to help users deal with their physical or emotional traumas with regard to violence in a private, enclosed space. They are able to talk freely to a trained professional who may offer help and support.

The conference area (First floor of the east side of the building) offers free public talks with the aim to unite those with the same goals, and empower users to learn about non-violence and set up events for the public to bring about change.

The cafe and seating area which is situated within the substructure offers a communal space for users to eat and socialise.

Other areas of the building include a lift, staircase, toilets, and storage spaces, as shown in figure 14 indicating the building programme.

Figure 15: Diagram showing the new Glulam Portal Frame structure. (Source: Author).

The main function of the building is to provide a gathering space for the public to socialise and be educated on issues surrounding Non-violence. Due to this, it is aimed to have a positive impact on users and floors have been kept open to create a sense of freedom. In keeping with this, the glulam portal framed structure provides the main structural stability of the roof and load bearing walls. Glulam is also 2-3 times more durable than concrete or steel because of its ability to withstand stresses without cracking unlike concrete or steel.

Compared to normal wood, the fire resistance of 0.7mm/ per minute meaning that laminated timber has a fire resistance of minimum 30 minutes or more depending on thickness, making it a great fire resistor. One of the main contributors towards this material choice above all other advantages is that it is a highly sustainable material whereby the timber is a fully reneweable and recyclable material which possesses low embodied carbon (Glulam Solutions, 2021 & Timber Blogger, 2020).

Figure 14: The Non Violence Activist Movement Centre programme. (Source: Author).

Building Use Cross laminated timber (CLT) panels will enclose the walls to provide further structural stability, and are also being used to form the intermmediate floors in the activist centre. The CLT panel consists of an odd number of timber boards bonded using adhesive and are laid perpendicular to the layer below, creating further strength for the floors and the connection between wall and floor (figure 15). Therefore fewer floor joists are necessary than for usual timber batten floors. Intermmediate floors have been used to allow the space to remain open for users. The pods are situated in the west corner of the activist movement centre, on the ground floor and another laid on the first floor. CLT panels are fixed into the new wall panels and joists allow to hold the strength of the Discussion pods. The span of the intermmediate floor on the east side of the building where the conference area is situated will not need any further strength other than timber joists on the CLT floor, and a load bearing wall below.

Figure 16: First floor view of the conference area of the new Activist Movement Centre.

(Source: Author).

Figure 19: Diagram showing structural elements of the new Activist Movement Centre. (Source: Author).

Figure 17: First floor view inside the new Activist Movement Centre. (Source: Author).

Figure 15: Diagram showing the structural buildup of a CLT panel. (Source: Global Wood Tech, 2022).

Figure 18: Below ground floor view of the new cafe area inside the Activist Movement Centre. (Source: Author).

Concrete has been used to form the load-bearing walls on the south-east of the building, enclosing the staircase onto the different floors. This has also been used to provide stability to the glulam beams through bracing attached to the wall. Another non-load-bearing wall curves around the building and slopes to offer views from the first intermediate floor across the building (figure 17). The choice for concrete is primarily because it allows for flexibility as it can be cast into any shape and has allowed for a circular hole design. These holes are interactive and allow for seating on the ground floor while creating further illusions of open space. In addition, colour has been incorporated into the holes to provide comfort and create a light, positive space. However, the obvious problem with concrete is that it is highly unsustainable. The construction of cement results in high carbon dioxide output levels and amounts to 3-4% of worldwide carbon emissions.

However, to alleviate this, alternative cement options such as blast furnace slag or hempcrete can be used to consider that this could affect the stability of the building, something that must be considered (Greenspec, 2022).

Proposed building design

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Building Parameters

Building Parameters

Environmental Strategy

It has become more apparent the need for building construction to become more sustainable in order to reduce its impact on further global warming.

“Buildings are believed to account for 50 per cent of all energy used globally. Half of that energy i consumed during the construction of the building and half during the life of the building” (Riley & Cotgrave, 2011, p. 18).

