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The OpTIC Technium Project

In terms of sustainable construction The OpTIC Technium located at the gateway to the St Asaph Business Park is one of the most interesting.

The Building utilises the latest technology and the 'Green Guide to Specification' was used as a base in the design, compilation, combination and choice of materials, including an energy sustainable 1,000m² photovoltaic wall and the ability to harvests its own rainwater which is estimated to save 1000m³ of water per annum for the vast 7700m2 structure.

Prior to starting the job Longworth’s took great care in establishing what exactly the client’s needs were for this job, it was understood that the client on this occasion may not have the same aspirations as most of our other clients. Aside from the obvious objectives of good quality, cost minimisation and effective time management we also had to consider some of the eco objectives of such a sustainable design.

From the early stage of tendering right through to job completion Longworth’s worked closely with both the main contractors (Shepherd Construction) and the architects (Percy Thomas Partnership) in order to deliver the most sustainable and environmentally friendly job possible. Some of the environmental ideas that were presented and used were;

• The use of natural red cedar that is 100% recyclable and sourced only from the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
• A specialist cladding design that was developed in order to improve air tightness, give maximum thermal insulation and minimise heat/ energy loss
• The use of Rheinzink cladding due to its low energy consumption, recyclable potential and AUB certification (Association for Environmentally Proofed Building Products)

The project was a massive success and the building is still prospering with its motto of ‘Sustainability in action’ proving to not only be environmentally friendly but also long term cost effective. The practices and systems Longworth developed for this job have since been applied to many others and helped the company become more environmentally and cost efficient in all of its jobs.