ABG Sudspave has been used to form SuDS compliant porous surfacing on a new performing arts, design and technology building for the University of Derby. The development is located in a semi-rural position at the edge of the city, the new campus has been designed to group together a number of disparate departments into a single building offering state-of-the-art facilities. It is hoped that the scheme will build on Derby’s local heritage as a centre of design and innovation – being home to both Rolls Royce and Bombardier – whilst also equipping a future workforce with the best possible skills for the creative industries.
The new building occupies a site that rests on a cusp between urban form and landscape. On one side is densely packed Victorian terraced housing in a distinctive and rather severe red brick. On the other is a stream and the natural landscape. Sustainability and low-energy usage were integrated into the design from the outset, resulting in an architecturally innovative building that has changed a previously contaminated brownfield site into an ecologically sustainable landmark building.
The external landscaping was an important aspect of the sustainable design of the development, and incorporated many SuDS techniques including gravel filled ABG Sudspave cellular porous paving, reed beds and lakes.
Sudspave cellular porous paving is a system of interlocking cellular paving units designed for the stabilisation of trafficked grass or gravel surfaces. Suitable applications include car parks, emergency and maintenance vehicle access roads, cycle paths and pedestrian areas. Working closely with project engineers, Rodgers Leask, ABG developed a design that allowed free flow of surface water down through the pavement whilst minimising the pavement thickness saving on the use of imported materials to the site.
Sudspave offers a cost-effective, robust and aesthetic solution for many applications where gravel retention or grass reinforcement is required and where source-control of surface water forms part of a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) design.
In this application the Sudspave system was installed over a free draining DOT Type 3 sub-base designed to allow surface water to infiltrate through to the underlying soils. This was overlain by a Terrex NW8 filter separator geoxtile which prevents the leaching of fines which could potentially compromise and clog-up the sub-base stone. Finally a gravel bedding layer was installed prior to manual installation of the Sudspave units. The Sudspave units were then infilled with a clean 4-14mm angular gravel to form a free draining gravel surface offering a source control element as part of the SuDS scheme requirements for the site.
About ABG
ABG are market leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance geosynthetic systems for use in a wide range of applications within the built environment.
Formed in 1988 ABG have a built a reputation based on delivering innovative solutions through our in-house technical team, many of whom are chartered engineers, combined with outstanding customer service.
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