Refurbishment & Retrofit

Synopsis

Innovation for University Refurbishment & Retrofit Challenges
Kate Thomas, Director, Austin-Smith:Lord

Retrofit and refurbishment are increasingly crucial for estate carbon reduction agendas as well as for delivering new facilities at lower capital project cost per m² than new-build alternatives. Universities nationwide are custodians of a fair portfolio of buildings with historic value which are often no longer fit for future teaching and learning needs or carbon net zero agendas.
There are many challenges posed by existing buildings to be proactively overcome for maximising their potential, by pushing both the boundaries of design vision and energy efficiency.

Obstacles can be unique to the individual building, but we also see common themes with recurring challenges and opportunities that estates teams will become increasingly familiar with in the coming years. In this presentation we will cover our top recurring challenges in refit projects using examples of successful design and technical solutions we have implemented, in some cases innovated with support from engineering disciplines. Examples will be drawn from a variety of higher education projects and existing building types, including conversion of buildings from various eras, and reconfiguration and refurbishment of post-millennium buildings responding to changing post-covid and future envisaged teaching and learning requirements.

Staff and student wellbeing agendas and increased digital learning are two prevalent drivers for change in the nature of spaces required on campus, fundamentally changing the cohort sizes, scale, shape, use and feel of spaces required for best practice in teaching, learning and pastoral support. Adapting traditional limiting tiered lecture halls to more collaborative, flexible spaces is one such example amongst many others.

Using a variety of solutions from various projects and institutions, this presentation aims to excite and embolden the vision we collectively have for adaptive reuse, and see past apparent limitations of existing building stock to the opportunities they present for high value and fantastic comparative investment return.