Genesis demonstrates sustainable construction.

Genesis is based at Somerset College, the only college in the country which has received the award with ‘sustainability’ in its title. The college is at the forefront of sustainability within education showing pioneering examples such as rainwater harvesting on the Technology Centre (built in 2001) and Sustainability Champions within the College to help promote change in thinking. To reflect all this Somerset College was a case study for the Higher Education Academy for championing the sustainability cause.

What began as a project set to construction students within the College, has been taken onboard and pushed by two members of its staff, Jo Matthews, deputy principal) and Ian Moore, Genesis operations director. With financial help from the South West Regional Development Agency, which funded the project, and guidance from Taunton Deane Building Control, Genesis was created.

When viewed from outside, Genesis is a beautiful building which exudes the wow-factor and impresses everyone, not just those who know what materials have been used in its construction. In essence this is exactly what makes Genesis remarkable and what will, ultimately, help to change the construction industry. The structure is made from sustainable materials, which are stripped away on the inside to reveal and demonstrate the construction, but which, from the outside look no different to any other single storey rendered wall.

The building is designed around a central forum space with a series of intersecting pavilions. The pavilions will be monitored for their performance and their results displayed so that materials and techniques can be measured against industry standards as well as against each other to assess appropriateness of use.

The Straw Pavilion is hybrid construction of pre-compressed bales, which are lime rendered externally, within a timber frame, and serves the centre as seminar rooms. It demonstrates use of a waste product along with being energy efficient and cost effective. Internally the rooms have flax board over the straw bales, which looks similar to MDF, but shows a more sustainable alternative, insulation in the roof is made from recycled cotton jeans.

The Clay Pavilion highlights construction best practice from Europe with a view to its adoption here in the UK. This is constructed from Ziegal blocks - honeycombed blocks from Germany. They are made of fired clay, and reduce the mortar requirement by up to 40 per cent by using no vertical joints. This room is a fifty seat auditorium, which has been used by Somerset County Council, Friends of the Earth and Clarks.

The Earth Pavilion, which will double as a shop selling unique sustainable products, showcases three techniques of building with soil. With Earth’s ability to absorb and release both heat and moisture it is designed to demonstrate rammed earth, traditional cob construction and earth blocks, enabling the viewing of contrasting styles and properties and in addition utilises the earth from the site.

The Timber Pavilion is a lightweight, super-insulated timber frame structure that will double as office space. The timber frame was built before delivery using timbers timber from an FSC source. The cladding is ‘Green Western Red Cedar’ sourced from the Forest of Dean and it is insulated with recycled newspapers.

The Water Pavilion demonstrates the latest water saving techniques including air flush urinals and spray taps. The sink surrounds are constructed of boards made from recycled yoghurt pots, which not only look good but have also been mistaken for marble.

Other sustainable techniques at Genesis include the way energy is sourced through photo-voltaics and solar panels. Placed on the roof and able to collect up to 5.1kw of energy, it allows Genesis to pass excess electricity to the rest of the College. A biomass boiler has been installed and will heat the centre through an under floor heating system along with warming the water. It allows use of waste wood and wood dust from the College’s own carpentry and joinery workshops, with additional wood pellets sourced locally. In order to help create and maintain bio-diversity a brown (rubble) roof has been laid on top of the Earth Pavilion and a green (sedum) roof on top of the Straw Pavilion, this will also impede the speed at which rain enters the water course. Add to this the SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage System) in which the landscaping replicates natural drainage with a series of features that slow down surface water run-off and filter pollutants at, or close to, source and Genesis adds little or nothing to the surrounding, and often overflowing, rivers.

Genesis, is internally complete and needs only landscaping and finishing touches to the exterior. It will be utilised in a number of different ways but expressly for the education of school children on sustainability, for informing and training the industry on sustainable techniques and materials and as a conference and meeting venue for the whole community.

Yvonne Mackeson is the educational facilitator for Genesis. The team met with deputy head teachers from local feeder schools last year to discuss how best to take the project forward with young people and to firmly embed sustainability/sustainable construction into the national curriculum. From this 'think tank' relevant teacherswere invited to the College for staff development and launched Sustainability Curriculum Materials. The 'Young Environmentalist of the Year' competition was then produced, and met enthusiastically by both junior and senior schools. On May 5th it celebrated the outcomes. Schools had produced models of their dream schools with features such as living roofs, recycling centres direct from the classroom, growing their own vegetables and keeping animals on site. A geography department investigated eco tourism and produced excellent display boards, Design and Technology produced models and researched eco homes. An art department produced an Eco Footprint inspired by Andy Goldsworthy and screen printed reusable carrier bags. The music department from one school wrote and sang what is now called the Genesis Anthem.

Young students find the subject inspiring and wondrous and certainly want to be part of moving the agenda forward and taking personal actions to do so.

Tim Simmons, the Sustainable Construction Manager, has developed a huge range of professional development (CPD) modules, in conjunction with Dorset Centre for Rural Skills and Taunton Deane Building Control, for industry professionals and clients enabling them to learn more about delivering and demanding sustainable practices within construction. The CPD Launch on April 21st was well attended with representatives from national companies along with smaller regional organisations and government offices. The courses range from Carbon Foot-Printing to Use of Natural Materials, and kicked off with Designing Sustainable Buildings on May 10th.

As a Conference and Meeting venue Genesis can help fund the work involved in educating the professionals, public and children in sustainability. Lorraine Warren, commercial development manager has ensured that Genesis is being utilised as a venue. As a green conferencing venue Genesis uses locally sourced menus, offers carbon offsetting (through Co2 Balance) and promotes the local Park and Ride scheme. Genesis is not only a beautiful, diverse and mood-enhancing venue but reduces impact on the environment to allow all users to hold eco-friendly events.

In essence Genesis was not constructed for people to duplicate. It was designed to promote sustainable construction and explore, explain and evaluate cutting edge thinking in ecological construction through its buildings and its education programme. The strong focus on the building and construction industry is seen by the College as a key way of promoting sustainability. Described by Tom Noall from Taunton Deane Planning Department as a ‘listed building of the future’ and with a statement from patron Kevin McCloud of Channel 4 -Grand Designs “Genesis will serve the Western region, and indeed the whole country, as an educational resource centre for sustainable building technologies, both modern and traditional. I’m very proud to be a patron of this project.”