Low Impact Materials - High Performance Buildings

Summary

Join us in Norwich for an insightful morning of networking and expert discussion focused on how low-impact materials can deliver high-performance buildings without compromising on quality, safety, or sustainability.

As the construction industry responds to increasing environmental, regulatory, and performance pressures, this event brings together professionals to share practical insight and top tips. Whether you’re a contractor, designer, specifier, or client, you’ll gain a stronger understanding of how sustainable choices can enhance your projects.

The programme will explore sustainable building approaches at the design stage, with expert guidance on material selection, heritage considerations, and meeting modern performance requirements. Attendees will also discover innovative materials, systems, and solutions already being used to reduce environmental impact while improving building performance.

A featured session from Concertus and Pentaco will share the story behind the design and construction of Suffolk County Council’s first net zero school in Lakenheath. This case study will explore the original vision, key challenges, and practical lessons learned in delivering the Council’s first net zero educational facility. From early design decisions through to on-site construction, the session will offer valuable insight into what it takes to achieve net zero on a live public-sector project, including how challenges were overcome and how the learning can inform future sustainable school developments.

The event concludes with an open Q&A session, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with speakers and suppliers to discuss the challenges and opportunities they are facing on live projects.

Who Should Attend?

Construction Industry professionals, architects, designers, contractors, project managers, specifiers and technical consultants, conservation and heritage professionals, sustainability and ESG Leads.

Please note: this event is for over 18's only

Agenda:

• 09:00 - Registration and refreshments
• 09:30 - Welcome from Norwich CIOB Chair
• 09:45 - Talk from CIOB regarding Principal Contractor Scheme
• 10:00 – Presentations from suppliers
• 10:45 - Comfort Break
• 11:00 – Presentations from suppliers
• 11:30 - Presentation from Concertus & Pentaco regarding the deisgn and construction of Suffolk County Councils first Net Zero school in Lakenheath.
• 12:15 – Q & A
• 12:30 - Finish

Speakers

Laura Morris De'ath | LinkedIn - Concertus - Building Design + Property Consultants

Karen Settle | LinkedIn - Concertus - Building Design + Property Consultants

Christopher Leggett MCIOB | LinkedIn - Pentaco Construction | 'Building Better Together'

Alex Nielsen EngD | LinkedIn

In my talk, I will explore how corrosion and premature degradation of door hardware create avoidable embodied carbon in the built environment. Frequent replacement drives additional manufacturing, transport and reprocessing emissions. I will outline how Armasmart, a highly durable and corrosion-resistant surface technology developed by Armadillo, significantly extends the service life of steel hardware, keeping materials in use for longer and reducing lifecycle carbon impact. I will also discuss its antimicrobial performance for high-touch surfaces and how Armadillo’s wider non-toxic, environmentally responsible coating technologies contribute to both sustainability and public health. The central theme is – durability is a carbon strategy, and extending material life is one of the most effective ways to reduce embodied emissions in construction.

https://www.armadillomc.com/

Contact

Sarah Catherall

Member Services and Events Coordinator - Eastern

[email protected]

How can we help you get the most out of this event? We want to ensure accessibility for all of our members. Please contact us in confidence prior to attendance and we will do our best to answer any questions and support any additional needs you may have.

This learning activity can contribute to your annual CPD return and should be logged accordingly.