Innovation in Construction A Project Life Cycle Approach

5.5 Case Study 4: Cheetham HillTesco Environmental FormatStoreTHE CONCEPTThis scheme is the first repeatable format to be builtfor Tesco, with the aim that this will become thestandard design format for future stores. The innovationsthat were achieved through the scheme have beenselected through design workshops and testing duringthe procurement stages of the project. The successbehind the project lies in the collaborative working relationshipamong the project participants and commitment toinnovation and meeting project goals. Thecontractor’s (Taylor Woodrow) role in this project wascritical in ensuring that the design team all workedtogether to deliver the clients aims. A mixture of newconstruction techniques were sought to deliver anenvironmentally friendly, energy efficient, sustainable,innovative, integrated, and value added project,whilst maintaining customer and client satisfaction. Thescheme is the first supermarket to run on vegetableoil via a CHP unit that provides the energy and heatrequirements of the store. Examples of environmentallyfriendly innovations include a certified hybrid timberframe, sustainable cladding system, X-Lite roof lights,wind catchers and clerestory glazing.INNOVATION JOURNEY/STORYInnovative PlanningTaylor Woodrow has been partners with Tescosince 1985 when Tesco decided to form strategicalliances with its contractors. The key reason for strategicpartnering for them was to continue to innovate theirsupermarket buildings, so that they would be built fasterfor less money and deliver high performance. Workingtogether as a part of the team was the major enablerof innovation in this project. The team worked with B& K Timber Structures to supply timber frames. As oneof the only firms in the UK able to offer a completepackage of expertise in both steel and timber design,engineering, manufacture and installation, they wereable to undertake the project at Cheetham Hill withefficiency, ensuring Tesco was in a position to commencetrading on schedule.Tesco is very successful at managing the innovationprocess through collaboration with their strategicpartners. Tesco has nine contractors working withthem, all of which carry out R&D on their behalf. Thisdecentralised research approach brings mutual benefits;people having specific expertise invest in developingnew solutions for Tesco but the continuous(repeatable) nature of the projects encourages them toinnovate and they benefit from the buying power of Tescoat the same time and learn from them on monitoring theiroperations and managing the supply chain. Tesco alsohas its own technology centre and a small non-tradeconcept store that is open to its partners to test theirideas in.Innovative Design and Construction ProcessConstruction of the Eco-Store in Cheetham Hill wasbased on the principles of using wood instead ofmetal; introducing more natural daylight into the storeto use less electricity; achieving a more energy-efficientheating and air-conditioning system; using less energyand water; generating our own energy; rethinkingrefrigeration, fixtures and signage; andminimising waste; all of which contributesignificantly in cutting the store’s carbon footprint.The construction processes was similar to a standardTesco format store but the innovations below wereintroduced in terms of products and processes:n Hybrid timber frame: One of the most importantelements of the environmentally friendly designfeatures is the innovative hybrid timber-steel structure.Through careful design detailing and valueengineering, B & K Timber Structures incorporatetheir expertise in steelwork fabrication to offer hybridstructures. They combine the aesthetic andenvironmental benefits of timber with the economicbenefits of steel that reduce carbon footprint withoutcompromising quality.n Sustainable cladding system: The system wassourced from Lithuania and required a lot of detailingand planning to execute a very smooth installationwithout any problems. It was manufactured off siteand offers an embedded/carbon energy saving of 8%and the cladding is 100% recyclable.n TriArch walling solution: This system is aprefabricated walling system, which is made fromrecycled gypsum and timber boarding. Thisproduct is 100% recyclable, there is no requirement forplastering as the system is pre-finished and ready foreither wall paper or paint finish that ultimately resultsin no wastage.33