One Embankment Place, the Terry Farrell-designed air-rights building over London’s Charing Cross station, has recently been refurbished and given a 96.31% BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Outstanding score.
This tops the 95.16% given last month to the new One Angel Square building in Manchester, built by BAM for the Co-op.
One Embankment Place is now the head office of accountancy firm PwC, which commissioned a re-fit for the nine-storey, 450,000 sq ft building. The project involved a complete office refurbishment as well as full central plant replacement in the basement areas, roof and terraces while some 2000 staff remained in occupation.
PwC engaged a BREEAM AP and energy modelling specialist at RIBA stage B to develop options for achieving its target high BREEAM rating. The programme included installation of biofuel combined cooling heat and power (CCHP) with adsorption chillers using biofuel sourced from locally collected and refined waste vegetable oil. The biofuel is certified to EN14214 making it a clean carbon neutral resource with A rated energy performance.
Other features include:
- Green walls and landscaped garden planting
- Waterless urinals and low flush toilets
- Comprehensive metering strategy and building management systems (BMS)
- Interactive screen in reception confirming building energy usage
- Responsible sourcing of 95% of materials used within the construction, with an ISO 14001 certificate as a minimum
- Staircase installed within the atria to promote vertical movement without the use of lifts
'The impressive BREEAM score for this iconic building shows just how much can be accomplished,' said BREEAM director Gavin Dunn. 'The project is a fantastic testament to PwC's determination to achieve a high rating and to the project's innovative and highly committed delivery team.'
The team involved in the refurbishment of One Embankment Place comprised:
- Overbury – main contractor
- TP Bennett – architect
- Turner & Townsend – project manager
- Chapman BDSP – building services
- Arup – structural engineer
- Lloyd Bore Associates – ecologist.
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