We have been approached by a large supermarket firm to advice on the suitability of various Modern Methods of Construction systems for the use on a potential flagship store. The initial brief from the client is that the new store must be sustainable, energy efficient and carry low maintenance / operation costs.
The proposal is to construct a large retail space of approximately 5,000 m2 for sale of food and household goods. It is intended to be highly energy efficient and sensitive to the local environment.
2.0 Why Modern Methods of Construction?
Modern methods of construction (MMC) are needed in the industry because of a growing number of factorts that are effecting our built environment and the way we live. MMC’s can aid in solving these issues that traditional methods of construction would not be cable of or would be too inefficient to carry out. Some of these isssues could be: * The global demand on building materials is ever increasing and can’t be sustained. MMC’s can utilise materials efficiently with minimum waste. * The increasing performance requirements that are needed from our building would be unachievable with traditional techniques. * Modern Methods of Construction can provide a faster, safer, more controlled construction process with improved quality over traditional methods.
The way we construct our retail buildings could benefit from the further involvement of MMC’s. Importantly, the speed and predictability of the construction process can be very valuable to supermarket retailers as every week could potentially cost tens of thousands of pounds in sales. MMC’s can offer a faster and more predictable construction process than the use of masonry or other traditional techniques.
Another motive that MMC’s can be beneficial to retail is that systems such as timber or steel frame can offer more flexibility within the buildings shell so the retailer can operate and change accordingly.
Although
References: Langdon, D. (2011) Cost Model: Food Retail Buildiing Magazine [Online] Available: http://www.davislangdon.com/upload/StaticFiles/EME%20Publications/CostModels/FoodRetail_CM_Feb11.pdf (Accessed 13/04/2012) Reynolds, T Langdon, D. Cost Model: Supermarkets http://www.building.co.uk/data/cost-model-supermarkets/1029095.article (Accessed 23/01/2012) Nick milestone http://www.timberinconstruction.co.uk/?q=features/steeling-show-glulam 6.0 Bibliography Aukett Fitzroy Robinson (2011) M&S Sustainable Store http://www.aukettfitzroyrobinson.com/03_expertise/03_pdf/3C_02.pdf EIC Ltd (2008) Tesco ‘Eco-Store’ Shrewsbury http://www.eicltd.com/casestudypdf/sustainable-solutions/eic-ss-tesco-shrewsbury.pdf Hemp Technology (2011) Lime Talk http://www.hemptechnology.co.uk/downloads/Limetalk_newsletter_2011.pdf WRAP (2009) Assessing the costs and benefits of reducing waste in construction: New build supermarket http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Supermarket%20new%20build%20CBA.pdf WRAP (2007) Waste Minimisation Through Offsite Timber Framed Construction