Keele University Central Science Laboratories
Elevating the ambitious growth plans for UK science teaching and research
Services (1)
Location
Keele, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Client
Keele University
Architect
Halliday Meecham
This state-of-the-art building provides students new ways to learn and collaborate on the main university campus as part of a £34 million investment. The 5,300m2 of modern, co-located science laboratories facilitates IT teaching spaces and full atria adjacent teaching areas allowing for beneficial collaborative and interdisciplinary working.
We used advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies to model the dispersal of the discharged fumes in the local environment in differing wind patterns. We also developed the pressurised laboratory ventilation system, to reduce energy consumption by effectively using the same air three times resulting in dramatically reducing energy consumption.
Rob van Zyl commented, “The design of the Central Science Laboratories at Keele University utilised advanced CFD modelling to take advantage of an innovative air-flow design, minimising carbon emissions. Plume-dilution technology was also used to reduce the height of the stacks while maintaining good air quality around the campus”.
While many of the spaces for teaching required negative pressurisation, the risk of contamination had to be considered for the forensic laboratories.
