In Loving Memory of Mike Rolfe - Director, Colleague & Friend

26 November 1978 - 12 June 2025

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Mike Rolfe, Director at SRA Architects, following a brave three-year battle with cancer. Mike passed away peacefully on 12th June, having received outstanding care from the team at Dorothy House Hospice.

Mike will be remembered by all who knew him for his calm presence, quiet strength, and unwavering respect for others; qualities that made him not only an exceptional architect and business leader, but also a valued colleague, devoted husband, loving father, and true friend.

He will be profoundly missed by everyone at SRA Architects. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mike’s family and friends at this difficult time.

To donate in support of Dorothy House, please click here

Keynsham Recycling Hub

Introduction

With work recently completed on the final phase of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s new Keynsham Recycling Hub, Stephen Poole has been reflecting on this complex project and the key drivers behind the design and its outcomes.

Project Objectives: A Consolidated Facility

Bath & North East Somerset Council is not alone in facing challenges in meeting its responsibility to provide a recycling service for its residents. A growing population and changing waste legislation, among other factors, meant that modernisation and expansion of their dispersed and outdated facilities was required. This Keynsham Recycling Hub project sought to consolidate many of these operations to one site to improve operational efficiencies and increase capacity. The existing recycling facility at Pixash Lane was identified as being most suitable for expansion along with the surrounding land that was allocated within the Local Plan.

The completed development incorporates a public recycling centre, trade waste recycling, material sorting facility, waste transfer station, fleet workshops and supporting office spaces, as well as extensive fleet vehicle parking. With such a variety of functions as well as boundary constraints, the layout required careful consideration to allow for safe, efficient operation and to minimise circulation.

Bath & North East Somerset Council declared a climate and nature emergency in 2019. The new facility needed to respond to this – not only in its processes by providing opportunity to reuse and recycle materials, but operationally too. Improved efficiencies (for example, reducing vehicle movement between sites) would help with reduction of operational carbon. There was also a requirement for the development itself to be sustainable from providing thermally efficient accommodation to using on-site renewable energy generation.

Design Strategy – Promoting Recycling

Recycling is at the heart of the development and the recycling centre is its public face. With 20 bays, this two-storey facility provides increased capacity for residents to recycle a greater variety of waste more easily than ever before. The raised gantry design provides clear separation between public and operational areas, making it safer to use.

The lower ground level houses a dedicated re-use shop, which has proved extremely popular with the public. A treasure trove for thrifters, it offers a plethora of opportunities to purchase donated items ranging from sofas to cycles. This initiative demonstrates how a circular economy can be incorporated into public facilities, generating income instead of landfill.

Elsewhere on the site, the material recovery facility features state-of-the-art sorting equipment. A series of conveyors transfer bulked waste from storage bunkers, into baling machines where it is compacted ahead of onward transport to processing sites. Training Rooms have capacity to host groups and school visits - helping to educate the public about the importance of recycling and the processes that go into waste separation and recovery.

Design Strategy – Materials

The building compositions are simple and bold, intended to be a contemporary take on traditional industrial architecture. A recessive dark grey colour palette was chosen as the base finish to the external cladding which is intended to minimise visual impact from the wider Avon Valley. The north elevation of the material sorting facility, the largest building on the site, features several shades of grey cladding, intended to break up its mass. Concrete walls have been used in vulnerable areas, with additional barrier protection used to separate pedestrian and vehicle routes across the site.

Colour accents and softer material finishes were added to key areas, particularly around public facing areas, with timber cladding and local blue lias stone. Green spandrel panels highlight the offices.

Green Infrastructure

The perimeter of the site features extensive soft landscaping with a variety of habitats provided including grassland wildlife corridors, an attenuation pond and bat house, providing a 17% biodiversity net gain (BNG) for the project. New trees help screen the development from sensitive views, whilst ornamental planting along the main frontage enhances the street scape.

Energy Efficiency and Generation

The new purpose-built office building significantly improves on operational carbon and energy efficiencies compared with the facility it replaced, with a well-insulated envelope and solar shading to manage heat gains. User comfort and welfare is considered throughout the site, with increased day-lighting and artwork enhancements.

