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About us
  1. Queen Mary University of London
  2. About us
  3. Sustainability
  4. Sustainable Campus
  5. Construction and Refurbishments

Construction and Refurbishments

Queen Mary is embedding good environmental practices into the materials and processes associated with construction, new build and refurbishment projects can positively contribute to the delivery of good environmental outcomes.

Building construction and refurbishments are including sustainable updates across all campuses. See some recent examples of these changes:

John Vane Science Centre:

  • Replacing existing lighting with LED
  • Adding lighting controls such as daylight dimming and absence detection
  • Replacing windows with more thermally efficient products
  • Fitting solar film
  • Installing heat pumps for Chilled Water Services

Green Energy Hub:

  • Replacing existing lighting with LED
  • Adding lighting controls such as daylight dimming and absence detection
  • Insulating internal wall lining with mineral wool
  • Adding new secondary glazing
  • Including heat recovery on the fresh air system
  • Installing heat pumps to replace gas LPHW heating
  • Replacing individual DX systems with a VRF system

Lynton House, People’s Palace, Canal Study Space, and Engineering 6G Lab:

  • Replacing existing lighting with LED
  • Adding passive infrared presence to lighting controls
  • Using GRESHAM Office Furniture which has a commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050

Informatics Teaching Laboratory:

  • Replacing existing lighting with LED
  • Replacing windows and doors with more thermally efficient products
  • Insulating and recladding the whole building to improve U values and thermal properties
  • Removing gas supply and gas fueled boilers
  • Adding an energy efficient lift

Queens’ Building refurbishments:

  • Replacing existing lighting with LED
  • Fitting solar film and glare control blinds
  • Adding high performance glazing and secondary glazing
  • Combining the use of natural and mechanical ventilation
  • Including heat recovery on the fresh air system
  • Adding temperature looped cooling system
  • Adding night purge ventilation
  • Adding space heating with zonal controls and TRVs to existing radiators
  • Having primary supply of mains electric direct from the Campus Energy Centre
  • Installing photovoltaic cells for renewable energy
  • Adding low flow water fittings
  • Adding a green roof

Library extension:

  • Installing photovoltaic cells for renewable energy
  • Adding air sourced heat pumps
  • Adding bird and bat boxes
  • Adding secure cycle storage
  • Adding a green roof

Achievements

  • Department W has a Ska rating of Gold.
  • Francis Bancroft 4th Floor has a Ska rating of Silver.
  • The School of Mathematical Sciences was shortlisted in the Public Sector Project: Post Construction Award category in the BREEAM Awards 2021.

Commitments: Construction

  • We aim to achieve BREEAM “Excellent” rating for new buildings and BREEAM “Good” and/or SKA Silver rating for refurbishment projects year on year. BREEAM is the world's leading sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It assesses a project's environmental, social and economic sustainability performance to recognise high performing projects across the built environment lifecycles, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment.

  • We will capture and record accurate waste data related to all construction and refurbishment projects. 

  • We will develop a Sustainable Design Guide, published on the website by the end of the 2026/27 financial year.

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