This West Midlands client is redefining collaborative, sustainable construction through the IPI Lite contract via the PAGABO framework, ensuring transparency, innovation, and whole-life value.
The Animal Science Centre at Dudley College of Technology is a pioneering retrofit of a 1950s gymnasium into state-of-the-art animal welfare and teaching facilities. Built to Passivhaus principles, it includes specialist enclosures, classrooms, IT labs, and a commercial-grade dog grooming suite.
Originally planned as a new build, the IPI Alliance team challenged this, proving that a sustainable retrofit could achieve the same outcomes with a lower carbon footprint and cost. This decision saved 20% in VAT and reduced embodied carbon to 51kgCO2e/m², well below the LETI school target of 276kgCO2e/m². As part of the college’s wider decarbonisation strategy, this was the third IPI scheme they championed, demonstrating a “best for project” approach.
Key achievements:
- Effective Leadership & Collaboration – Early supplier engagement and behaviour-based selection fostered trust and shared accountability.
- Fair & Prompt Payment – A structured payment system aligned with grant funding ensured financial stability across the supply chain.
Three Winning Facts:
- Industry Leadership – Leading decarbonisation efforts in the Further Education (FE) sector, advising colleges on net-zero strategies.
- True Collaboration – The IPI approach ensured all partners operated as one team, fostering transparency and accountability.
- Sustainability in Action – A campus-wide net zero strategy, well underway, showcases their commitment to future-proofed, responsible construction. A net-zero strategy drove a retrofit-first approach, reducing costs and embodied carbon, setting an industry standard.
