Due to the age and heritage significance of many areas of the college, opportunities to improve fabric performance and airtightness to reduce energy demand are limited. Our approach involved a bespoke assessment of each building on a case-by-case basis, balancing the need for improved energy efficiency with the preservation of its existing character and heritage. JGC worked closely with the project architect, Witherford Watson Mann (WWM), to develop a coherent and credible strategy for fabric improvements and for retrofitting low-carbon heat sources.

The constrained nature of many of the college's sites, particularly those in central Cambridge, led to novel and non-standard proposals for a replacement heating plant. We collaborated with WWM to devise feasible outline strategies that balanced the often-competing requirements of decarbonisation with the need to retain the heritage and visual aesthetic within such a historically significant site.

Decarbonisation projects for sites heavily constrained by location, operational requirements and heritage are often challenging, and our approach is always tailored to develop a bespoke plan for the specific needs of the project and client. Close collaboration with WWM and college stakeholders at Corpus Christi was invaluable in integrating credible decarbonisation proposals into the overall masterplan. At the conclusion of the study, specific projects and proposals were proposed for each area across the estate to help the college develop a longer-term implementation roadmap. Subsequent to the completion of the Study, JGC have been appointed to assist with the planned refurbishment of Botolph Court, which will involve the reprovisioning of existing services and fabric to improve user comfort and target efficiency savings, in line with the college’s wider masterplan and decarbonisation agenda.