The Centre is a redevelopment of the 18th century Royal High School in Edinburgh’s Old Town with new atria, and social and teaching space, stitched between and around the historic buildings. The integrity of the historic buildings is restored but the whole delivers all the breakout and flexible working space that exemplar modern teaching and business practice demands.
The ECCI is a partnership between the three Edinburgh universities: a flagship teaching and business innovation hub for the knowledge, enterprise and skills required to create a low carbon economy. The building’s own environmental performance is significant and it has been confirmed that this will be the first refurbished building in the UK to receive a BREEAM “Outstanding” award at design stage (construction stage being assessed). Compared to the standard demolish-and-newbuild “sustainability” model this represents a radical alternative and, as a general lesson, we suggest that the achievement of a low carbon economy should start with the joyful renewal of sturdy historic buildings, rather than their replacement.
A Cohesive Building The existing linking stair between the older school (front) building and the lecture hall (rear) building was unfriendly, confusing and not conducive to the kind of knowledge sharing demands of a Centre for Innovation. Due to the piecemeal fashion of the many changes that had occurred since 1777, the existing building as a whole lacked a sense of cohesion and its circulation was not clear. By removing the linking stair it has been possible to create a generous central circulation space. From this atrium, all accommodation spaces have a direct connection and their presence is visually legible. In response to the clients brief, this circulation space is a focus for interaction between a variety of building users (academic research/ staff/ student/ SME) and will provide informal break out space for small post graduate student groups, staff and businesses.
Engaging with the City This recognition, of the importance of the integrity of the existing built environment, extends out from the building into the surrounding urban fabric. The historic Surgeon’s Square (where Burke and Hare once delivered cadavers to Dr Knox’s Dissection Theatre) to the rear of the Centre, is recovered and transformed from a forgotten car park to a valuable urban focus. This renewal introduces external spaces which have similarities to the nature of internal spaces and improved engagement with the whole campus. A pedestrian route through Surgeon’s Square is introduced by the reopening of a redundant entrance as well as the repair of an adjacent public access stair, connecting ECCI to the Parliament, and to the general institutions and amenities of Edinburgh, by foot.
Sustainability ECCI has been designed to achieve an exceptionally low energy demand for a listed building (38% better CO2 emissions than if it were a new build). Annual predicted energy/ CO2 consumption for space and water heating 730 021 KWhr (49.55 KgCO2/m2). Annual predicted energy/ CO2 consumption electrical usage 163 063 KWhr (28.91 KgCO2/m2) Total annual predicted CO2 emissions 21 KgCO2/m2 . Actual usage is currently being monitored and presented within the building, however not as yet available as an annual usage. Air tightness levels tested: 6.84 m3.h-1.m-2 @ 50 Pa.