It is therefore important the need to reduce this energy in buildings and the construction industry. To refurbish and retain buildings rather than to demolish and replace is therefore seen a more sustainable option due to the amount of construction work necessary. In doing this, as much of the existing building aims to be retained, such as performing remedial works on existing timber to use in the refurbishment, thus saving energy on new materials. The implementation of new retrofit building materials such as a new building wall will promote a more efficient systems through insulation, reduction of heating through shading devices and reducing air leakage through an an airtight internal shell. Figure 21 shows a diagam of the proposed environmental strategy for the centre.

Figure 21: Environmental Strategy for new Activist Movement Centre. (Source: Author).

1:20 Structural Model

1:20 Elevation Drawing

Indicative diagram of sections layout

1:20 Section Thermal Performance Part L of the Conservation of fuel and power states that buildings must limit where possible the heating gains and losses through the building fabric. The insulation fitted into walls is 180mm rockwool flexi insulation, which has a U-value of 0.15 W/m²K, and further insulation is fitted into the 60mm service zone to provide added u-value efficiency. Control of natural solar gain passively allows for greater thermal performance, and large curtain walls have been placed on the south facade of the building, allowing for further natural daylighting to enter and heat the area, and single glazed windows have been replaced with triple glazing providing great insulating properties. However, shading devices are necessary. It is important for a good thermal performing building to have adequate airtight qualities, and Cross Laminated Timber panels have a good reputation for creating airtightness (panels above 60mm whereby current floor is 100mm thickness offers full airtight protection). A sealant between the wall and floor further achieves an airtight seal.

Control of Moisture Due to the previous state of the building and attack on mould and fungi, membranes have been fitted to the outer shell to eliminate chances of external water forces entering the building and ruining the building fabric. A breather membrane fitted within the 50mm cavity wall repells any water entering the external brick and getting into the insulation, while also allowing any water vapour on the interior to escape. In addition, a damp proof course along the window sill also prevents any water leakage going into the internal wall while internal flashing on the interior window head prevents moisture attacking the insulation and CLT. A breather membrane has also been fitted to the intermmediate wall to prevent any internal moisture from attacking the CLT floor panels and rigid under floor insulation, although CLT panels are highly moisture resistant.

Panels above 60mm where this floor panel is 100mm, offers full airtightness.

It is important to have adequate ventilation to reduces indoor moisture levels, and the activist centre is a large open space with minimal party walls which allows for ventilation to flow well throughout the building through the large sash windows on the north facade, while the large curtain wall has automatic window openings integrated.

External Fire An insulated Rockwool TCB cavity barrier is tested and assessed for up to 60 minutes of fire resistance in that it can thwart the movement of fires. It works to improve the safety of the activiwst centre by preventing the spread of fire within concealed voids.

A proprietry fire stop has been installed on the roof to seal the comparment preventing the spread of fire from either entering or escaping the roof.

Fire protection boarding installed in the intermmediate floor which is resistant to heat and radiation of a fire while retaining the structural integrity of the floor and preventing any collapse. Furthermore, CLT panels installed into the floor and walls are also designed to accommodate fire resistance and remain structurally stable for up to 90 minutes.

Summary of building systems Design Solutions of wall and floor

The wall layers are currently a double layer of brick and rendered with plasterboard, and no application of vapour control layers, insulation or breather membranes to prevent condensation and mould growth occuring which has a negative impact on health and wellbeing. The new wall as shown in figure 21 will feature a new cavity wall and breather membrane that repels any rain that tries to enter the building. Wall ties attach existing brick wall to thick external mineral wool insulation. Cross laminated timber panels will attach tightly to the insulation with another insulation layer incorporating a service zone for electrical and plumbing, and an internal plasterboard lining to finish. Cross laminated floor panels are also being installed to form the intermmediate floors, which have a high load bearing capacity for the discussion pod weight and conference area. A timber remedial treatments inspection will be undertaken to save as much of the existing timber as possible.