The extensive roof space accommodates 3,800sqm solar panels providing sufficient output for the development to be zero carbon on all regulated energy. Rainwater harvesting collects water from roofs to be used for cleaning vehicles and irrigation, whilst sustainable drainage solutions support biodiversity whilst managing the attenuation of run-off on the site.

Active travel for both staff and users is encouraged, and B&NES have provided dedicated cycle routes and parking to facilitate this. Electric vehicle charging has been provided, with future proofing for additional charging points as B&NES continue to decarbonise their fleet.

 Conclusion

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s investment in this state-of-the-art facility in Keynsham is a testament to their wider commitment to sustainability. As well as improving user experience, the scheme has directly addressed several environmental matters, from generating green energy to trying to reduce landfill; optimising waste flows to providing green corridors. Waste legislation and recycling technologies are continually evolving and it is hoped that the flexibility and capacity built into the facility will allow it to serve Bath & North East Somerset residents for many years to come.

‘Thanks to the dedicated work of SRA, who led the design and consulting team in collaboration with B&NES Council’s Project and Waste Management teams and Principal Contractor Farrans, Keynsham Recycling Hub has been a huge success, winning plaudits and garnering interest from a host of other local authorities and other organisations from the Waste Management and Recycling industry.’  - Ian James, Bath & North East Somerset Council

Key Project Team Members. Andy Battle, Hilary Blake, Fred Barnett, Stephen Poole

Photography: Sean Mihael, Andy Battle, Farrans Construction

Diagrams: SRA

Client: Bath & North-East Somerset Council

Architect: SRA Architects Ltd

Contractor: Farrans Construction

Project Manager: Gleeds

Quantity Surveyor: Aecom

Structural & Civil Engineer: Campbell Reith Hill Consulting Engineers

MEP Engineer: E3 Consulting Engineers LLP

Planning Consultant: Planning Sphere

Highways Consultant: Miles White Transport

Landscape Architect: Greenhalgh Landscape Architects

Ecology Consultant: Ethos Environmental Planning

WEP Consultant: Sol Environment

EIA Consultant: Entran Environment & Transport Consultants

Reflection on work placement with SRA

Every year SRA welcomes students and graduates of architecture seeking experience of architectural practice. For some, this could be the first time working in a professional environment, others may have had some work experience while at school or during their studies.

No matter what their experience or skills, the unique contribution each student offers is invaluable. In return, we provide training and try to fully involve them in all aspects of architectural practice and projects - from BIM to site visits, from report writing to rendering - as well as social events, marketing, training, and strategy focus groups. We hope that this provides them with a positive, memorable, well-rounded and enjoyable start to their careers.  

We currently have four Part 1 students. Charmaine, Elizabeth, and Ryan are all 2nd year students at the University of Bath. They are coming to the end of their six months with SRA and will be returning to university next month. Sean joined SRA in 2023 having graduated from the University of Portsmouth, and we are delighted that he has decided to stay another year with us before starting his Part 2 studies. 

We asked Charmaine, Elizabeth, Ryan, and Sean if they would share their thoughts on their time and experience at SRA. What follows are their words:

Introduction

Written by Charmaine C., Elizabeth D., Ryan K., & Sean M.

Looking back at our experience working at SRA, as Part 1 Architectural Assistants, our time thus far has been nothing short of a rewarding and fulfilling experience. As early-career architectural assistants, we have been fortunate to gain hands-on experience while being guided by professionals, allowing us to hone our skills and further develop our understanding of the professions.

We have been able to engage and contribute across a plethora of sectors. Charmaine was primarily involved with projects in the R&D sector, developing adaptable workspaces for cutting-edge tech companies, alongside office refurbishment projects. Elizabeth has spent her time at the practice creating visuals for different automotive brands and assisting in a range of challenging office refurbishment projects. Ryan has been involved heavily in the retail sector, embracing the challenge of designing engaging customer environments while adhering to strict corporate identity guidelines. While Sean has contributed greatly to automotive projects, helping to design and deliver high-end showrooms and state-of-the-art workshops that reflect the brand identity and enhance the customer experience.       

Across our varied project activities, we’ve learnt and honed new skills, including new software and site visits as well as non-project related activities that keep us connected and inspired within the wider practice.

