Remodelling education spaces
One of GLM's directors, architect Anne Johnstone attended the UK conference "Remodelling education spaces" in Manchester earlier this week. The event underlined that a marked change of tack towards refurbishing existing buildings is now well and truly underway. The emphasis is moving more and more towards "sustainability", trying to make the best use of spaces and also trying to solve wider property 'problems'.
After a period of boom in the construction of new educational facilities this shift of emphasis is, of course, also driven economic necessity and cuts in public funding for capital projects.
However although schools and college buildings were the main focus of the conference, the topics covered would be of great interest to all property owners and investors.
The conference explored, using best practice case studies, issues such as the cost and programme risks, and the creative opportunities and compromises that arise when altering existing and historic school buildings. These were presented by school principals, construction professionals and educationalists.
Anne was interested to note that some speakers emphasised the value of detailed building condition appraisals: a subject on which GLM's building surveyors could wax lyrical. Another theme of the conference was the benefits to be gained from establishing whole life costings. There was also discussion about how much, practically, the carbon emissions of existing school buildings can be reduced. If refurbishment is the alternative to newbuild, does it not win the sustainability contest hands down but do the regulations make sufficient allowance for this?
The conference was music to Anne's ears. At GLM we strongly promote the creative and effective re-use of buildings. We believe that, when times are tough, there is much that can be done to suit any budget ranging from simply refreshing a space to converting, remodelling and refurbishing a building to, perhaps, changing its use entirely. Some call this Creative Conservation. We call it common sense.
If these issues are of interest to you please contact Anne Johnstone on 0131 225 4235 or anne.johnstone@glmglm.co.uk, who will be pleased to discuss them further.
After a period of boom in the construction of new educational facilities this shift of emphasis is, of course, also driven economic necessity and cuts in public funding for capital projects.
However although schools and college buildings were the main focus of the conference, the topics covered would be of great interest to all property owners and investors.
The conference explored, using best practice case studies, issues such as the cost and programme risks, and the creative opportunities and compromises that arise when altering existing and historic school buildings. These were presented by school principals, construction professionals and educationalists.
Anne was interested to note that some speakers emphasised the value of detailed building condition appraisals: a subject on which GLM's building surveyors could wax lyrical. Another theme of the conference was the benefits to be gained from establishing whole life costings. There was also discussion about how much, practically, the carbon emissions of existing school buildings can be reduced. If refurbishment is the alternative to newbuild, does it not win the sustainability contest hands down but do the regulations make sufficient allowance for this?
The conference was music to Anne's ears. At GLM we strongly promote the creative and effective re-use of buildings. We believe that, when times are tough, there is much that can be done to suit any budget ranging from simply refreshing a space to converting, remodelling and refurbishing a building to, perhaps, changing its use entirely. Some call this Creative Conservation. We call it common sense.
If these issues are of interest to you please contact Anne Johnstone on 0131 225 4235 or anne.johnstone@glmglm.co.uk, who will be pleased to discuss them further.