Balancing heritage and climate urgency in listed buildings
Nov 2, 2022
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Oliver Smith, 5th Studio co-founder, talks about the radical retrofit of New Court at Trinity College, Cambridge. The challenges of renovating a listed building, achieving sustainable renovations, investigating and achieving target u-value, retrofitting windows in historic buildings, and monitoring and analyzing data from listed buildings are discussed.
Balancing heritage and energy efficiency in retrofitting historic buildings requires a thorough understanding of the existing fabric and the use of computer models to accurately predict performance and guide decision-making.
Monitoring the performance of retrofitted buildings is crucial, and while intensive monitoring may not be necessary for every project, the methodologies and lessons learned from previous retrofits can be applied to future projects, with calibration of computer models and accurate material testing data improving reliability and reducing the need for prolonged monitoring.
Deep dives
Retrofitting Heritage Buildings for Sustainability
Oliver Smith of Fifth Studio discusses the refurbishment of New Court at Trinity College Cambridge, a grade one listed neo-gothic student residence hall. The project successfully achieved an 80% reduction in carbon emissions while balancing heritage concerns. The building underwent a thorough investigation of its thermal performance, including in-situ u-value measurements and interstitial hydrothermal monitoring, which revealed better performance than predicted by computer models. The refurbishment involved improving the fabric and implementing sustainable strategies, such as lime render for breathability, slimline double-glazed windows aligned with the existing sightlines, and a non-invasive approach to insulating the cornice and party walls. The project's monitoring and modeling methodology has been adopted by Cambridge City Council and is being considered by other local authorities.
Challenges and Considerations in Retrofitting
When retrofitting historic buildings, balancing heritage and energy efficiency can be challenging. The condition of the existing building fabric and its ability to deal with heat and moisture should be thoroughly understood before starting the retrofit. The use of computer models, such as Wufi modeling, can help accurately predict the performance of retrofit buildings and guide decision-making. The selection of appropriate materials, such as lime render for breathability, and the integration of modern systems, like underfloor heating, can improve thermal performance. Windows are a significant consideration, and options need to be explored to maintain the building's historic appearance while improving energy efficiency. The retrofit process requires careful procurement on traditional contracts with a high level of site supervision.
The Benefits and Challenges of Monitoring
Monitoring the performance of retrofitted buildings is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of the measures and identify any issues. Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) can provide valuable insights into factors like air tightness, moisture management, and comfort levels. The data collected can help optimize the design and operational performance of the building. However, intensive monitoring, as done in the New Court project, may not be necessary for every listed building retrofit. The methodologies and lessons learned from such projects can be applied to future retrofits without extensive monitoring. Calibration of computer models and utilizing accurate data from material testing can improve the reliability of predictions and reduce the need for prolonged monitoring.
The Future of Retrofitting and Adoption of Methodologies
Retrofitting is essential to achieve significant carbon reduction goals and transition away from fossil fuel heating. Deep retrofitting, which improves the building fabric and reduces energy demand, should be prioritized before considering heat pump installations. The focus should be on reducing the demand for heating and using more comfortable and efficient heating systems like underfloor heating. The implementation of retrofit projects can be facilitated by frameworks like pattern books, allowing for streamlined planning consent and collaboration with local stakeholders. Stakeholders, both public and private, need to embrace sustainable retrofitting practices to meet carbon reduction targets and future energy demands.
Episode 37. AJ Climate Champions with Hattie Hartman. 5th Studio co-founder Oliver Smith shares his radical approach to upgrading listed buildings. He talks about the practice’s radical retrofit of New Court at Trinity College, Cambridge. Completed in 2016, New Court remains a trailblazing project because it pioneered an ambitious sustainability agenda in a Grade I-listed building using a nuanced approach that balanced heritage concerns with upgrading thermal and energy performance and internal comfort.
