Anna Morcos nee Mierzejewska reposted this
Technical Advisory Lead at Mott MacDonald | Specialising in Healthcare, Passive Design (NZC), Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and Estates Advisory
Last night ITN ran a news piece on the impact that reinforced aerated Autoclaved concrete (RAAC) is having and may continue to have on our education estate. This follows a channel 4 article along similar lines. A simple search will now find numerous news articles that can be found on RAAC and its resultant impact on our buildings and importantly the provision of critical public services. RAAC was a 1960-70s wonder material. It was lightweight, adaptable on site and efficient. It was formed offsite and would have been considered a modem method of construction (MMC) of its time with a high pre-manufactured value (PMV). For me and the team, these past few weeks have been spent with a mix of supporting our clients with the legacy of RAAC for part of the week, site visits and risk assessments, with the remainder focused on the development of new healthcare facilities; supporting MMC strategies and low carbon design. This may seem an odd mix - but I love it and believe there is method in my madness! This photo of a lump of RAAC is taken off my desk at home. Strange, I know! But I think it’s a really important reminder as we work to develop the new social infrastructure projects of the future, that we learn from the lessons of the past. Balancing innovation and risk with comprehensive and thoughtful construction strategies are the key to leaving a sustainable legacy.
