Morrow + Lorraine — Sustainability

At Morrow + Lorraine, sustainability is essential to our practice, our projects, our ethics and our ethos.

Sustainable outcomes in the construction and operation of buildings guide our decision making. Ultimately, we seek to leave a legacy of regenerative buildings that not only tread lightly on the environment, but work harmoniously with nature; the optimum model being circular, climate positive and bio-diverse. With both WELL and Passivhaus certified architects on our sustainability team, and an established knowledge of retrofit and refurbishment, we are advocates for a future that prioritises people, places and the planet.

Our practice specialism is the deep retrofit of buildings, which ensures that they perform well for our clients now, and are resilient to future change. We advocate the retention of as much useful building fabric as possible while adapting a building for the next phase in its life. Where fabric is redundant or unfit for retention, we will seek ways to minimise waste and work with contractors who embrace the principle of circularity in the building economy.

We are proud to collaborate with a group of clients and consultants who have also committed to addressing the challenge of sustainable construction and estate management for the long term. With them, we are able to illustrate in practice why and how sustainable design opportunities can improve building comfort, performance and aesthetics. A continued process of review and post occupancy evaluation allow us to improve on these processes with each and every project.

We collaborate + lead sustainable initiatives

Gregory Murrell

Architect - Active Score AP

Lorenzo Ravaioli

Architect

Architectural sustainability services

Please contact sustainability@morrowlorraine.com for more information on the following services.

Embodied carbon assessments

Morrow + Lorraine are able to quantify and analyse proposals across the design stages, introducing strategies for reducing carbon emissions with an ambition to achieve a carbon negative construction. We do this by integrating IMPACT-compliant software into the design process (OneClickLCA, [RICS A1-A5, B1-B5, C1-C4], with sequestration to be reported separately). This assessment can form part of a whole-life carbon assessment and contribute to the net-zero certification.

Circularity index analysis

Using the same materials software, Morrow + Lorraine are able to measure the amount of recycled and recyclable materials proposed for the project across the design stages, with strategies for reducing virgin materials and promoting the circular economy and material re-use. This index forms the backbone for the London Plan's Circular Economy Statement.

Post occupancy evaluations

Also known as building performance evaluations, POEs are undertaken at RIBA Stage 7 and include monitoring of energy and water use (after at least one year's occupation), and can also include qualitative feedback from building occupiers.

Additional sustainability services

Landscape

Architecture is moving towards a richer understanding of biodiversity where green roofs, planted facades and construction materials from recycled waste or generated from bio-crops seek to address ecological diversity in more complex and interesting ways.

Passivhaus Designer

Passivhauses are buildings with a heating demand that is just a tenth of that of average existing buildings. Morrow + Lorraine have a certified Passivhaus Designer in-house, bringing the benefits of good ventilation, heat recovery and comfort levels, and the avoidance of overheating risks to our projects. Using PHPP, we are able to design to both Passivhaus and Enerphit standards and submit the necessary evidence for certification.

We research and report

We treat our ofﬁce as an exemplar

In line with the RIBA’s 2030 net-zero pledge, we are committed to working in a carbon neutral office space by 2030. We will be evaluating our carbon footprint each year from 2021 and we will offset a significant portion of our emissions each year, ultimately moving us closer to becoming a net-zero business. Our next office design will be in line with WELL principles to ensure that the health and wellbeing of both our staff and visitors is prioritised.

We align ourselves with