Sustainability from start to finish cost-effectively.

On 10th October, Alexi Marmot spoke on a panel at The CIBSE Conference and Exhibition about 'Delivering sustainability from start to finish in a cost-effective way.'  The panel discussed and evaluated strategies to ensure sustainability throughout the lifecycle of a building. They also debated the financial aspects of different business models and the implications of new legislation on these strategies.

For more information, click here.

UCL Stratford proposals approved

On 25 October, Newham Council approved UCL's proposal to develop a Stratford campus adjacent to the Olympic Park.  This campus will 'bring science, technology, education and research to the heart of Stratford'.  AMA worked with UCL to develop a strategic brief of academic stakeholders.  For more information, click here.

AMA tweets haikus

On 21st September, we held our annual away day. We've also launched our new twitter account: @AMAtweetshaikus. Follow us to learn some concise advice on space use, design and change in the built environment.

Learning about our unique approach to sustainable space

On 18th September, AMA led a 'Sustainable Southwark Walkabout' during Green Sky Thinking Week 2012.  This exciting initiative run by Open City explored aspects of sustainable development. A group comprised of sustainability experts, facilities managers, engineers, architects, designers and students visited two of our projects – an office building and a library – to learn how we use space utilisation analysis and targets to reduce property footprints and provide creative ways to reuse buildings better.

One visitor said: 'What was notable to the success of the sustainability was...engaging with the people who use the buildings...and what a difference the use of light and textures can make to how you feel within the building.'

For more information click here.

Copyright © Open City 2012

Alexi Marmot at IFMA Workplace Summit 2012

On 6th September Alexi Marmot spoke on 'WhenWork, WhereWork: The time and place of work' at the IFMA Foundation's Workplace Strategy Summit: Research in Action. Held at Cornell University, the conference will unite FM professionals with the leading thinkers on workplace strategy to explore workplace effectiveness; the nature of collaborative work; and the organizational, lifestyle and infrastructure changes that will impact the workplace of the future. The summit will set the framework for critical thinking and research on work and workplaces in the 21st century. For more information click here.

Hear Alexi's reflections on Workplace research in this short video by clicking here.

Exploring clues, cues and direction in space.

On Wednesday 27th of June, AMA hosted the 9th Building and Social Science network (BASS) event.  Rakhi Rajani, Principal at Human Editions, led a discussion on the cognitive narrative in space and the considerations to be made through design and innovation.
For information on BASS and previous events, click here.

AMA / BD Procurement survey

Between April and May 2012, AMA Alexi Marmot Associates and Building Design Magazine (BD) carried out a survey of BD readers to understand the industry's experience with public procurement through OJEU.  The results provide a fascinating and critical snapshot of the industry's experience and attitudes. You can find a summary of the report below.

AMA / BD Procurement Survey - May 2012
Between April and May 2012, AMA Alexi Marmot Associates and Building Design Magazine (BD) carried out a survey of BD readers to understand the industryʼs experience with public procurement through OJEU. The results provide a fascinating and critical snapshot of the industryʼs experience and attitudes.

Celebrating a 'new' refurbished primary school

On 11th May, Robert Browning Primary School in Southwark formally opened their newly refurbished and extended school with a summer 'street party' to also celebrate the Queen's Jubilee and the bi-centenary of Robert Browning's birth. The whole school community gathered together to create a spectacular event.  Over the last few years, AMA worked closely with the school to design a prominent new entrance that not only welcomes visitors, but also improves security and the school's identity in its community. In addition a new nursery building with a covered play space and  separate garden have also been added - all set in a newly landscaped playground. And finally, administration offices, ground floor classrooms, and toilet facilities were reconfigured to provide a new cluster of teaching spaces - making better use of the tight urban site and creating new, exciting places within the existing Victorian buildings.  

Design for knowledge transfer

Alexi Marmot presented 'Maximising Workplace Interaction: design for knowledge transfer' on Thursday 26th April 2012.  This presentation was organised by the Facilities Management Association and hosted by Condeco, Herman Miller and AMA. You can watch a video of it here.

A forward thinking approach to a 'Children Looked After' facility

AMA's extensive refurbishment of 7 Talfourd Place for Southwark Council's 'Children Looked After' programme has just finished on site and has been handed over to the client. The project saw a complete reworking of the existing building to meet a complex brief and provide an uplifting and forward-thinking new facility.

Understanding behaviour is central to managing sustainable buildings

Director Joanna Eley spoke at the 2012 Ecobuild conference in London on Occupant's behaviour and their ability to make the most of buildings' sustainable design capabilities on a panel which focused on ‘Buildings in use.’  Speaking to an audience of architects, engineers, surveyors and others with interest in sustainability and the built environment, this presentation focused on ensuring that users behaviour is understood and included in the management of sustainable places. Joanna commented that awareness raising - bottom-up - approaches are very important, but that as people are very varied in their perception some situations call for top-down action.

Examining the link between learning outcomes and building design.

AMA's report to the Scottish Funding Council 'Matching post-16 investment to education outcomes' has been published.  This report summarises key findings within the body of research linking buildings and estates to educational outcomes, drawn from studies covering schools, colleges and universities. The report also recommends a set of key questions that Colleges and Universities should ask when developing their estate investment and maintenance plans.

To read the full report, click here.

Gates Foundation Headquarters featured in The New York Times

The New York Times featured an article titled 'In New Office Designs, Room to Roam and to Think' on 17/18 March 2012 about the new headquarters for The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle. AMA served as the workplace consultants for this exciting project. Martha Choe from the Gates Foundation is really pleased about AMA's contribution to the campus, noting 'the incredible way the workspace serves our work.' Referring to this article, AMA director Alexi Marmot commented that 'the takeaway message is the power of workplace to express changing ways of work and organisation - while saving on overheads, promoting employee satisfaction and productivity.'
Learn more about the project here.

© Tim Hursley 2013