Technology and Architecture working together
4 Nov 2025Architecture has seen several tipping points over the last few years as the modernist, manufacturing-influenced aesthetic of the early 20th century has been slowly replaced with a more technically ambitious outlook. From initial forays into responsive, ‘smart’ buildings to the more recent revolutions around data-driven metrics and measuring performance, the 21stcentury has seen the relationship between people and technology change.
Architecture and smart materials
30 Sep 2025In today's rapidly evolving world, efficiency and adaptability are crucial. Modern life relies heavily on technology and Designers aim for efficient, durable, and sustainable structures, with material selection being key. Smart materials represent the future of advanced and efficient design and construction, offering significant benefits for creating buildings with reduced environmental impact.
Annual Excellence in Data Centre Construction, Design and Engineering Forum by TBM Group
10 Sep 2025Last week Director Angela Vico Correas and Associate Director & Head of Madrid Victoria Moreno attended the “Annual Excellence in Data Centre Construction, Design and Engineering Forum”, second edition hosted in Barcelona. The event gathered Data Centre experts from all across Europe and Middle East, representing Consultancies, Engineering firms, Supply chain, Construction & Funding and Clients. The Forum offered 2 days of valuable exchange of insights
A Second Life for Data Centre buildings
4 Aug 2025Data centres are critical infrastructures of the digital world, characterised by their robust construction and specific technical requirements. As architects, at StudioNWA, we try to extend our perspective beyond their primary function, considering their complete life cycle.
To Everything There is a Season – Psychology, Context and Calm
14 Jul 2025Architecture is something I’ve always considered as both arising from the human experience and offering the chance to improve it - so when I was invited to reflect on the recent article from the RIBA Journal on the perception of building designs (Psychology and neuroscience’s lessons for facade design | RIBAJ) it felt like joining a conversation I already enjoy.
2025 Summer Social
11 Jul 2025There was not an activity missed at our 2025 Summer social at Center Parcs Woburn Forest
Workplace Insight Thought Piece
25 Jun 2025In a thought piece with Workplace Insight - Director, Jonathon Stockdale explores how ‘Data centres are the real powerhouses behind AI’.
Datacloud Global Congress 2025 in Cannes
16 Jun 2025What a fantastic week Directors, Jonathon Stockdale and Angela Vico Correas, and Head of studioNWA Madrid, Victoria Moreno had at Datacloud Global Congress 2025 in Cannes.
Construction Cup 2025
28 May 2025Black & White Engineering for organised the Construction Cup 2025, hosted at The Valley.
studioNWA is committed to a carbon management plan to reduce operational carbon emissions, in line with the UK and global Net Zero target by 2050 to limit the effects of climate change.
The framework:
- We identify operational carbon emissions categories based on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Standard for accounting and reporting scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
- We quantify and record emissions in the studioNWA database supported by UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting data.
- We monitor emissions on a yearly basis and benchmark against 2019, our baseline year.
- We set goals and implement actions to reduce scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in percentage increments each year.
- We inform staff and stakeholders on a summary of actions and progress in a Sustainability Report presented at the end of Q4 each year.
Scopes 1,2 & 3
36.7 Tonnes CO2e
Embodied carbon represents the accumulative emissions a particular material or product generates throughout its lifetime, from manufacturing stage to installation during construction, maintenance and disposal at its end of life.
Classified as critical infrastructure buildings, data centres are required to meet high levels of security, performance and insurance conditions, thus having to rely on traditional high performing, durable materials such as concrete, steel and aluminium – amongst the highest in embodied carbon content.
As material specifiers, we engage with stakeholders in the supply chain to stay up to date with advances to manufacturing processes of traditional materials and to encourage a growing portfolio of lower carbon alternatives. We analyse embodied carbon data from EPD certificates and prioritise reduced upfront carbon (A1-A5) and circularity whenever possible.
studioNWA has also developed ECMat, its own carbon management tool to produce project case studies and to benchmark embodied carbon of materials as we continue to improve our carbon-conscious spec.
Measure. Monitor progress. Push for change. That’s studioNWA‘s approach to advancing Net Zero.
Life Cycle Assessment Stages: BS EN 15978:2011
Urban greening has become more prevalent as a planning requirement in urban settings, where contributions can be made in the form of green roofs, green walls and amenity areas.
studioNWA engages with Local Planning authorities and specialists to identify the best solution for a given project site to mitigate heat island effect, air pollution, rainwater storm management and
contribute to on-site carbon capture, whilst meeting relevant policy targets.
BREEAM & LEED assessments are the leading and most widely adopted environmental assessment methods for data centre buildings today, often pursued at planning stage and to reinforce client’s ESG goals.
studioNWA’s in-house knowledge of these certification schemes allows us to work closely with our clients, sustainability consultants and wider design team to maximise the potential for architecturally-driven credits and meet project targets.
Water
- Selection of plumbing fixtures that reduce water consumption.
- Rainwater harvesting space allocation.
Materials
- Use of materials with high Green Guide Ratings to ensure lower environmental impact.
- Responsible sourcing of wood with sustainability accreditations
Waste
- Adequate provision of recyclable waste storage facilities to ensure waste generated during building operation is diverted from landfill.
Pollution
- Screened mechanical plant areas for noise attenuation.
Land use and energy
Implementation of green roof and walls for a number of benefits:
- Contribution to greening factor, stormwater attenuation, filtration of air pollutants and carbon sequestration, reduction of heat island effect and thermal losses.
Transport
- Provision of bicycle shelters and changing facilities to encourage building users to cycle to site, thus reducing carbon emissions from transport.
- Charging stations for electrical vehicles.
Health and Wellbeing
- Design to provide building occupants with adequate levels of natural daylighting, views out and glare control.
- Indoor air quality to be protected from external sources of pollution such as exhausts and cigarette smoke.
- Selection of interior finishes with regulated off-gassing emissions.
“Fabric first” approach optimises thermal performance of the building envelope to reduce energy use demands from the outset of the design process.
In data centre typologies, this methodology is particularly effective for the design of administration blocks, as daylighting and views out are an inherent requirement for office areas with permanent workstations, meeting rooms and amenity spaces.
Glazing ratios and solar shading devices designed to suit solar orientation ensure the building façade becomes more resilient to excessive heat gains and losses.
In addition, the optimisation of U-values in external walls, roofs and floors, and effective airtightness details result in a thermally efficient building envelope that reduces Energy Use Intensity (EUI) per square metre and associated carbon emissions.
studioNWA continues to invest in its own sustainability capabilities, including software that can provide real-time design feedback on elements that affect thermal performance of the building fabric. Our design toolkit can also assist the team to identify optimal areas for the installation of solar panels, based on incident solar irradiation values on horizontal and vertical planes.
studioNWA’s early stage design approach facilitates coordination with other disciplines and alignment of energy model targets, contributing to reduction of energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.