Topic Projects, Sustainability, Awards
Date 13 Oct 2022
The 280 Bishopsgate project has become Galliford Try’s first scheme to be awarded the WELL Core Platinum accreditation for its contribution to wellbeing.
The refurbishment project for Arax Properties, located in the heart of the City of London, achieved the highest possible accolade under the WELL Building Standard. As a performance-based system, the WELL Standard takes into account specific factors that impact occupier health and wellbeing through 10 concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community.
The scheme ensures that accreditation is maintained into the future, with letters of assurance required from building operators in order to ensure it meets the necessary standard going forward into the future.
Outdoor space within the building contains at least 25% landscaped grounds, and there are communal rooftop gardens and private terraces on each floor, in addition to an on-site wellness centre and luxury end-of-trip facilities. Testing of air and water quality throughout construction was conducted, and no recirculated air is used in the building to ensure improved air quality and maximised natural light.
In addition, the reduction or elimination of hazardous content, including the procurement of adhesives, paints and sealants, met the negligible / zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emission criteria, which takes into account the reduction of industrial emissions used in installations. The building's direct greenhouse gas emissions were significantly reduced by installing low-emission plant throughout, including roof mounted air source heat pumps.
The award comes after the building had already received a BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-out Outstanding rating, recognising its exceptional sustainability credentials, and 280 Bishopsgate is one of the first buildings in the UK to have achieved both standards.
In addition to the sustainability and wellness accreditations, 280 Bishopsgate has already achieved Wired Score ‘Platinum’ for the building’s connectivity, as well as a ‘Platinum’ Cycling Score rate. The development is also a smart building through Smart Space, meaning that it is app-enabled, allowing end users the flexibility to gain contactless entry, book workspaces or cycle parking, and have sectional control of the climate in their immediate area.
More information on the development can be found at helloduo.london
Bill Hocking, Chief Executive of Galliford Try, commented: “What a spectacular achievement for everyone involved to reach such a high standard for wellbeing and sustainability, particularly in a refurbishment project. I congratulate the team for delivering a fantastic project and look forward to taking the learning from this scheme forward into creating further cutting-edge commercial office spaces in the future.”