Congratulations to the entire team involved in the James Barber House for Durham University, which recently won the Sustainable Built Environment Award at the Durham County Council Environment Awards 2024!

The James Barber House was refurbished to form part of Hatfield College, Durham University’s postgraduate accommodation. Working as Lead Consultant and Architect on the project, our designs included extensive renovations to improve the building’s thermal performance, successfully reducing emissions by 75% compared to the original structure. This was achieved by a deep retrofit including external wall insulation, replacement roof and windows. The scheme also switched from original gas boilers to an all electric air source heat pumps and PV panel system.

The existing 45 single bedrooms and shared bathrooms were transformed into ensuite accommodation as well as enhanced kitchen and dining space. The project also aimed to create a positive impact on the surrounding area. We incorporated a student herb garden, providing opportunities for students to grow their own food, a flower bed replanted with native flowers, a flowering lawn and wildflower meadow, all contributing to the site’s biodiversity.

A huge congratulations to the rest of the team Durham University, AtkinsRéalis, s h e d, Link MEP Consulting Engineers Ltd, Aptus and DPP for their ongoing commitment to sustainable innovation. This accommodation now stands as the University’s lowest carbon emission building!