FIS is data driven and keen to support research that improves our collective understanding to and helps us to drive positive change. To this end, the FIS Sustainability Leadership Group has agreed to support the research stage of a Masters Project being conducted by Nicola Forest (who has a long association of working with the group).
Nicola is now employed by The Crown Estate and her project is looking at the barriers to circularity in London by proposing a material flow analysis methodology to quantify available materials within London’s CAT B office building stock. The project will map the types and locations of existing materials by analysing their lifecycles and assessing their potential for reuse.
With growing interest in this subject and a scarcity of academic studies in this area, this research is both timely and crucial. Specifically Nicola is looking to the FIS community to help:
Provide opportunities to undertake site visits of recent fit outs (completed within the last 1 to 2 years exceeding £10 million) through clients, end-users and fit out contractors
Provide copies of architectural finishes schedules for fit outs (completed within the last 1 to 2 years exceeding £10 million) from architects, sustainability design consultants and contractors. Please can you also confirm total floor area for each finishes schedule provided.
Provide copies of any existing pre-demolition audits for projects expecting strip out in the next 12 months.
The completed data will be showcased through a digital and interactive map created with GIS and Power BI. Users will be able to click on buildings to reveal internal components, estimated quantities (calculated using material coefficient rates and reuse efficiency), and potential reuse opportunities. This will be shared with participants and key findings will be presented to FIS Sustainability Leadership Group to support our ongoing work.
We hope you can support Nicola, to take part or find out more, please email njf44@cam.ac.uk