Building Control for award winning classical architecture
4th May 2011
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Refurbishing or recreating classical buildings demands early consultation with building control expertise to avoid compromising both the architecture and regulations.
Get it right and the result can be as good as the award winning Pipe Partridge Building at Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford University, says a leading Corporate Approved Inspector, Regional Building Control (RBC).
The Pipe Partridge Building was awarded the Georgian Group Architectural Award for the Best New Building in the Classical Tradition. Designed by architects John Simpson and Partners, it was built by Oxford-based contractor Beard with RBC providing building control expertise.
John Mitchell, area manager for RBC in Newbury, says: “It was an extraordinary project to work on because we had to collaborate very closely right from the design stage. Building to a classic Georgian style obviously raises a number of building control issues because the contemporary demands of the regulations weren’t there in the 18th Century.”
RBC helped come up with a fire strategy, including advising on compartmentation, unusual structural design, thermal insulation and proactively researching resolutions to issues as the design progressed.
John says: “The solutions developed by the architect and contractor to conform to building control regulations, but still live-up to the breathtaking tradition of Georgian architecture, were extremely innovative – and ironically, in many, cases relied on contemporary technology.”
For example, to retain a continuous line of sight throughout the building’s panelled corridors the fire doors were cleverly incorporated within the walls. Held open by magnetic technology, the doors are linked to the fire alarm system and close in the event of a blaze. The high aesthetic quality that the architects wanted also required a subtler use of emergency signage and overhead lighting, which RBC was able to provide guidance on.
John Simpson says: "When it comes to regulations, designing classical buildings means you have to be especially innovative. You invariably have to go back to first principles to devise a way of incorporating requirements which have been created with modernist buildings in mind."
The Pipe Partridge Building houses 66 undergraduates and the 120-seat Simpkins Lee Theatre, seminar, dining and common rooms.
The Georgian Group Architectural Award is in its seventh year and recognises new buildings and the restoration and conservation of existing period structures.
RBC is approved by the Government to carry out the full functions of building control as a Corporate Approved Inspector (CAI), as defined in the Building Act 1984.
It is an independent and proactive company, aiming to collaborate with design and construction teams to ensure the needs of the client and building regulations are met effectively and efficiently.
RBC has completed more than 500 building projects within the education sector.
For more information go to www.rbcltd.co.uk or call 01992 653 900.
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