Skills

Written by Ryan K.

For each of us, our journey at SRA marks our initial foray into a professional work environment, offering a comprehensive understanding of the roles and responsibilities of an architectural assistant.

From the very first day at the practice, we were introduced to industry-standard software such as Revit, MicroStation, and other CAD based programmes. Complementary to those were programmes such as Enscape, a real-time rending and virtual reality plugin that provides various visualisation opportunities, Adobe Creative Cloud, and others. This hands-on learning approach not only accelerates our proficiency in these tools, but also immerses us deeply into our projects. It provides a practical understanding of the construction process and the feasibility of a design, thereby bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and its practical application. 

There is also a lot of ‘learning through osmosis’. The welcoming atmosphere and open-door policy, coupled with the practice of hot-desking, exposes us to diverse working styles and methodologies. Engaging in various conversations and discussions unveils aspects of a project that are otherwise on the periphery of an architectural assistant’s project activities. Moreover, the opportunity to participate in design reviews, technical reviews, and other collaborative sessions further enriches our learning experience and professional growth.

We’ve gained awareness of the broader construction process, including interactions with clients, coordination with other consultants, and adherence to building regulations and planning requirements. Awareness of professional responsibilities, such as quality assurance and health and safety protocols, is crucial. The holistic approach highlights the skills needed to be proficient in the design and in the delivery of a project.

While our proficiency in various software tools is essential, of equal importance are the soft skills that are cultivated – such as effective communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. These skills are vital for our professional growth, honed through real-world experiences and interactions within the practice.

Site Visits

Written by Elizbeth D.

While at SRA, I have had the privilege of visiting a diverse range of sites, each offering a unique insight that has broadened my understanding of our projects far beyond what I could glean from drawings alone. One such visit was to a prospective office location, freshly stripped of its previous fit-out. This provided an opportunity to engage directly with the client and quantity surveyor, discussing their envisioned changes and strategies for the best approaches to realise them.

On another occasion, I joined a progress meeting on site at Nebula, in Milton Park This site is particularly fascinating as it comprises three buildings, each at a different stage of construction. Observing the progression of these structures offered invaluable insights into the construction process.

Witnessing the transformation of these projects from a conceptual CAD design to a tangible structure, where I could see and feel the various elements beneath the skin of a full-scale building, has been an enlightening experience, that has only reinforced my stance on the importance of site visits in bridging the gap between theory and practice of architecture.

Beyond the Blueprint: Embracing Non-Project Activities

Written by Sean M.

Much of our time is understandably devoted to the various projects that we work on. However, beyond this, what often goes unnoticed are the various non-project related activities that significantly contribute to the well-being, creativity, and team spirit within the practice.

For example, there is the practice’s ‘Gardening Club’ which often acts as a refreshing escape from the confines of our computer screens. A group of us will gather in the SRA garden, where we plant, nurture, and maintain the garden and eat lunch together. This endeavour creates a living, breathing space that serves as a reminder of the importance of connecting with nature, and how it can rejuvenate the mind and enhance creativity, teaching us that nature is a foundational pillar of architecture. 

We also had the opportunity to be involved with the practice’s communications and social media team. We would work collaboratively to craft content that represents the ethos and personality of our practice. From brainstorming sessions to content creation, this involvement has offered a unique perspective of how architecture intersects with branding and marketing, challenging us to use our creative skills in a slightly different manner. 

Architectural practice is not just about buildings, but it is also about the relationships and environments we create both within and outside of a project. By participating in practice life outside of project work, we engage with colleagues in new ways, enriching our overall experience, and approach to the process of architecture. These activities play a crucial role in shaping a balanced, dynamic, cohesive and enjoyable workplace.

Conclusion

Our time at SRA has been profoundly transformative, equipping us with invaluable experience and skills that will underpin our future careers in architecture. The opportunity to engage with a diverse array of projects, utilise industry-standard tools, and learn from seasoned professionals has been instrumental to our development. 

In addition to technical proficiency, we have cultivated essential soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. The site visits and non-project activities have significantly enriched our understanding and appreciation of the architecture profession and wider construction industry.

