2 Trafalgar Way

Setting a new benchmark: Largest Passivhaus PBSA project in Europe

Project Overview

Currently under construction using MMC, these three high-rise buildings set a new benchmark in purpose-built student accommodation with exceptional environmental credentials, including minimised embodied carbon and Passivhaus accreditation. The scheme is designed to Passivhaus standards with Henriksen Studios and provides for innovative and sustainable student housing.

Comprehensive Pre-Planning and Engineering Solutions

Working on the project since pre-planning, Walsh designed the structure to accommodate strict movement criteria in the façade to minimise joint sizes. Items such as door thresholds, window openings and all other penetrations required detailed interdisciplinary coordination to ensure air-tightness. The towers have heavily-loaded garden balconies, with connections designed to reduce the impact of the thermal breaks on the Passivhaus rating in the development.

Structural Innovation: Connecting Towers

The two taller towers are connected at the tenth floor by a steel and concrete deck bridge, spanning 20m and providing a structural tie between the buildings, omitting movement joints within the façade.

Strategic Basement Design & Construction

The development has a double-storey basement situated in close proximity to the major A1261 Aspen Way, major combined Thames Water sewer and UKPN strategic cable route. The design and construction sequence for this basement was extensively designed, constructed and monitored to ensure that there was no impact on this strategic infrastructure.

Navigating height constraints

The building is situated under the flight path into London City Airport so there were strict constraints on height which Walsh facilitated by designing thin floor slabs, reducing height and minimising weight whilst maximising the number of floors and reducing foundation costs.

Embodied Carbon Assessments

Walsh undertook the embodied carbon assessments on the scheme and have specified the scheme for a high cement replacement mix and low steel content.