Central Saint Giles, Legal & General and Mitsubishi Estate Company's mixed-use development under construction on St Giles High Street WC2, London, has achieved a BREEAM "Excellent" rating for its offices. BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a building's environmental performance.
The scheme contains 392,000 ft² net of office space, in addition to 26,300 ft² of retail space and 109 private and affordable apartments. Given its size and density the award is a major achievement.
Biomass boilers will provide 80% of the heating and hot water for the offices and apartments, while 60% of rainwater and 100% of cooling tower discharge will be re-used for irrigation and for flushing toilets. Green roof terraces will soak up rainfall and contribute to biodiversity in the highly built-up area.
Legal & General's project director Simon Wilkes said: "The partnership is very serious about minimizing our environmental impact. We are creating what we believe is one of London's best buildings - an exemplar in not only the highest design specifications but also in its sustainability credentials."
Central Saint Giles will be acclaimed Italian architect Renzo Piano's first completed project in the United Kingdom. Stanhope is the development manager. Arup is providing engineering services, while Bovis Lend Lease is the construction manager.
Stanhope project director Mike Knowles said: "The development team has worked hard to make sure Central Saint Giles is an environmentally-friendly scheme that will make a positive contribution to this part of the West End. "Receiving BREEAM "Excellent" is no mean feat for a building of this size and we are very proud to have achieved it."
Source: BLJ Financial
