St John's College New Buttery wins David Mackay award for Engineering and Sustainability  

KJ Tait are delighted to have been the Mechanical and Electrical Consultant on the new Buttery project at St John's College which won The David Mackay award for Engineering and Sustainability 2024 at the recent Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards. The building also received a high commendation in the Best Conservation/adaption over £2m category.   

Some of the judge’s comments are noted below:  

‘The project catalysed the decarbonisation of a difficult Grade 1 listed area of the college, creating an expertly engineered roof that enhances acoustics, is visually striking and has low embodied carbon, The well-integrated heat pump and heat recovery ventilation inserted into difficult spaces (new and Grade 1) minimising clutter for both and provide an uplifting and inviting series of communal spaces.’  

‘From an environmental perspective the project has been a catalyst to remove the reliance on gas for this difficult corner of a large and complex site.  Intricately co-ordinated ventilation assists the insulation to reduce heating demand, which is met by Air Source Heat Pumps.  The use of the rooflight structure to provide night cooling will be invaluable as the weather warms.’  

One of the early aims of the project brief was to set a benchmark for future development of the College Masterplan, which it has clearly achieved.  

The David Mackay award has been running since 2022 and KJ Tait have been involved with two of the projects that have won the award during this period.  

A big well done and congratulations to all involved.