Evolutionary Structure Under Construction: A Snapshot of Ongoing Development
Manchester Fashion Institute's Robotics Live Lab Hosts Sustainable Fashion manufacturing Pavilion Designed by Bennetts Associates
Photos by Ella Wheatley
In a bid to foster sustainable fashion manufacturing, Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University introduces its new "Work in Progress" Pavilion designed by Bennetts Associates. This single-storey building, situated in an underutilized courtyard behind the Righton Building, offers both production areas and exhibition spaces for designers and manufacturers to innovate and experiment with an assist from robotic technology.
The interior layout revolves around an open-plan central space, encouraging collaboration and adaptability as needed. Generous floor-to-ceiling windows offer a sense of openness and connect the space to the newly landscaped courtyard, while ensuring optimal daylighting.
Low-carbon materials are extensively used in the construction of the pavilion. The structural framework features timber, with straw-insulated wall panels making up the interiors. These materials are intentionally chosen for their minimal environmental impact, contributing to the building's net-zero carbon goal. Straw insulation plays a dual role, enhancing thermal performance while being easy to install and cost-effective. Overhead, a striking timber waffle soffit provides the space with a rhythmic, expressive quality, while exterior charred larch panels ensure resilience and durability.
The building's design aligns with principles of sustainability and resource efficiency. Its modular timber framing system allows for flexible assembly and disassembly of the materials, promoting a circular approach to construction. This forward-thinking pavilion achieves an upfront carbon figure of 468 kgCO2e/m2 GIA (A1-A5), with an additional -340 kgCO2e/m2 GIA of biogenic carbon captured within the building. This aligns well with the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard's new-build Higher Education target up to 2030.
As part of the NZCBS Pilot Scheme, a post-occupancy evaluation is currently underway to assess the pavilion's long-term performance. Adrian Lonsdale, Studio Director at Bennetts Associates, expressed his pride in delivering a project that not only represents a significant milestone in resource-conscious design but also a first for the university and the UK fashion industry. On the other hand, Susan Postlethwaite, Professor of Fashion Technologies at MFI and Director of RoLL, lauded the culmination of years of planning, collaboration and research.
The "Work in Progress" Pavilion stands as an example for how academic research buildings can drive sustainable innovation through material selection, construction techniques, and integration with advanced technology. By focusing on sustainable construction from the outset, the pavilion offers a real-world testbed for research into low-carbon building practices and the integration of robotic technologies in construction.
- This sustainable fashion manufacturing pavilion, designed by Bennetts Associates at Manchester Fashion Institute, incorporates robotic technology, promoting innovation in both production areas and exhibition spaces.
- The "Work in Progress" Pavilion, constructed with low-carbon materials like timber and straw-insulated wall panels, aims for a net-zero carbon goal, contributing to environmental science and climate change mitigation efforts.
- By employing a modular timber framing system, the pavilion reflects the principles of sustainability and resource efficiency, aligning with the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard's new-build Higher Education target up to 2030.
- This pavilion, with its focus on sustainable construction and integration of robotic technologies, serves as a valuable testbed for health-and-wellness research into low-carbon building practices and advanced technology applications in the field of environmental-science and fashion.
