The new Phase at the Science Park marks a significant investment by
MHSP and AWM in a sustainable energy building. The new Phase 3
building will make use of natural ground water to heat and cool the
building. The environmentally friendly design makes use of the latest
construction techniques to provide a building that will be cool in the
summer and warm in the winter. The ground source heat pump technology
is well established in Sweden, Germany and North America, but has
minimal impact in the UK space heating and cooling market. Perceived
barriers to uptake have included geographical uncertainty, concerns
regarding performance and reliability, high capital costs and lack of
infrastructure.
Advantage West Midlands (AWM), the Regional Development Agency have
agreed to invest in the building in order to provide a benchmark
building for the West Midlands. The design provides an example for
private sector
developments to consider such novel technologies in commercial
buildings as an aid to reducing carbon emissions.
There will be three floors of offices and two floors of laboratories
available. Total net lettable space will be just over 2,000m². The
building also houses a bistro which will be used by the occupants of
the whole Science Park.
The building has been built speculatively, with an anticipation
of demand based on current experience of the Park which currently
has
3,000m² of space.
The new building also features Termodeck®, a patented hollow core
structure for floors. This will enable the walls and ceilings (which
have a high thermal mass) to be heated and cooled by fresh air. This
material is featured in the Elizabeth Fry Building at the University of
East Anglia. That building has helped to establish Termodeck® as a
most
efficient heat transfer mechanism for buildings seeking low energy
inputs.
For
information on the Science Park and working with QinetiQ, contact the
Science Park Manager
+44 (0)1684 585200
Advantage West Midlands (AWM), the Regional Development Agency have
agreed to invest in the building in order to provide a benchmark
building for the West Midlands. The design provides an example for
private sector
developments to consider such novel technologies in commercial
buildings as an aid to reducing carbon emissions. 
The new building also features Termodeck®, a patented hollow core
structure for floors. This will enable the walls and ceilings (which
have a high thermal mass) to be heated and cooled by fresh air. This
material is featured in the Elizabeth Fry Building at the University of
East Anglia. That building has helped to establish Termodeck® as a
most
efficient heat transfer mechanism for buildings seeking low energy
inputs.