Evolution of architectural education.

Conventional engineering data is perhaps the most obvious, but we also include data like staffing levels, containment requirements, power consumption, or even the level of design uncertainty.This allows for visualisation of different issues within a project..

It's important that when we define chips, we don't leave gaps.We aim to capture everything: the building, the equipment, operations, software, hazards, quality requirements, whatever is important in that system.At the point of inquiry, we are trying to get that information loaded into that Chip..

When we are creating plans, we like to work in three dimensions from the very early part of the project.Chips help speed up the process, because we can move chunks of the design around very quickly and keep data associated with them.

We can do things like automate routing of certain utilities, based on the properties of the Chips.

And that enables us to try lots of different options in a short amount of time.In a BREEAM NC 2018 assessment, it is possible to achieve up to 7 credits by doing a WLCA, so for developments that aspire to Excellent or Outstanding ratings the analysis of embodied carbon has become very important.

The GLA requires the preparation of a WLCA pre-planning and at post-construction and requires the analysis of the results both with the current carbon factors and a decarbonised scenario.. Additionally, bodies such as the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI), RIBA, GLA and UKGBC, have developed guidance documents on embodied carbon, which include specific targets and roadmaps to zero carbon prior 2050.Whilst these four bodies have been essential in pushing the agenda for low carbon, there has been some confusion across the industry due to the misalignment of targets and WLCA scopes between them as demonstrated in Figure 3.

LETI has been working in collaboration with other bodies and industry groups to resolve these inconsistencies and have published the ‘Embodied carbon target alignment document’.. Based on this document and the comparison of the current targets defined by LETI, RIBA and GLA, an average performance for non-domestic commercial building performance (A-C) would be to achieve an embodied carbon around 1400kgCO./m², good practice would be below 970kgCO.