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DSSR worked with Keppie Design on the award-winning new headquarters building for Scottish Natural Heritage in Inverness. Completed in 2006, the building achieved a BREEAM score of 84%, at the time of completion the highest score achieved by any building in the UK since the system was introduced in 1998. Using the BREEAM Environmental Performance Indicator (EPI) to compare developments of differing nature, the building achieved a maximum rating of 10 out of 10.

Sustainability was embedded into the design process from the outset. Instead of focussing on the use of renewable technologies to achieve a BREEAM score of Excellent, embracing building physics engineering principles resulted in a highly energy-efficient design.

DSSR undertook detailed thermal modelling calculations and air flow studies that looked at maximising the use of natural ventilation in the atrium space, and the building optimises passive design and daylighting. A great number of building materials are sourced locally. This not only creates a very natural aesthetic but also helps to reduce waste during the construction process. These design features have resulted in producing a building with significant reductions in both embodied energy and carbon emissions.

The building represents great value for money, in both capital and running costs. DSSR sees the Scottish Natural Heritage headquarters building as a tremendous example of what can be achieved when working with a client who places sustainability and the environment at the top of the agenda.

Below is a list of the environmental design features incorporated into the Scottish Natural Heritage HQ :

* High efficiency condensing boilers, coupled with lowered heating system temperatures and the use of underfloor heating in the atrium area.

* Lighting control system to take account of daylight and presence detection.

* Dry coolers for the Comms Room air conditioning plant in order to utilise free cooling.

* Solar collector system to meet part of the domestic hot water load.

* 'Windcatcher" type natural ventilation for some high occupancy internal rooms.

* Presence detection control on ventilation systems.

* Variable speed fans and pumps along with zoning of the heating distribution system to suit different occupancy levels.

* Extensive metering of systems to ensure that energy consumption can be monitored against targets on an ongoing basis.

* A building management system to control mechanical plant and motorised windows / vent stack dampers to maintain air quality and allow night time cooling to take place.

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