Post-modern green
A prominent post-modern building, once so leaky it couldn’t be sufficiently pressurised to get a reading. Tired, awkward, unloved, and with a fountain that stank of chlorine – it is now one of the world’s greenest.
📍Location
🏢Building Details
Original building from 1990 – refurb completed 2013
9 storeys, 450,000 sq. ft.
4,500 people sharing 3,150 workstations
Winner 2014 BCO Best Recycled/ Refurbished Workplace
👷🏾♀️Developer & Contractor
Paul Harrington – Former Real Estate Director at PwC
Chris Booth – Group Managing Director at Overbury
Tom Osmond – Senior Construction Manager at Overbury
✍️Architects & Engineers
Cristiano Testi – Principal Director at tp bennett
Peter Cummings – Director at Turner & Townsend
Darren Coppins – Former Head of Sustainability at ChapmanBDSP
Rebecca Boorman – Former Associate at ChapmanBDSP
Julian Bore – Managing Director at Lloyd Bore
🌱Sustainability
EPC A + BREEAM Outstanding (96.31%) = world record at the time
Tri-generation cooling, heating + power plant: fuelled by waste vegetable oil collected and locally refined by Olleco; bio-fuel assessed and certified by London South Bank University
Emits 40% less CO2 than comparable buildings; 20% of heat and 60% of energy produced on-site = project cost paid for itself within 4 years
95% of materials responsibly sourced + 96% of construction waste was diverted from landfill
🥦 Wellbeing
Cellular offices replaced with large, uncluttered floor plates open to the atriums – allowing natural light to flood in
Paints, varnishes and carpets all low volatile organic compound content – guaranteed by dedicated supplier manager
Multiple external terraces planted with herb beds and green walls
🎈Bonus feature
Sandwiched by major station, hotels, residential blocks, and theatre, it is in one of London’s most congested areas. There was only 100mm clearance to get the tri-gen plant inside: a real feat. Plus, it was refurbished while in occupation – “like doing open-heart surgery on a marathon runner, while they’re running a marathon!”, as described by a project manager.
