The refurbishment transformed the historic office building into a high quality, sustainable CAT A workspace, with a retrofit first approach. Preserving significant elements of the existing structure to minimise embodied carbon, the works included amendments to the existing shopfront, new windows to the rear façade, and the extension of the core staircase and lift to roof level to facilitate the new rooftop terrace.

BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification achieved - a major accomplishment for a retrofit project.

EPC ‘A’ rating, demonstrating great operational energy efficiency.

Targeting Net Zero Carbon.

Key sustainability features that contributed to the BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ score include:

• • Optimised daylighting across all office floors to reduce reliance on artificial lighting and promote wellbeing;

• • Water saving measures such as flow control devices that reduce water consumption by 55%, an irrigation system for planters to reduce unregulated water use, and leak detection systems to prevent leaks and wastage; and

• • Significant material retention and re-use across the project (external walls, core internal brickwork, stair cores, and structural slabs, handrails, external doors, original terrazzo flooring retained and reused, front entrance wooden door and glazing preserved, and 370m² of reclaimed timber flooring repurposed for projects in Essex, Scotland, and a showroom in Winchester).

Alex Rich, Project Associate, BEAM