Crofton has worked on Futures House, a new building that will provide local multi agency accommodation for enhanced social services, healthcare facilities and a business enterprise hub for new businesses and social enterprises.
Futures House is part of a regeneration master plan that was designed and implemented by the Marsh Farm Community Development Trust (MFCDT) following an in depth programme of community consultation. The MFCDT was set up in 2001 after funding was won from the government initiative - New Deals for Communities (NDC) - to regenerate the estate.
Futures House was originally envisaged as the conversion of an existing factory building. However, the scheme evolved during the feasibility stages into a new build development. Therefore, the factory needed to be demolished to enable Futures House to be built from scratch. “Having a completely new building allowed the design to better meet the needs of each user group by providing a modern and highly sustainable community building,” Stuart Beardwell, Associate Director of Crofton said.
Crofton played an important role in advising on the suitability and capacity of the building’s structure and services infrastructure. It provided mechanical, electrical, structural and civil design services.
Beardwell explains: “The demolition of the building took place in two phases. During the first phase, existing office accommodation was maintained whilst the new building was partially completed to allow early occupation by the existing site users which enabled the second phase demolition works to take place. As we are registered low carbon consultants, we were able to provide detailed technical options for sustainable technologies that were incorporated into the scheme. For example, we investigated opportunities to lower emissions throughout the project and this led to the development of a biomass boiler system, one of the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly ways to heat a building.
“One particularly interesting feature is the ventilation system in the atrium area of the building. It is dependent on the temperature and carbon dioxide levels inside Futures House. If the temperature or carbon dioxide levels in the building are too high, the high level windows open automatically. Similarly, if the temperature gets too low or if the outdoor wind speed is too high the windows close automatically,” Beardwell continued.
Crofton was appointed by DTZ to provide consulting engineering services for the client, the Marsh Farm Community Development Trust. Bailey Garner provided architectural services, and Summers Inman acted as quantity surveyors.
The Marsh Farm Estate was built in the 1960s as part of Luton’s post-war expansion. It is a mixture of mainly council and social housing. Once the overall regeneration master plan is completed Marsh Farm will be provided with new housing, a retail centre, new education and leisure facilities.
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