Innovation centre incorporates Monodraught systems

Monodraught natural ventilation and lighting systems have been installed in the Lincoln Innovation Centre as an alternative to an expensive mechanical ventilation system.

The GBP7m 3,300m2 centre, which opened in December 2008, is intended to improve the number and quality of jobs in Lincoln, to bring in higher-level and higher-waged jobs and ultimately to underpin a sustainable and prosperous city economy.

The City Council is delivering this project with financial support from Lincolnshire County Council, the Objective 2 European Regional Development Fund, Lincolnshire Enterprise and the East Midlands Development Agency.

The centre, which rents first- and second-floor offices and workshops to new and existing businesses in the area, has adopted many of the latest environmental technologies to reduce running costs and the carbon footprint of the building.

Among the initiatives are the natural ventilation and natural lighting systems supplied and installed by Monodraught.

A key component of the carbon-reducing design is the capability to effectively cool down the concrete frame and block walls at night, while providing ventilation.

In total, 47 Monodraught Sola-boost natural ventilation units in sizes from 600mm to 1,200mm in diameter and 46 230mm-diameter Monodraught Sunpipe natural day lighting units were fitted to offices, workshops, meeting rooms and a cafe and circulation area.

The equipment was specified following a value engineering project carried out by main contractor Marriott Construction, part of the Kier Group, to ensure that the construction met the City of Lincoln Council's budget.

Commenting for Marriott Construction, Tony Jenks said: 'An important part of the review was the centre's natural ventilation and lighting strategy for the first floor, which originally included purpose-built roof vents that combined ventilation and lighting.

Marriott Construction approached Monodraught for a full turnkey proposal to provide an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient ventilation strategy for the first floor.

Sola-boost natural ventilation units were adopted, together with Monodraught's energy-free Sunpipe natural lighting units.

The finished project includes a bio-diverse roof in accordance with its 'green' credentials and the Sunpipe systems were specially constructed to terminate 400mm above the roof surface to allow for the bio-diverse roof, while still ensuring waterproofing integrity to the roof.

The Lincoln Innovation Centre design features the latest environmental technology, including ground source heat pumps, which will also reduce running costs and the carbon footprint of the building.

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