Consultant QS on Bristol eco-regeneration project
Property and construction consultants Ridge has been acting as employer’s agent, QS and CDM co-ordinator on a new regeneration scheme in Knowle West, Bristol.
The Archimedia project will replace an existing community centre to provide state-of-the-art media facilities for young people in the local area. The aim is to encourage them to learn new skills and participate in media and the arts.
The design incorporates a Glulam timber frame along with straw bale walls. The roof has been designed to harvest rain water for use in the toilets, and the building will be naturally ventilated through roof lights. Another environmental solution will be the utilisation of a bio-mass fuel boiler
The grant-funded scheme works closely with families and young people from the local community who have been involved in every step of the process from setting the brief to selection of the consultants and contractors.
Each consultant employed on the scheme has sponsored a straw bale panel and subsequently constructed it. Ridge assembled its panel on 26 June. The frame for the building is now being constructed to form the external walls and is on schedule to be completed by December.
The centre is due to open in the spring 2008.
