The CREST Pavilion is now handed over to the client, South West College.  All the building works are complete and external grassing and landscaping is being left until the planting season.

Zero carbon construction guidelines require new buildings to take into account their emissions from space heating, ventilation, hot water and fixed lighting

Ventilation, along with the heat recovery forms an integral component of the CREST Pavilion, and their success is essential for achieving the Passivhaus certification performance levels.

The air tightness, as already mentioned in previous diary entries, is crucial for the overall success of the building and for achieving the stringent passive house standards that were set at the outset of the project. In previous diary entries, we have discussed the high risk air leakage components such as wall openings, floor-to-wall junctions

Since our last article, the majority of the windows and doors in the external envelope have been fitted, and the zinc roofing has commenced, with the roof over the renewable technologies roof nearly complete.

Since our last article, the windows and doors in the external envelope have started to be fitted, the first steps to making the building air tight in preparation for the stringent air tightness tests.

Since the last Article, the erection of the SIPS panels is nearing completion and both the vapour barrier and air tight membrane is being attached to the panels.

CREST seminar and study visit for lecturers and students, providing an insight into how the new CREST pavilion will achieve high environmental standards through its design and construction processes

Since the last Article, the construction of the Glulam frame and the thermal blocks has been completed and the erection of the SIPS panels is well under way.

From our previous article, the next step on site was the preparations for the laying of the floor slabs.  The phasing and management of time on site has been successful to date, we have not experienced any major delays or setbacks.

In our last diary entry, construction of the pavilion had begun with the contractor stripping the existing concrete and substructure to lower the site levels to allow the foundations to be dug for the arrival of the ‘Glulam’ frame and the fitting of the SIP in the New Year.

This is an exhilarating stage for the entire team involved; the beginnings of the both the newest and largest CREST pavilion becoming reality.  After thorough research, design and planning the CREST Pavilion, one of the most sustainable projects in the UK is now ready for construction to commence with site clearing having already commenced

Over the following months, Paul McAlister Architects will be writing a regular diary documenting the construction of the much anticipated CREST Pavilion in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Similarly to the ‘Passivhaus diaries’ we will discuss in detail the design and construction of the CREST Pavilion, focusing on the challenges and rewards of sustainable architecture.