1.1  (29) Percentageof long lifetime materials useAs mentioned at the previous paragraph themain materials used for the construction of the OVAL Building are reinforcedconcrete, aluminum, steel and glass. As concluded after the analysis conductedthese materials are high durability materials that ensure building’s long lifeand require the minimum maintenance and repair cost during the operating lifeof it. In any case there are no many things you can do with the enclosure of thebuilding and the bearing parts of a structure after the construction.

Regardingthe secondary parts of the building such as electromechanical, hydraulicequipment and finishes (ceramic tiles, marbles, Gypsum-Board), that can startto wear down during the service life of the building, the property managersneed to be fully informed of the latest technological trends at any time tomaintain, repair or replace them if needed, in environmentally and economicallysustainable and beneficiary ways. 1.2  (30) Level ofmaterials’ environmental embodiment potentialityThetraditional disposal of large amounts of materials debris from buildingrenovation and demolition in landfills is no longer acceptable. Major changesregarding the conservation of resources and recycling of wastes by propermanagement are taking place and considering the life time of the Oval buildingwhich is expected to be more than 70 years lots of modern and technologicallyadvanced processes will be in place at the time that the building will reachthe demolition stage.As analyzed at part (d) of the Assignment,Concrete, Aluminum, Steel and Glass are all suitable for recycling. In Appendix A the licensed facilities forthe management and processing of construction waste in Limassol are presented.We must point out that if any construction waste cannot be processed and reusedin Cyprus, it must be transported abroad.

The related energy consumed should beconsidered when calculating the embodied energy of these materials. 1.3  (31) Positiveimpacts on district forest areas (NOT APPLICABLE)Thisparameter is irrelevant regarding our building as stated at previous paragraph.1.4  (32) Percentageof areas under high water salinity as a cause of over irrigation (NOTAPPLICABLE)Thisparameter is irrelevant regarding our building.

1.5  (33) Level of Development’compactivityAs mentioned already high height – highdensity buildings in urban areas should be built where adequate infrastructuresuch as public transportation is well in place (Shin, 2012). The reason is thatsuch developments increase the number of the cars and the road transportationsystem is burden. As a result, traffic congestion, lack of parking space,environmental degradation has become common in cities (Zhuanga et Zhao, 2014).

Therefore, almost all countries haveprioritized the development of public transport. Zhuanga et Zhao (2014) suggestthat having urban rail transit as the backbone of urban public transportationand regular public transportation as an auxiliary system is generallyconsidered the only feasible means of solving the urban traffic problem. Urbanrailways and subways are safe, comfortable, convenient, fast, effective, andenvironment-friendly urban infrastructure systems and reduce problems faced bymany cities, such as shortages in land resources, traffic congestions, and airpollution (Zhuanga et Zhao, 2014). However, for small cities like Limassol, thecost and impacts of every possible public transportation system should beexamined and quantified.Regarding fire safety of a tall building likeOval, special attention must be paid not only to the layout and design ofescape and access routes but also to the fire resilience of the building’sstructure and its ability to withstand and contain fire. On the other hand, theauthorities should review the existing regulations to fit the needs of suchbuildings and train the firefighters to overpass the lack of relevantexperience.1.

6  (34) Level ofintestinal infectious diseases hazard (NOT APPLICABLE)Thisparameter does not apply to The Oval.1.7  (35) Level ofmeasures ensuring residents’ healthMaterialsselected and sustainable design of the building in terms of ventilation,daylight effect and air quality are adequate and little if any improvements onthis can be made.1.8  (36) Level ofFoods: It has already been noted that the officebuilding has its own canteen and as such is not a food intensive operation;however, foods are prepared and served on site.

As we know food generates asubstantial amount of waste in the form of preparation, leftovers and indeedthe packaging.  There needs to be a wastemanagement policy on how to best deal with this waste, whether it can berecycled efficiently or indeed sent to land fill sites. There are numerousfarms (with animals) in the outlying areas that could benefit from theleftovers and preparation waste. This waste could be channeled to those areasand made available for collection by the farm owners at zero cost. Thepackaging can be separated into the appropriate bins ready for collection byrecycling firms that are dotted around Cyprus.

We are not talking about largeamounts, but ‘every little helps’ and if everyone did something like this, thenit is a contribution rather than no contribution.1.9  (37) Level ofPotable Water Given that this resource is entirelycontrolled by the authorities, the best the building can hope for is to ensuresufficient pressure to lift the water to the height of the building asnecessary. That said, Cyprus is notorious for water cuts due to damaged pipework, water shortage (2017 has the worst inflow of water into the dams in thelast decade!) or mechanical break downs at the water supply end. Here we aretalking about potable drinking water as opposed to grey water of which there isno provision (that we could establish) within the building’s construction. Thiswould be a measure that could be improved to recycle the water within to minimizethe use of expensive potable supply.

Additionally, it is the norm in an officeenvironment to have the water coolers strategically positioned for publicconsumption; this is in direct comparison to say a residential developmentwhere the potable water would be their main source.