Arts University Bournemouth North Lights Studio

The new North Light Studio has been commissioned to replace the existing North Light Studios building with a new 1,800sqm fine arts building. The existing building is approaching the end of its lifespan having been constructed in 2000.

RCDC provided MEP and Sustainability services up to RIBA stage 2+ where the project was tendered. There existed the potential to reuse parts of the existing structure, however this proved not economically viable outside of some parts of the foundation.

During the design phase, significant efforts where put into designing the façade and northlights to maximise benefits of natural daylight and reduce the risk of overheating.

Thermal modelling was undertaken which including Climate Based Daylight Modelling (CBDM) and overheating calculations (CIBSE TM52), with the comparative performance of both of these compared. Two options where provided for heating with localised low temperature air source heat pumps, or connection to a potential district heating system.

The modular nature of the proposed development was carefully considered, both through the design and also through the tender documentation which allowed for adoption of the design to any different contractors modular system.