2 Trafalgar Way

Largest Passivhaus PBSA project in Europe

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.

Working on the project since pre-planning, Walsh designed the scheme with a double-skin façade to allow natural ventilation. Items such as door thresholds, window openings and all other penetrations required detailed interdisciplinary coordination to ensure air-tightness. Similarly all shafts were constructed in concrete to aid airtightness. Masonry had to be designed without cavity ties with the balconies and sky bridge connections designed to reduce the impact of the thermal breaks.

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.

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