April 19, 2002—Tall buildings can be more sustainable than smaller ones, according to a report commissioned by the Corporation of London which is keen to see more high rise buildings in the City.
The ‘Tall buildings and sustainability’ report, the first comprehensive study of this subject, concludes that advances in technology combined with sensitive design, can make tall buildings naturally more environmentally sustainable than smaller buildings.
Co-authored by Professor Herbert Giradet (Urban Futures), Will Pank (Faber Maunsell) and Greg Cox (Faber Maunsell), the report examines areas such as the use of materials, building design, energy efficiency and construction techniques in an effort to see how best practice could be applied to enhance environmental sustainability and provide a comfortable working conditions for their occupants.
Amongst the plethora of green advantages the report claims are construction economies of scale, more efficient use of limited land and transport infrastructure, and energy efficiency
Judith Mayhew, chairman of the Corporation’s Policy and Resources Committee, commented: “This report shows that tall buildings are not a hindrance to sustainability—quite the opposite. Clustering already provides numerous business advantages but it can also improve sustainability in areas such as transportation, energy efficiency, land use and waste management. More and more firms have environmental policies and will increasingly look for buildings that reflect these goals.”
“In a global market place where major firms can take their pick of locations, this report shows that a holistic approach to new developments is essential. Not only in terms of energy saving and an environmentally sensitive approach but also in providing a good quality of life for the people who work in the buildings. As this report makes clear, putting sustainability at heart of the design, construction and operation of buildings makes economic and business sense.”
—Richard Byatt
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2002 i-FM
