sustainable refurbishment

sustainable refurbishment

The Record Hall, Hatton Garden

Workspace transformed a former record depository to create 5,400m2 of modern office and studio space over six floors, with high-tech meeting rooms, a café and roof terraces offering views across the City. Located in the Hatton Garden Conservation Area, 14% of the scheme is designated for jewellery businesses, reflecting the area’s heritage as London's jewellery district. The Record Hall achieved BREEAM Excellent Design Stage, scoring particularly highly for transport, land use and ecology. The project team is now working towards Excellent for the Post Construction Stage (final).

Transport

  • Cycle facilities exceed BREEAM requirements, with 51 secure indoor cycle spaces, 54 lockers, six showers and changing facilities.
  • Travel Plan developed to encourage sustainable travel through information, facilities and incentives.
  • Highest possible rating on Transport for London's Public Transport Accessibility Level (6b), with Farringdon, Chancery Lane, Holborn, City Thameslink and Blackfriars stations all within walking distance.

Land use and ecology

  • 279m2 of green roof space added on two levels, with a 100% wildflower turf vegetation layer.
  • Habitats and planting designed to support regional and national biodiversity action plans, including the London Biodiversity Action Plan e.g. Leontodon autumnalis, a plant specific to a rare UK beetle, Olibrus flavicornis.

Health and wellbeing

  • All lighting specified in line with best practice guidelines for visual performance and comfort.
  • Lighting zoned and controllable in office areas, so occupiers can easily adjust light levels.
  • High frequency ballasts on all fluorescent lamps to reduce the risk of flickering.
  • Blinds with side cords on windows, so occupiers can control shading.
  • Improved air quality, with air intake designed to avoid key external pollution sources.
  • Good thermal comfort levels in office areas, with all office areas actively cooled.
  • Temperature controls in each occupied space, so levels can be adjusted for different users’ needs.
  • Reduced noise levels through insulation, outperforming BREEAM requirements.

Energy

  • Zero carbon energy from 85m2 array of 230W solar photovoltaic panels.
  • Low carbon energy from reversible air source heat pumps.
  • Energy efficient lifts that operate in standby mode during off peak and idle times, with variable speed drive motors and electricity generated by the lift movement returned to the site.
  • Extensive energy sub-metering, so the building team and occupiers can monitor and proactively manage energy use. Occupiers will be given logins to view their energy profiles directly.
  • Energy efficient internal and external lighting throughout, in conjunction with daylight sensors and presence detection to further reduce consumption.
  • Mix of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and natural ventilation to reduce emissions.

Water

  • Toilets with effective flush of three litres or less.
  • Taps fitted with two litres per min Eco spray outlet and showers not exceeding nine litres per minute.
  • Water metering and leak detection, so the building team can monitor and proactively manage consumption.
     


Materials

  • At least 80% of timber certified sustainably sourced.
  • At least 80% of key building elements responsibly sourced, as defined by the Green Guide to Specification, with A/A+ rated elements including plasterboard, steelwork and vinyl flooring.
  • Masonry brickwork façade retained, reducing lifecycle emissions.
  • Thermal insulation products with low embodied impact relative to their thermal properties, determined by the Green Guide to Specification, and responsibly sourced.
  • Exposed building and landscape areas protected to minimise the frequency of use of replacement materials.

Waste

  • Less than 6.5 tonnes or 12.9m3 of waste to be generated per 100m2 gross internal floor area – reducing waste through careful procurement (e.g. ordering precise quantities needed and purchasing plasterboard at 2.7m high to suit storey height) and use of prefabricated materials (e.g. precast brick faced panels).
  • At least 90% of demolition waste and 75% of construction waste (by weight) to be diverted from landfill, with all waste sent to a registered sorting station.
  • Onsite recycling facilities for occupiers in a central, dedicated space.

Management

  • Green leases covering heating, cooling, lighting, sustainable travel, alterations and data sharing.
  • Building User Guide to support occupiers in operating their areas efficiently.
  • 43/50 Considerate Constructors Scheme score, reflecting care about appearance, community, environment, safety and workforce.

Financials

  • £63,200 investment in the green roof.
  • £1,200 for BREEAM certificates.
  • Enhanced occupier appeal, contributing to rental income.
  • Reduced construction costs by retaining building structure and façade.
  • Energy cost savings for occupiers.

Benefits

  • Upgrading office space and adding 582m2 of café space and 279m2 of roof terraces.
  • Extending the building’s useful life.
  • Enhancing sustainability credentials, through BREEAM Excellent and an EPC score of B-26, up from C before the project.
  • Preventing exposure to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, which come into force in 2018.

Occupiers

  • Modern space designed for employee wellbeing, including improved thermal comfort, air quality and lighting.
  • Offices and studios that are efficient to operate, with cost savings through efficiency.
  • Roof terraces for people and wildlife to enjoy, with a mix of decking and biodiverse green space.
  • Facilities for cyclists to support active commuters.
  • BREEAM Excellent rating and features support occupiers’ sustainability credentials.
  • 65% estimated reduction in CO2 emissions in existing areas, compared to before the refurbishment.
  • 17.5% reduction in Part L CO2 emissions through PV panels and 3.8 tonnes annual CO2 savings
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