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Cambridge Science Park

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Address: Milton Road, Cambridge
Developer/Client: Trinity College
Main Contractor: SDC
Architect: Scott Brownrigg
Structural Engineer: MML
MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Public Health) Consultants: Venable Associates
MEP Contractor: SDC


Building Information and Statistics

  • First of three new buildings being constructed on Cambridge Science Park by SDC
  • Cambridge Science Park was established in 1970 and is Europe’s largest centre for commercial research and development
  • Current build space is 1.6 million sq.ft. and this is due to increase to over 2 million sq.ft. in the next 5 years increasing employment from 6,000, to 8,000
  • Cambridge Science Park is unlike a business park, in that it is designed to promote innovation and product advancement
  • The building has a concrete infrastructure and blade columns around the edge of the building to minimise the need for internal columns
  • The building is sat on a landscaped podium over undercroft parking
  • The building has 3 levels of commercial space a basement domestic water plantroom and a roof top mechanical plantroom
  • From reception there is a large glazed atrium
  • The building has a fully glazed facade

Building Services General Description

  • Each office floor is comfort cooled by means of a fan coil unit VRF system with fresh air supply to the rear of each unit
  • Extract air is removed via ceiling mounted grilles to the ceiling void which has mechanical extract to take the air back to the roof plantroom for heat recovery within the air handling units
  • There is a central mechanical plant on the roof and the services are vertically distributed via risers located North and South of the central core
  • The central core area contains toilet facilities, lifts and mechanical risers
  • The domestic water tank is located in the basement
  • Incoming gas and power is from the basement with the electrical switchroom also located within the basement

BIM (Building Information Modelling) Objectives

  • Increase quality of co-ordinated design information, eliminating design conflicts prior to construction
  • Increase collaboration between design disciplines

BIM Scope

  • Although there isn’t any BIM specific requirements, SDC have had the foresite to utilise BIM to ensure a co-ordinated and conflict free installation
  • 3D virtual model all MEP services
  • 3D virtual model all certified / procured plant and equipment
  • 3D virtual model all builderswork requirements
  • 3D virtual model all access zones to demonstrate access to all maintainable plant, equipment and access points, such as rodding eyes
  • Produce bill of materials (BoMs)
  • Co-ordinate and clash detect all MEP services with structure, architecture and all other trade contractors
  • Produce 2D installation quality drawings for all MEP services, fully notated and dimensioned in x, y & z planes
  • Produce 2D builderswork drawings to ensure all penetrations are accurately sized and positioned during the fabric construction process
  • Manage the EDMS (Electronic Data Management System) for the uploading and downloading of models, drawings, technical submittals and RFI’s (request for information)
  • Producing progress reports

Summary

SDC are a main contractor who are extending their business into MEP rather than simply sub-contracting the works to others and BIM Tech are proud to assist through this transition. The MEP BIM process started in September 2016 and with a 3 person team will be complete by December 2016 in preparation for the next 2 buildings. With tight ceiling voids within the basement the BIM has helped to review the changes required to the ceiling heights to enable the services to fit.

Utilising BIM upfront has also ensured that the builderswork requirements in both the structure and building fabric has been captured in a timely manner. By modelling all services with the correct information for size and material, full bills of materials are to be extracted from the model saving time and being more accurate, resulting in less waste.