Transition Engineering Urban Canyons - Roger Stevens Cooling Pond Case Study Leeds, UK

Our research project focuses on assessing microclimates associated with water features and green infrastructure set among the “Brutalist” concrete canyons developed in late 20th century, and Transition Engineering (identifying pathways) to exploit storm water to mitigate the combined impact of urban heat islands and global warming as far as the end of the 21st century. As a case study we are monitoring the environs circa the Roger Stevens Building (1970) which Heritage England listed at Grade II* as a fitting centrepiece to the group of additional buildings on the south of older Red Brick University of Leeds which inspired the “plate glass university” building boom throughout the UK during the 1970. The precinct includes a “Cooling Pond” identified by the Ordinance Survey, which since 1983 reflects upon a flying bronze figure removed from the Midland Bank in London, “keeping a watchful eye out for impromptu swimmers”. There is no evidence that the Cooling Pond was ever connected to any mechanical building services by pumps or pipework. We are investigating how the role of this water feature have been evolving over almost time and what role could potentially play today in line with a more contemporary idea of blue/green infrastructure. The pond is currently undergoing redevelopment to allow the previously chlorinated sterile water feature to become a thriving bluegreen ecosystem, as a collaborative living lab involving Estates Services, Sustainability Service, Water@Leeds, School of Geography, School of Biological Sciences and School of Civil Engineering. Within this project we aim at assessing ambient air temperature surrounding the Roger Stevens Building before and after the redevelopment of the Cooling Pond.