At Grigoriou Interiors we are aware there is a growing demand in the industry for office fit-out and refurbishment projects to meet Net Zero Carbon alignment and target requirements, meaning low associated carbon to these projects is required, so they can fit within a specific carbon budget.
This will help the industry no end in its progression to align with the legal commitment the UK has to reduce its GHG emissions by 2030, and 2050, following the Paris Agreement.
Circularity plays an important role, if not the most important role, as a decarbonising tool.
Looking at projects in layers – the building fabric, structure, service, and content such as insulation, flooring, ceiling, and furniture – allows us to break down materiality into different project materials, products and their location, subsequently enabling the identification of circularity opportunities.
This is the case with two office fit-out projects we’ve been providing SKA rating assessment and sustainability consultancy on in Central London, for Thirdway Interiors and end user clients of theirs. Project aims were driven through the SKA rating system which includes reductions in upfront embodied carbon and through circularity, among other environmental and wellbeing good practice achievements. Both projects were assessed by us and went on to achieve a certified Gold and Silver SKA rating result.
The brief, design and concept development stages are the best time for efforts in circularity and embodied carbon reduction to take place. It is early enough to identify those circularity opportunities and to plan for them to happen in good time and order. Between these two projects we were able to identify such an opportunity between metal ceiling raft materials. Doing a site walk-around one site with discussions on the re-use of the ‘waste’ ceilings and possible new uses for these panels, coincided with design development on the other and discussions for ways to source low carbon and circular/preloved metal ceiling rafts. The strip out without damage, the storage, transport and re-finishing with SKA compliant paint, took place early enough for the existing metal rafts in one project to be reused and re-installed into the other project and in a different building. Communication between the design and site teams from both projects was key, and we acted as the bridge and platform for it to happen.
There are so many opportunities for circularity in this type of refurbishment project, waiting to be identified as a resource instead of waste. Thinking in layers at an early stage, communication and planning are key actions that enable circularity.
At GI we can help you with this and other low carbon and circular design solutions.
If you would like to discuss the potentials for a project or find out more about our design and consulting services, do get in touch – we would love to help.
