Open-City to work with Institute for Sustainability on FLASH business support programme
11 February 2011
Open-City
is pleased to announce its appointment as co-ordinator of the retrofit
site visits for the Institute for Sustainability’s FLASH
programme.
The Institute for Sustainability is an independent charity, led by a
world class board representing UK industry, academia and public sector,
set up to accelerate the delivery of sustainable cities and communities.
Its FLASH programme is part funded by the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF) and provides a range of business support to London-based
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). It has been designed to help
businesses working in construction and other built environment industries,
technologies and professions to seize the commercial opportunities presented
by the demand for sustainable development and retrofit.
Following a competitive tender process undertaken in December 2010,
the architecture organisation Open-City has been selected to act as the
co-ordinator of a programme of site visits to retrofit exemplars, for
professionals taking part in the FLASH programme.
Working in conjunction with the Institute’s trade and professional networks,
Open-City will develop and manage a series of 16 visits over the next
12 months, aimed at helping SMEs to seize the commercial opportunities
arising from the move towards a low carbon economy.
The visits, which will include a number of Technology Strategy Board’s Retrofit
for the Future projects, will feature a wide range of exemplars
including new build and retrofit projects involving a variety of building
types including commercial, community and housing.
Dr Neil Johnston, Director of Delivery at the Institute, commented: "The built environment has a huge part to play in delivering on 2050 carbon reduction targets. We should already be retrofitting 600,000 homes a year, while in fact we are not approaching ten per cent of that number.
“As part of the wider FLASH programme, these site visits will enable built environment SMEs to see innovative retrofit products, materials and solutions being implemented in real situations."
Open-City brings a wealth of experience to the project from 18 years
of developing, managing and delivering site visits to exemplars
of design and construction in London. Since 2008, Open-City’s Green
Sky Thinking initiative has also championed the importance of ‘designing
in’ sustainability, for both new build and retrofit, and highlighted
how this can contribute to the long-term development of neighbourhoods
and communities.
Based on a philosophy that direct, physical experience of a place or building is essential to learning, Open-City has developed a reputation for high quality and informative professional development programmes including its Green Sky Thinking Initiative, Building Explorations Training Programme for Professionals and the Open-City Exemplar for London’s elected members.
The site visits are available to members of the FLASH programme. To see details on the FLASH Networks and sign up to the programme, click here
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