Any timber that can be saved can be used in timber floor joists to provide extra strength to floors or bracing to glulam structure.

In order to insert a new interior wall while also retaining the existing outer north and west facade of the building, a facade retention assessment must be undertaken to analyse the most appropriate system to use, due to there being limited space for scaffolding on the outer side to stabilise the exterior. For the exterior wall to remain stable during this process, underpinning of the foundations is necessary to prevent the exterior wall from collapsing.

Figure 21: New wall buildup of the Activist Movement Centre. (Source: Author).

Intermmediate Floor (U Value -0.20 W/m²·K)

Original design solutions for the walls and floor that were explored in coursework 1 looked into the internal lining and external lining of insulation. However, due to the nature of the building being Grade II listed, it is therefore impossible to install exterior insulation as this would affect the appearance of the exterior. Therefore Internal lining insulation method explored in coursework 1 (figure 20) has been developed in further detail within this project. Figure 21 shows the development of the wall detail against the existing north wall facade of the Crescent pub.

Furthermore, Coursework 1 developed the possibility of timber floors with floor joists, however having further researched design solutions surrounding timber, Cross Laminated Timber panels (CLT) are a modern method of construction providing structural robustness and manufactured off site, significantly reducing wastage and improving energy efficiency in the construction phase. Due to the high strength and rigidity of CLT panels, this is perfect for the Activist Movement Centre in areas that are more populated and therefore bare more loads such as the conference area and the discussion pods.

Figure 20: Warm roof construction detail explored in coursework 1. Source: Greespec, 2021).

1:10 Detailed Construction Model (Wall Buildup of North Facade) (U Value - 0.12 W/m²·K)

Summary of building systems Design Solutions of roof

The previous roof structure was made from a timber king post roof truss (figure 22), however due to current condition of the timber, deterioration has occured due to attach of moisture and fungi. A new portal framed roof structure will be installed to create stability for the existing structure and ensure existing load bearing walls are secure. Old timber battens will be reused for bracing on the new glulam frame where possible to retain existing materials for sustainability purposes and and lower waste levels.

However, it must be taken into consideration that current timber roof battens are worn and may not be stable enough for new glulam structure.

Figure 23: Diagram showing new Glulam Portal Frame of the Activist Movement Centre.

(Source: Author).

Freemans School Swimming Pool Precedent of Portal Glulam Frame Structure

Figure 22: Existing King Post Roof Truss structure. (Source: Author).

Figure 24: Freemans School Swimming Pool. (Source: Archdaily, 2017).

In coursework 1, options regarding the design solutions for a roof in the new Activist Movement Centre explored warm and cold roof construction. The final desicion on a warm roof meant the insulation would be placed between the rafters offering the most thermal protection, whereas for a cold roof the insulation woukd be placed between the floor joists which allowed more chance of thermal bridging and more precautions must be taken to mitigate this. However, warm roof insulation is that it limits the amount of roof space however this is not a problem with the activist movement centre because the space is kept open and intermmediate floors appear on the first floor only, leaving great headspace for users.

Incorporating a glulam portal frame, the aim is also to allow for the frame to be exposed, also eliminating the option to choose a cold roof. The precedent in figure 24 of Freemans School Swimming Pool shows an example of a building that has left the frame exposed, offering more space to open up the interior. Due to the precedent showing the glulam within a swimming pool shows their versatility within damp conditions and their ability to withstand moisture.

1:5 Section Detail (Roof and Eaves) (U Value - 0.11 W/m²·K)

Summary of building systems Design Solutions of foundations

Figure 25: Photograph showing internal facade retention to support external wall. (Source: (INCYE, 2022).

A common foundation method for this building during the victorian era is usually stepped as shown in figure 26 with no basement. However, a basement substructure is present in the current building and is being utilised for the cafe. Cracking is evident in the walls as mentioned previously in the building condition, and this could be a result of insufficient foundation strength, where subsidence may be occuring. Excavation and underpinning to the existing substructure is necessary to regain structural stability, and to lower the existing substructure to create more roof space for users in the cafe / communal area.

