DESIGN AUDIT: Roots In The Sky, London, SE1

Summary:

The radical repurposing of a former Crown Court, Roots In The Sky will provide a 1.4-acre urban forest rooftop with extensive access for the local community + general public.

Including community space, collaborative neighbourhood uses, a rooftop restaurant, bar, swimming pool + terraces, the building creates a new benchmark in greening, biodiversity and sustainability by providing space for nature, not just humans.

MEP Engineering Audit:

Audited MEP design completed to Stage 4 by Atelier Ten
Reviewed all MEP building services documents, focusing on:
key risks
spatial coordination
missing information
compliance + benchmarking
design related issues
plant replacement strategy
potential value engineering
general observations

Provided feedback in key defined areas, identified solutions + alternative design approaches to aid the client in the next phase of the project, bringing added value in terms of costs, programme, ease of installation + maintenance etc

Energy + Sustainability Audit:

Reviewed Part L + thermal aspects of the project:
L calculation checks on existing IES-VE model + report
supplied recommendations for improvement
CIBSE load checks using the existing IES-VE model

Challenges overcome:

As with all audits:
establishing the brief to fully understand the MEPH design foundations
understanding reasoning behind decisions that are not always documented

Result:

“Mecserve’s peer review of the base build consultant’s Stage 4 information on a high value project, was undertaken expeditiously, with a high level of attention to detail, and contained solid, truly pragmatic advice.

Expert assessment of the project’s MEP and energy and sustainability factors were crucial; ultimately enabling Mace to mitigate its risk profile during the tender process.”

JASON SHEPHERD, MACE

Services provided by Mecserve:

Peer Review/Design Audit: MEPH/FIRE/ESD
Energy + Sustainability advice

Contract Value + Size: £240M + 400,000 sq.ft

Client: Fabrix

Main Contractor: Mace

Project Manager: Gardiner & Theobald LLP

Base Build M&E + Sustainability: Atelier Ten

Structural Engineer: AKT II