Bennetts Associates champions UK-based biogenic and regenerative materials and construction methods at Manchester Fashion Institute’s Robotics Living Lab.
Designed by Bennetts Associates for Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University, the Work in Progress Pavilion provides designers and manufacturers with a base from which to create more sustainable fashion manufacturing with the aid of robotic technology. The building comprises both active production areas and exhibition spaces, providing a flexible environment for research, experimentation and display.
Occupying an underutilised courtyard behind the university’s listed Righton Building, the single-storey structure provides a new focal point for the campus. The interior is organised around a central open-plan space, encouraging collaboration and allowing for reconfiguration as and when it is needed. Generous floor-to-ceiling windows create a sense of openness and connection to the newly landscaped courtyard, while also ensuring excellent daylighting.
The project champions UK-based materials and construction methods as a means of reducing upfront embodied carbon. Passive environmental controls reduce energy consumption for ventilation and cooling. A partially exposed Douglas fir timber frame is combined with straw-insulated wall panels. The latter are designed to lock away captured carbon within a much shorter timescale than traditional sequestering materials. They also help to regulate the internal environment throughout the year. Overhead, a striking timber waffle soffit introduces a rhythmic, expressive quality to the space. The exterior is clad with charred larch panels, chosen for their durability and resilience.
The pavilion achieves an upfront carbon figure of 468 kgCO2e/m2 GIA (A1-A5). A further -340 kgCO2e/m2 GIA biogenic carbon is captured in the building. This is expected to align with the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard new-build Higher Education target up to 2030. The building also follows circular economy principles, ensuring that many of its components can be disassembled and repurposed in the future. As part of the NZCBS Pilot Scheme, a post occupancy evaluation is underway to assess long-term performance.
Adrian Lonsdale, Studio Director at Bennetts Associates, commented: “The Work in Progress Pavilion is a pioneering space that not only represents a milestone in resource-conscious design and challenging conventional building techniques, but also marks a significant first for the university and the UK fashion industry. We are proud to deliver an exemplary project that highlights the potential of biogenic and regenerative low-carbon materials. It’s been fantastic to work with a client whose ambition for a low-carbon future aligns so well with our own.”
Susan Postlethwaite, Professor of Fashion Technologies at MFI and Director of RoLL, said: “This launch is the culmination of years of planning, collaboration and research, and I’m delighted to showcase the important work of the lab inside this beautiful structure designed by Bennetts Associates to meet our climate commitments.”
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