From a total of 240 entries, covering 13 categories, a judging panel comprising further and higher education sector luminaries have selected our Durning Centre at Edge Hill University to be placed on the Sustainable Construction and Refurbishment shortlist for the 2011 National Green Gown Awards.

The whole of the Durning Centre is naturally ventilated and incorporates a heat recovery system linked to the campus data centre, using heat created by the I.T equipment to warm spaces in other parts of the building, while over 100 roof mounted Photo Voltaic Panels generate electricity. The main envelope of the building achieves a U value of 0.14, reducing the general heating costs of the building, while assisting in cooling the building in summer.

The south facing facade maximises indirect gains to the open plan offices through the use of vertical brise soleil in conjunction with overhangs at the eaves. These measures also reduce direct gains during the hotter summer months.