The Tay Cities Regional Innovation Hub at Dundee Technopole is immediately adjacent to the University main campus. This new 4,790m² three storey facility fills a critical gap – the ability to anchor in the region new high-growth spin out companies generated from the Tay Cities life sciences research activity.

The principal aim of the energy strategy for the building was to minimise base energy consumption as far as is practicable through a fabric first approach with efficient M&E services to meet the aims of the University of Dundee to reduce carbon emissions.  The strategy aims to provide an Innovation Hub which is at the leading edge of good energy conservation practice and which significantly improves upon all current bioscience research lab benchmarks.

Sustainability is a key requirement of the Dundee University. H&K worked with the Client and Design Team to develop the most sustainable, energy efficient solution appropriate to this building. The building employs an innovative all electric geothermal heat pump heating and free cooling based approach through a Black Mountain-Erda Geo Exchange System with directional boring technology. This provides an efficient, clean and zero carbon way of providing the heating and cooling energy sources for the building’s needs.

All heating and cooling systems F&R temperatures within the building were set to optimise the SCoP of the GSHP plant, with extensive heat recovery systems incorporated via AHU plant and by using the ground bores to recharge the ground with heat recovered from vent systems (building cooling) in summertime to be stored for use in winter.

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The Innovation Hub will be a game changer for the University in their ability to support and nurture spin off and spin out companies, retain talent and expertise in the local economy and support high skilled jobs in Dundee. It will serve as a flagship for the University and their thriving centre of life sciences research and innovation.