Our Journey to Net Zero

At Woolgar Hunter, we are committed to engineering a sustainable future through innovative structural engineering solutions.

We believe that the only way forward in tackling the climate emergency is to get everyone involved. With construction accounting for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, Woolgar Hunter is committed to producing sustainable, responsible engineering solutions.

→ Carbon Talks

Woolgar Hunter Breakout Space, Glasgow Office

Opportunities to Connect, Learn & Share

We know that the climate crisis will not be tackled alone and sharing best practice is crucial to improving industry standards. Woolgar Hunter hosts regular Business2Business events and discussions to share our knowledge with peers and learn from their work. If you'd like to join us for an event like this, get in touch.

We love to host.

We have a great space to host a group for networking and presentations. We’ll supply the pizza and beers.

We'll come to you

We love to talk about all things engineering, and we’re more than happy to present in your offices.

Lectures

Our team is composed of the best and brightest in the industry.

→ Our Approach

Design Smart

Sustainability shouldn’t be an afterthought. From the initial concept stages our engineers strive for efficient, considered design solutions which avoid waste in a build.

Materials Matter

It’s not just what you build, but what you build with. We work with the design team to ensure the materials utilised are appropriate and sustainable and explore innovative low-carbon solutions.

'Engineers Declare'

We are signatories of the 'Engineers Declare' pledge to embed sustainability at the heart of the design process and reduce construction emissions.

Calculating Carbon

Assessment & Reduction

We calculate the carbon content of all our designs and continually improve our practice.

Our engineers have conducted extensive research into carbon assessment and reduction, allowing us to improve the sustainability of our practice from the outset of a project.

By closely monitoring the embodied carbon in our designs, we can benchmark against previous designs and industry targets such as RIBA / LETI or specific funders’ targets. Additionally, we can supply our data to the sustainability consultant to allow the whole building targets to be assessed.

Retro First

The greenest building is the one that already exists.
‍
Woolgar Hunter has extensive experience in refurb and retrofit projects, and we use this to help clients consider how their existing buildings can be adapted or expanded to produce modern accommodations without the carbon costs of demolition and newbuild.

Retro First Case Study:
BBC Studios at Kelvin Hall

We approach each new project is an opportunity to reverse the climate crisis.

Woolgar Hunter was appointed by a partnership of Glasgow cultural organisations to reengineer a major refurbishment of Kelvin Hall, the iconic 1920s exhibition hall in Glasgow’s west end. The new mixed-use development provides a range of cultural and civil spaces within the historic building, restoring it to its position at the centre of Glasgow’s cultural life.

View the Full Case Study

→ Sustainable Infrastructure & Drainage Design

SUDS

Our surface water strategies, landscaping, and public realm design adhere to best practices, incorporating Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) with landscape design to boost biodiversity and focus on nature-based solutions that improve the project’s ecology and regenerative qualities.

Green Infrastructre

At the Eden building in Salford, Woolgar Hunter developed Europe’s largest green wall, which not only enhances biodiversity and creates a regenerative façade but also serves as a regenerative icon for Salford.

Biodiversity in
the Public Realm

Bioretention

At Buchanan Wharf, bioretention was extensively used, forming an essential part of the SUDS infrastructure due to the extensive hard landscaping. This was integrated into the masterplan layout, creating a riverside city park atmosphere that has become popular with local residents and workers.

Innovation in Sustainable Design:
Fife College

Fife College campus in Dunfermline is the first building designed to the new Net Zero Public Sector Building Standards for Scotland. Unique structural design features have contributed to a 25% reduction in embodied carbon in the scheme.

→ Project Highlights

A Pathfinder Project

The design was focused on the reduction of embodied carbon associated with the building superstructure and is acting as a pathfinder project within the new Net Zero Public Sector Building Standards for Scotland (NZPSBSS).

Innovating in Low-carbon Construction Methods

Concrete floor slabs were replaced by Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) planks and Delta Beams made from 95% recycled steel, significantly reducing concrete usage in the superstructure and foundations. This forward-thinking design approach resulted in a 20% reduction in embodied carbon compared to traditional developments of similar scale.

Carbon Targets

Scotland’s First Net Zero Public Sector Building

With an embodied carbon footprint of just over 560kg CO₂e/m² for the main building (the teaching block), and an average of 601kg CO₂e/m² across all three new buildings, the project has outperformed its target of 650kg CO₂e/m².

Adaptable & Flexible

A Future-proof Design

The long span, light weight, hybrid structure, will provide the client with adaptable flexible floor plates, which will allow the client to alter the building to react to the changes in teaching demands.