Evolution5’s 5-star approach provides the underpinning values of all our business activities. As an organisation every individual believes that we can, should, and will act responsibly as we go about our business. With that in mind, how can we, and other construction professionals, contribute to a better built environment?
Construction is a fast-paced industry and, right now, offers some of the most exciting opportunities for constructing a better built environment the industry has ever seen.
Construction professionals are ethically obligated to identify ways to improve the built environment, creating exciting spaces for people to live, work and thrive.
Technological advances and new materials and techniques allow us to create increasingly sustainable buildings, reducing carbon emissions and positively contributing to the fight against climate change.
A better built environment is crucial to ensure the well-being of both individuals and societies as a whole. Urban areas are defined by their accessibility, security and amenity, which should always be considered.
Aside from adding value to a neighbourhood, a sound built infrastructure can positively affect social behaviour, through improved air quality or a greater sense of community within urban spaces. Furthermore, a better built environment allows for cultural creativity by offering dedicated spaces for social interaction within the natural environment.
Creating a better built environment allows us to use our spaces in sustainable, efficient ways. To achieve this, it is essential to consider both human needs and the finite resources of our environment. It helps to ensure the complete lifecycle of buildings are considered: from design and building materials right through to reuse or recycling at the end of their life.
Energy efficiency also plays an important role in creating a better built environment as it lessens our impact on the planet while helping save costs. Embedding smart technologies can further reduce energy usage by optimising various building functions, such as lighting and HVAC systems. As a result, we can create sustainable environments that serve us today, but are also viable for generations to come.
Working and living in a positive built environment brings many benefits, from improving physical and mental health to boosting productivity. Access to green space, for instance, has been linked to lower stress levels and improved social cohesion.
Well-maintained infrastructure benefits businesses by reducing the costs associated with delayed deliveries or lack of availability of key services. At the same time, a pleasant urban environment often increases the attractiveness of an area both in terms of investment and tourism. On an individual level, good access to transportation encourages physical activity through walking or cycling, leading to improved overall well-being and can, in turn, contribute to lowering healthcare costs.
Most of us spend our daily lives in the built environment – the schools, homes, places of work and leisure that have collectively been constructed. So it stands to reason that our mental, social and physical well-being is deeply entwined with the quality of our built surroundings.
Creating a better built environment goes beyond the construction, extending into how the building works, the layout, air quality and lighting levels to name just a few, all play a part in affecting us: they must be fit for purpose if we are to function optimally as individuals and communities.
Local authorities should ensure they adhere to regulations designed to keep us safe, while developers seek to create comfortable living spaces which last well into the future – ultimately providing everyone with an enriched quality of life.
The buildings we create today are the legacy we leave for the future.
Construction professionals have an important role to play in benefiting local communities. From designing and engineering buildings that cater to community needs, to responsibly sourcing materials and working with partners and contractors on sustainable initiatives, construction professionals can bridge the local population they serve and the government or other organisations providing services.
By developing long-term projects that focus on quality and lifetime cost-effectiveness, considering factors like energy efficiency and the use of renewable materials whenever possible, construction professionals can help create tangible improvements for local people that stand the test of time.
To do this effectively requires skill, knowledge and a genuine desire to both serve their local population responsibly whilst also representing their clients’ interests.
The modern built environment is a complex mixture of buildings, roads, parks and recreational spaces. In recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on sustainable and socially responsible design, ensuring that the built environment provides amenities that benefit both current and future generations.
There are many ways in which this can be achieved, and below are eight examples of effective interventions:
From tragic events such as Grenfell and the subsequent cladding remediation works that will improve fire safety to learning from the devastating health impact of dangerous materials such as asbestos, history offers a plethora of useful lessons for us, as construction professionals, to use in creating a better built environment.
Increasingly sophisticated technology allows us to model better how buildings will work from the earliest stage, in turn enabling better and safer design from the outset.
As the Evolution5 team signs off for 2022, one thing is certain – there is enormous potential for us to leave a lasting and positive impact.
Principal Designer: CDM 2015 v Building Safety Act Confusing terminology in construction is nothing new and is something we have covered in previous articles. ...
Read more +
The Building Safety Act was enacted in April 2022 and established a new regime for the construction sector, driven by the need for a...
Read more +
Evolution5 is pleased to have been appointed by Scott White and Hookins as the main contractor for their client for restoration and remediation works...
Read more +
A tenant’s guide to end of commercial tenancy dilapidations and landlord reinstatement works If you’re a commercial tenant preparing to vacate your leased property,...
Read more +