Circular Twin

This landmark study utilised digital twinning, BIM and UK contemporary school design to rework an already completed school so each decision and design choice favoured a lower carbon outcome. The objective of the research project was to demonstrate that the whole life cost of a net zero school is no greater than the whole life cost of the existing built asset.

In comparison to the original school – built in 2017 - Circular Twin achieved:

• 67% reduction in whole life carbon
• 72% reduction in upfront embodied carbon (48% reduction in lifecycle embodied carbon - achieving RIBA 2030 and LETI 2030 embodied carbon targets)
• 52% reduction in annual energy consumption
• 39% reduction in forest consumption
• CAPEX delivered within standard budgetary parameters with multiple paybacks over asset lifetime

Louise Townsend, Director of Social Value and Sustainability at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “This initiative has uncovered a revelation - that low carbon construction is inhibited by our industry’s reliance on traditional design and procurement approaches. The outcomes show that achieving low carbon buildings is possible today.”