With M&E Consultants Brinkfell Partnership, the architects considered a number of ways in which office services could be provided since this would have a significant impact both on the design of the building and its future flexibility.

The decision to use the AET Flexible Space system meant that the space below the access floor would be used for the distribution of air-conditioning, heating and services. This would eliminate the inflexibility of conventional piping, fixed ducts and false ceilings needed for conventional air-conditioning. It also meant that the framed roof structure could remain as an exposed feature and not concealed. The provision of clean air would also create the most healthy of environments and pleasant working conditions.

By using this advanced system of indoor environmental technology. the occupants have freedom to modify internal layouts to accommodate organisational changes and to optimise indoor climate conditions. The only visible parts of the system are the floor grilles. These can be ad]adjusted individually as required and, together with power points, can be resited as working configurations change.

At Marlow, although the 300mm high access floor is covered with carpet tiles, panels in virtually any type of flexible fioorcovering or hard flooring could have been used. A vital financial benefit is that when the void is used in this way as a ventilated plenum, the whole floor is treated as equipment and not as a fixture, and is therefore available for capital allowances/depreciation.

Apart from performance and easy maintenance, many cost savings are obtained from using a floor-based Flexible Space system. For example, the disruption associated with changes to a conventional ceiling-based system will cost £100-£174sqm more. In relation to facilities operating costs, a reduction of up to 30% is possible. Because ceilings are eliminated, the overall height of a multi-storeyed building can be reduced by up to 15%, with up to 7% savings in construction costs.

 
Information about AET Flexible Space for newbuild or refurbishment is available from Advanced Ergonomic Technologies (tel 01883 744860) or visit www.flexiblespace.com

Issued by Christopher Sykes Pressential tel 01883 623329 fax 01883 625506 on behalf of Advanced Ergonomic Technologies

For further information contact:
Glan Blake Thomas at AET on
Tel: 01883 744860 Fax: 01883 741 866
Web Site: www.FlexibleSpace.com
Email: AET@FlexibleSpace.com