The PRL Pioneers
This autumn, PRL marks a significant milestone: 18 years of pioneering in both the public and private sectors. Since its inception, PRL has been an innovator, creating retrofit solutions that address the evolving needs of buildings, large and small. Its mission: to provide solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and support sustainability goals.
PRL and the Public Sector: Innovation for the greater good
The ambition was always to work within the public sector for the greater good. The projects are always challenging, and are designed to help society as a whole have options that are more sustainable and affordable.
The wish to innovate is a driving force, too. Innovation doesn’t have to always be complex; it could be something simple like developing a new template to make the team work more efficiently.
I also like to challenge design team methodologies and produce a more sustainable approach. To do this I ask for whole lifecycle costings during the very early design stage. It's surprising what little nudges can do in a creative environment!
PRL’s Unique Approach: Collaboration and creativity in action
We have so much enthusiasm for getting the work done. We bring a new approach in the way that we creatively work with and develop teams, in order to produce the best outcomes.
We seek to create collaborative environments between the designers and the constructors – and find that this always results in positive projects that get delivered on time and to budget. One project that really stands out is the creation of a nationally important children’s cancer hospital.
I'm currently working on a very significant decarbonisation plan for a world-renowned Organisation. For them, I am creating a programme of improvement to the site by reducing carbon in use, and water neutrality - to meet net zero targets and climate positive ambitions by 2030.
PRL and the Future of Healthcare: Building for community wellbeing
A project that makes me think about the future of healthcare, is a community healthcare hub that combines all local facilities and community assets in one accessible space: urgent care, GP, social care, community kitchens and activities.
The premise for this concept was to allow local people to access services and obtain health and social care advice on their doorstep, rather than be conveyed (by poor public transport) into an overwhelmed and underperforming acute setting, that was not appropriate for their needs.
This was a project that I was involved with at the very beginning, but now, over 6 years later, it has just been completed and is open for business. I am very proud that I was able to contribute early on to its sustainability and overcome the challenges that it produced.
PRL and Innovation: Products that drive sustainable change
Over the last 20 years, we've experienced a digital and construction information revolution.
The products and innovations that are now making huge strides, are things like ‘Scan2Bim’ technologies, generative AI and the sharing of data throughout construction teams. This means that site managers all now have tablets with the latest design and product info and can update change requests in real time.
I always tried to introduce the topic of ‘digital twins’ into projects from the early days, even 15 years ago. However, it's only now that these are so commonplace.
I feel that every project should begin with photogrammetry or lidar surveys in order to pick up data. This ‘golden thread’ of information is then kept throughout the project to enable long-term maintenance and replacement of service equipment / fixtures. All of this goes to ensure that buildings are much more sustainable, and less wasteful.
For over 6 years I have also been working with Passive Purple (a sprayed-on air and vapour control barrier). Air tightness and moisture control is crucial to future building standards, and this product, by Intelligent Membranes, is leading the way sustainably.
I am currently working with an insulation manufacturer's products to see if there is a low carbon and highly efficient way to create passive house standard buildings - without using masses of resources, and allowing general building skills to be used.
PRL and Social Housing: Addressing the UK’s urgent need
I think it's been a choice to ignore a housing crisis for over 30 years, and then suffer huge implications.
The things that can be done right now is to first create a legally binding Citizen’s Charter which will control local politics in terms of a retrofit and new housing campaign.
Secondly, one would need to introduce a requirement that all energy companies commit significant resources and profits to training a new retrofit workforce. This workforce would need to be capable of transforming the 29 million homes in the UK that need attention now - meeting NZC by 2050.
PRL and Tiny Homes: Small Spaces, Big Solutions
Tiny Homes are not fully understood yet. There are pilot schemes that are creating factory-built pods and even shipping container conversions. However, it is planning and other legislation that needs to change.
A couple of years back, PRL designed a Tiny retrofit project with a client. It started off as a rundown space: a garage and store room at the back of an old shop – and we transformed it into a sustainable 29m2 studio style dwelling. It became an affordable, warm, clean space for a young person to start off their life. I wonder how many other Small/Tiny Homes opportunities exist with compact garage blocks or the many (due to Lockdown) unused offices?
What these retrofit projects all have in common is clever, space saving furniture and multi-purpose areas. It’s fair to say that the housing crisis solution is available now.
PRL and Education: Paying It Forward
'Pay it Forward’ is my life motto...
In my early days, what made a huge difference to my life was an Army apprenticeship as a design draftsman. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Royal Engineers, and particularly, to our instructors. My mentors were a mix of civilian lecturers and military instructors. My former Army buddies and I still talk about them, and their positive impact on us.
What I was taught was not about CAD or modern methods of construction - they barely existed in early 1980’s. Instead, we learnt about comradeship, co-operation on tasks, discipline, and hard work being its own reward. We loved hearing stories from the older guys, and used their best ‘tips and tricks’. We were inspired to become leaders like them!
These days, wherever possible, I try to help young people reach their potential and give opportunities to those who need them.
Carl Dodd, Property Revolutions Ltd.
