The University’s new Medical School Building was completed in March 2021 and aimed to be biodiversity positive as a build, as part of the BREEAM Excellent rating achieved. The wall also contains 69 (54 within living wall &15 on upper wall) solar panels to complement the 154 roof-mounted panels.
To achieve this, a 120m2 Living Wall was designed into the building, containing over 5000 plants (of 15 varieties) to provide valuable food for pollinators and birds throughout the year. Plant species on the wall include Bergenia, Heurchera and Hedera varieties. The external landscaping involved the establishment of wildflower meadows to support pollinators and wildlife.
This biophilic design of the Living Wall aims to increase occupant’s connectivity to the natural environment by allowing building users to get up close to the wall via the roof terrace.
The wall on the southern façade of the building has received positive recognition from local stakeholders and members of the community, due to its prominent position within the Lincoln Cathedral viewing corridor. It’s improving local air quality, creating spaces for nature and improving the aesthetics of the urban building.
The University plans to monitor biodiversity via surveys over the next year, to quantify the positive impact the landscaping and management plan are having on vertebrates and invertebrates.