The University of York has appointed Morgan Sindall to develop its new Environment Building.

The development will house the University's Environment Department and the York Environmental Sustainability Institute.

The three storey development at the Russell Group institution's Heslington Campus, will include almost 4,000 sq m of office, laboratory and teaching space along with an auditorium housed in a distinctive oval rotunda. The space is divided between learning and research functions and office accommodation.

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Aiming for a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) rating of Excellent, the development comes complete with a raft of environmental measures including: the creation of a living green wall on the south elevation, solar photovoltaic panels installed on part of the building’s roof to help with power generation, a green roof and connection to the University’s existing district heating system.

Engineers are also investigating the possibility of using the nearby Scullions Lake to install a lake-source heat pump to further assist with heating the building.

Work expected be complete by the late summer of 2015.

(CD/MH)