10 Brindleyplace is a pioneering example of sustainable office space in Birmingham, the result of an innovative £40 million refurbishment, led by Willmott Dixon Interiors for CBRE Investment Management.
Aligned with our Now or Never targets to help keep global warming inside 1.5°C, 10 Brindleyplace exceeds government net zero targets for 2030. The customer’s emphasis on sustainable design means the completed project sets the standard for modern office space, achieving EPC ‘A’ rating and BREEAM ‘Excellent’ with a strong focus on sustainability, occupant wellness and smart technology.
By opting for a back-to-the-frame approach, rather than demolishing the old building, we helped the customer reduce embodied carbon in the project by around 60%. Redesign of the façade using a new energy-efficient brick slip cladding with 245,000 bricks covering almost 40,000 sq ft, which deliver ten times thicker insulation without loss of internal area.
This fabric-first approach to enhance thermal insulation, air tightness and glass specification means 10 Brindleyplace uses 65% less energy used than other offices of this size, saving 658 tonnes of CO2 per year. This supported our customer’s whole-life carbon vision, improving building performance and reducing maintenance and operation costs.
Fossil fuels have been eliminated and operational efficiency maximised through the all-electric heating, cooling and hot water systems, which are managed by a smart building platform, and on-site solar to generate renewable energy.
In line with Willmott Dixon’s aim to generate zero avoidable waste by 2030, 100% of construction waste was diverted from landfill to be reused or recycled.
Green walls and landscapes have been incorporated to enhance indoor air quality and provide a pleasant space for occupants. The building now embraces natural solutions, such as a green roof, which supports biodiversity and keeps the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter, and rainwater harvesting, which irrigates the building’s green features and flushes its toilets, reducing water consumption.
Designed to leave a positive environmental legacy, we have implemented a five-year habitat management plan for the building’s green wall and wildflower meadow on the roof, which includes beehives and biodiverse planting.
The project received a Platinum Wired Score award for its integration of technology and a Fitwel 2-star rating for bringing health and wellbeing benefits to occupants.
The project also left a positive legacy in the local community. To deliver social value through the project, Willmott Dixon Interiors ran ‘Building Lives Academies’ to provide employment opportunities for local people who face barriers to employment. Our efforts delivered a Social Return on Investment (SROI) of over £19 million.
Handed over in July 2023, the project navigated a range of challenges including regulatory changes post-Grenfell, and complications in material supply and supply chain failure exacerbated by Brexit and Covid.
Nick White, Director at CBRE Investment Management, said:
“This scheme really does set new standards in the Birmingham office market; the facilities and certifications align with our focus on sustainability, wellness and technology, creating office space which is both fit for today and the future needs of our occupiers.”
Deservedly, 10 Brindleyplace won ‘Green Building/Infrastructure Project of the Year’ at the edie Awards 2024.
