The Enterprise Centre

The Enterprise Centre at The University of East Anglia, acclaimed as the UK's greenest building, exemplifies sustainable design through its use of natural materials and energy-efficient construction, achieving Passivhaus and BREEAM outstanding. It fosters new sustainable businesses and innovative research, providing world-class facilities and support for graduate startups and the wider knowledge economy.

Location

Norwich, UK

Area

3,400 m2

Status

Completed

Year

2015

Client

University of East Anglia and The Adapt Low Carbon Group

The building aims to encourage new sustainable businesses from graduates who emerge from UEA's academic research programmes and those involved in activities within the wider Norwich Research Park.

The Enterprise Centre provides space for business support workshops, networking activities, open plan offices, incubation and hatchery space (research and development activities) for new graduate start-up companies and other businesses in the Knowledge Economy. The building also provides a base for business support through the University’s Low Carbon MBA and associated graduate development and entrepreneurship programmes operated by the Norwich Business School.

The Enterprise Centre has been delivered using a forward thinking 'Single Point Delivery' (SPD) form of contract for all work stages (based on NEC3), that promotes collaborative working practice, with main contractor Morgan Sindall as the Single Point Deliverer.

To meet the requirements of the brief, Architype designed the building to meet a 100 year design life, Passivhaus certification and BREEAM Outstanding. The building exceeded the local planning requirement for 10% of the building’s energy to be from renewables through the use of roof mounted PVs. Embodied carbon was a major focus at design stage. The design is well above Best Practice, with embodied carbon (including sequestration) between 1/5 and 1/4 of many new university buildings.

Architype, in a team led by main contractor Morgan Sindall, won the OJEU advertised design competition because their entry not only demonstrated that the many exacting sustainability criteria had been fulfilled, but also because they had designed a striking and beautiful piece of architecture that was well conceived as part of a larger masterplan.

John French, CEO, Project Director, ADAPT Low Carbon Group

Vision

All vision

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We have a proven track-record in delivering natural low-impact materials as part of mainstream solutions.

Innovating with Natural Materials

Natural Materials

How can natural, low-impact materials be effectively integrated into projects?

The project brief called for a radical approach to material use, prioritising bio-based and locally sourced materials to create a building that truly celebrates its place in East Anglia.

Design

Landscaping is a critical component of our scheme. We have reinforced the link with the historic gardens of Earlham Hall, retained many of the existing landscape features, including the beech hedge, and incorporated new landscape features such as the central courtyard, an echo of other adjacent courtyards, featuring a beautiful flint SUDs bed surrounding the main lecture theatre. The building has become a key element in the University’s estate master plan.

The concept comprises a new building and landscape that is an exemplar of low embodied energy and carbon construction technologies, through the use and visual celebration of natural and bio-renewable materials sourced through local supply chains. The Enterprise Centre is a recognised centre of excellence at a European level, providing world-class facilities through its sustainable design and use of materials.

The building is wonderful and seems to be gaining enthusiastic responses from those who are using it. Congratulations on delivering for us so effectively.