ABD and Sustainability

We are delighted that our building for AB Dynamics has been highly commended for the 2021 Construction Excellence South West Sustainability Award.

The building is home to the design, manufacture and demonstration of professional driving simulators used by motor teams all over the world to safely test new systems and train drivers off the track.

AB Dynamics’ brief was clear from the outset.  They were seeking a high-quality working environment that was low in operational energy use.  In this blog post we reflect on how we achieved a building with 50% less regulated carbon emissions than the current requirements in Part L2A 2013.

Passive Design

The shape of the building is designed to take advantage of the climate, using the natural movement of heat and light to keep internal conditions comfortable.

The building’s orientation was chosen to both maximise the use of the site for our client’s needs and allow optimum use of the sun

Heat

Careful study of each elevation and the angles of the sun in each season enabled us to make sure that the winter sun, which is low in the sky, can shine into the building providing useful solar gains. Horizontal shading fins were introduced to shield the building from the summer sun, which is higher in the sky, protecting the building from overheating and reducing the amount of energy required to cool it down.

Different types of glass were also introduced to the windows, depending on orientation, to intelligently limit solar gains but maximise natural daylight.

Light

By providing a sawtooth profile roof, we achieved both a south facing roof space ideal for photovoltaics and vertical north facing windows.

The north facing windows provide consistent natural light, which is ideal for the high-quality office-studio environment our client required. 

Energy Efficient Measures

In addition to the need for a building that is low energy in use, we also designed for longevity and robustness, both in system design and product specification.  We integrated high efficiency systems to the building’s heating, cooling and ventilation strategies.

The client’s business requires a large manufacturing space which means the building needs a deep floor plan.  Consequently a mechanical ventilation system is required to provide fresh air to the middle of the building.

The building also benefits from a highly efficient heat recovery system that collects the heat from air on its way out of the building and recycles it, reducing the heating demand and ensuring that heat generated to warm the building isn’t lost through extracted air.

Through thermal modelling of the building, the stair cores were identified as the hottest spaces.  To avoid using energy to cool these transitional spaces we designed a natural ventilation system of roof stacks, drawing air through the building and ensuring that in the summer heat can escape and prevent internal thermal discomfort. 

In addition we designed the envelope of the building to perform over and above the requirements set out in AD Part L2A, increasing the airtightness performance and the insulation to minimise heat loss through the building fabric.

Low Carbon Technology

After first reducing the energy demands of the building through the passive design and energy efficient measures, we then incorporated photovoltaic cells on the south facing sloping areas of the roof, maximising their efficiency and energy generation on the site

The PV array provides enough energy to run all the in-use building systems. In our as-built energy review, we measured the building performance and achieved:

• The highest EPC Rating of A .

• A reduction of 50% less than the Part L2A 2013 target regulated carbon emissions in the final as-built assessment.

• The final as-built regulated carbon emissions were calculated as being 10.1 kgCO2/m2, which is 4% less than the as designed regulated carbon emissions of 10.5 kgCO2/m2.

The building envelope achieved an airtightness test result of 3.9m³/h/m² @ 50pa.

Social Value & Wellbeing

The building is located at the top of a hill and benefits from fantastic views across the Wiltshire countryside.  It has a strong physical and visual connection to outside spaces and multiple opportunities to enjoy these views throughout the building, with feature glazing at first floor orientated towards the landscape and surrounding vistas, and away from the neighbouring properties. The spaces surrounding the building express the identity of the company and ensure that the whole development feels cohesive in its placemaking.

The building promotes social interaction by providing internal and external spaces for people to gather away from their desks.  

The client also promotes sustainable travel for all staff.  The site is located very close to the local bus route, is within walking distance to the train station and electric vehicle charging provision is provided on site. Inside the building we have provided high quality and accessible facilities for staff and visitors who have walked, run or cycled  to work. 

With strong design team collaboration from the outset, and a clear ambition and set of aspirations from the client, we were able to incorporate many energy saving principles into the design. This approach goes to the heart of how we work, working alongside AB Dynamics to deliver a building that enables their continued growth and one which we are proud to put our name to. We are now reviewing our successes and reflecting on how we can do even better next time.