Figure 27: Diagram showing process of excavating and underpinning eisting foundation. (Source: Author).

Figure 26: Diagram showing existing foundation build up of the existing building.

(Source: Author).

In coursework 1, pile foundations were explored in which the decision was to choose friction piling, a method of foundation which is used to create strong foundations for heavy structures such as bridges, roads and stadiums. Piles are also for foundations where there are great depth, however this project is on a smaller scale than the likes of roads and bridges, and therefore does not require a foundation that performes at great depths. Figure 28 shows a diagram of an excavation into piles, which shows the previous method considered in coursework 1.

The Pier and beam underpinning method involves excavating the outer foundation walls of the building and installing concrete beams in sections (measurements stipulated by architectural engineers). Figure 27 shows a diagram of the proposed underpinning method to the substructure of the activist centre.

The current basement is not a usable space due to being highly damp, and a waterproofing layer will prevent damage in the future.

After undertaking an analysis on the type of soil present underneath the grounds of the project, it was made evident that the soil can be described as ‘Loamy and clayey soil’. This has a mix of sand, silt, clay-sized particles (Soilscapes, 2022).

In addition to underpinning, external facades on the walls that are grade II listed will need facade retention to hold the wall up while fitting a new internal wall.

Pier and beam foundations are a method of underpinning for more shallow depths such as the Activist Movement Centre, and are more matched towards the soil type present. It also Figure 28: Diagram of pile foundation excavation. (Source: CementConcrete, 2020).

does not require extensive excavation compared to piles.

1:5 Section Detail (Foundation - Pier and Beam underpinning) (U Value of intermmediate floor - 0.20 W/m²·K)

1:5 Section Detail (Window head and sill)

Material sample board

Reference List Archdaily. (2017). Freemen’s School Swimming Pool / Hawkins\Brown. https://www.archdaily.com/885514/freemens-school-swimming-pool-hawkins-brown?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects_tab CementConcrete. (2020). Underpinning Methods, Procedure, Use in Foundation Strengthening and Repair. https://cementconcrete. org/buildings/underpinning-methods-procedure-foundation-strengthening-repair/2092/ Glulam Solutions. (2022). Fire. http://www.glulamsolutions.co.uk/glulam/fire/#:~:text=The%20burn%2Doff%20rate%20of,coatings%20are%20normally%20not%20necessary.

Global Woodtech. (2022). Mass Timber. https://globalwoodtech.com/mass-timber/ Greenspec. (2022). The Environmental Impacts of Concrete . https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/environmental-impacts-of-concrete/ Greenspec. (2021b). Housing Retrofit: Solid wall: Internal lining. https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/internal-insulation/ INCYE. (2022). Indoor Facade Retention Systems. https://www.incye.com/en/facade-retentions/indoor/ Keeling, N. (2021). Chinese owners plan to re-open historic Salford Crescent pub as The Red Dragon. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/salfords-historic-crescent-pub-karl-20229580 MHCLG. (2013). Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). https://find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk/energy-certificate/9986-3042-0979-0000-5521 Riley, M., & Cotgrave, A. (2011). Construction Technology 3: The Technology of Refurbishment and Maintenance (2nd ed.) Palgrave Macmillan.

Timber Blogger. (2020). Glue-laminated Timber Advantages And Disadvantages. https://www.timberblogger.com/glue-laminated-timber-advantages-and-disadvantages/ The Urban Collective. (2019, 18 January). Bygone Pubs - The Crescent Salford - Manchester - Urbex UK [Video]. Youtube. https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtggbTE2__Q&t=1510s&ab_channel=TheUrbanCollective University of the West of England. (2022). Evolution of Building Elements. https://fet.uwe.ac.uk/conweb/house_ages/elements/section3.htm Verisure. (2021). Manchester Crime Statistics. https://www.verisure.co.uk/advice-and-help/crime-statistics/manchester-crime-statistics