Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010 11:18 am

 Gareth Moores, Executive Chairman of Lytag Ltd, looks at how architects can reconcile demand for impressive and functional designs with Government and client requirements for sustainable construction, and all as budgets remain tight…
As we enter a new decade, it is fitting to consider what the coming years may bring for architects. There is no doubt that the pressure to marry impressive building designs with high performance and excellent sustainability credentials will continue in any economic climate. But this offers an opportunity as well as a challenge: choosing the right materials can not only help architects to meet these objectives, but to ensure that they walk hand in hand with cost efficiency.  
The tall buildings of 2010 exemplify the challenge faced, with structures such as the newly-opened Burj Dubai demonstrating just how much is expected by today’s clients and occupants. Creating original and iconic designs is crucial, architects’ plans must optimise floor space, and buildings should offer the highest levels of purpose-specific performance. Reflecting the values of the client and occupant has also become key in the race to stay ahead of the competition; environmental responsibility is commonly high on this agenda.
The importance of minimising environmental impact was further emphasised by the Copenhagen summit in December 2009, and architects have a significant part to play. The opportunities that sustainable working practices offer should be embraced by every business in the current economic climate, and are at their greatest when sustainability is incorporated into the construction process holistically.
One way of achieving this is to use lightweight, secondary aggregate in concrete instead of traditional aggregate. The environmental benefits of using a secondary aggregate such as LYTAG lightweight aggregate (LWA) are twofold: diverting waste away from landfill and also reducing demand on virgin material.
But improving sustainability credentials must go hand in hand with performance and design requirements. Concrete manufactured using LYTAG LWA, for example, is approximately 25 per cent lighter than that made with traditional aggregate but with comparable structural integrity. This can help overcome design restrictions caused by concrete’s dead weight, and provides the flexibility to deliver structures that may be unachievable or require design or timescale compromises with heavier material.
The lighter weight of LYTAG LWA concrete can also offer crucial cost savings: additional work to support the concrete’s weight can be avoided; materials can be transported more quickly; and the time and labour savings allowed on site can be considerable. 
The Gherkin is one of the many high-profile developments that has benefited from choosing LWA.  Developed by Swiss Re and designed by architect Norman Foster of Foster and Partners, the 40-storey building is designed to appear less bulky than other buildings of a comparable size: using LYTAG LWA enabled the distinctive tapered shape of the building to be structurally feasible. It also boosted the sustainability credentials of the project, which specified recycled materials whenever possible.
For the Gherkin and other projects where LWA has been used, the material has played a major part in helping the building to meet design and environmental objectives. Its lightweight qualities, coupled with the performance and sustainability benefits it provides, can help architects and project teams to respond to clients’ design and sustainability requirements. As we look to the decade ahead, it is “quick win” materials delivering multiple benefits such as this that will enable architects to address challenges and reap the rewards that this brings.