ABSTRACT
The design process was interesting as the team needed to flush out in very little time what was achievable as far as C2C principles were concerned. The design team employed a technique van de Westerlo calls ‘pressure cooker sessions’. C2C was seen by the controlling city council as an economic principle as much as anything else–C2C-inspired buildings should not attract costs in excess of ‘normal’ construction rates. The large array of photovoltaic panels creating clean energy for future occupants was also to be omitted. The concrete frame for the building is cast in situ so it cannot be disassembled at the end of the building’s life. Concrete also has a very large carbon footprint. Subsequently, they had tried to reuse the concrete frame from the old city hall but that was found to contain toxins and so was not safe for recycling.
