Welcoming young people to visit construction sites can lead a lasting positive impact and inspire them into the industry. This week, we took part in Open Doors in partnership with Kier Property, to provide insights to young people on what goes on behind the scenes of a live construction site.
We’re currently on site at 19 Cornwall Street in Birmingham, transforming the 139,000 sq ft building into an exemplar net zero carbon in operation, smart-enabled office building for Kier Property. The redevelopment is seeing the creation of a central atrium, interactive breakout areas and a planted, communal roof terrace. There will also be a 150-space car park with electric vehicle charging points, a multi-functional studio, 74 cycle spaces and changing rooms.
Open Doors is a week-long event delivered by Build UK, which enables people to visit construction sites and workplaces across Great Britain and see the range of careers available in the industry.
Not only were we joined by fantastic groups of students and the public throughout the week, we were also pleased to welcome Julie White, the chair of Build UK, the managing director of D-Drill & Sawing, and the industry’s representative on Government’s Small Business Council, to 19 Cornwall Street.
Julie said: “I was thrilled to be in Birmingham on the first day of Open Doors 2024 and I am proud to be supporting such an incredible initiative.
“For many years, I have been talking about what a wonderful industry construction is and what amazing career opportunities it offers, and there is no better way to do that than by letting people see it in action.
“Through Open Doors, we actually get to show people what goes into the construction of a new building or piece of infrastructure and the difference that it makes economically and socially.
“As an industry, we need 50,000 new recruits a year and, by showing the thousands of people who have signed up for Open Doors what we do, we can make a real difference and demonstrate that there is a career in construction for everyone, whatever their skills and interests.”
Jayne Anderson, Social Value Manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “We are proud to be a partner of Open Doors. It is a terrific initiative that enables a whole new generation to learn more about construction and the positive difference it can have on people’s lives. We hope that everyone who visited 19 Cornwall Street gained an insight into the many career opportunities the sector has to offer.”
Tom Gidlow, Employability Tutor at University College Birmingham, added: “As good as classroom education can be, it can never be an adequate replacement for going out and seeing the theory becoming a practical experience. For our students, it is about believing and seeing themselves in a place of work and seeing what their achievements can lead to.”
To find out more about how we work with students and young people to inspire them into the world of construction, click here.
Progress continues to be made towards a sustainable built environment that not only supports the wellbeing of occupiers but helps to tackle the climate crisis too.
Building owners, managers and developers have more sustainable options available to them than ever before, with a wide range of accreditations in the marketplace. The challenge is in identifying which one is right for your building.
As part of our sustainability series, we’ve taken a closer look at WiredScore, a certification for tech-enabled and future-ready buildings.
What is WiredScore?
WiredScore certification was developed in the US in 2013 as a means of recognising and promoting best-in-class, digitally connected buildings. It does so by measuring the quality and resilience of the digital infrastructure of a building, as well as its mobile coverage, choice of internet service providers, and whether the building’s critical digital infrastructure is safe and secure from physical damage.
Certification ensures that a building has the infrastructure in place to adapt to future technological advancements.
Why is WiredScore popular?
WiredScore is attractive to owners, developers and landlords as it can significantly differentiate a property from others in the marketplace.
Internationally recognised, it provides a clear understanding of a building’s technology capabilities, removing any doubts or barriers for potential tenants. It also provides a competitive advantage by showcasing a property’s commitment to technological excellence.
What are the benefits of WiredScore certification?
WiredScore certification delivers a range of tangible benefits:
- Ensures that a development is technologically forward-thinking and ready to attract the next generation of business tenants.
- Enables building owners and managers to understand, improve, benchmark, and promote a building’s digital infrastructure.
- Helps to future-proof a building.
- Supports efforts to improve a building’s efficiency, saving time, energy and waste.
Furthermore, by optimising design during the planning and construction phase of a development, building owners and managers can attract new tenants, avoid future retrofit costs, and enhance the building’s reputation.
How are WiredScore projects assessed?
WiredScore assesses projects in various five key categories. They include:
- Future readiness: does the building have the flexibility and capacity to adapt to new technology?
- Power of choice: do several high-speed fibre providers service the building, offering competitive pricing?
- Reliability: is there evidence of infrastructure planning which could mitigate potential outages?
- Security: is critical equipment protected from accidental or environmental disruption?
- Tenant experience: are the building’s tenants provided with a seamless digital connectivity experience?
The process is repeated every two years, or until the building is 60% leased. It is possible to arrange an audit prior to certification, giving owners, developers and landlords the opportunity to implement suggested improvements.
How are WiredScore projects scored?
WiredScore certification uses a points-based system which ranges from 0-100. A project earns points based on its results and performance, which leads to four distinct certification levels: Qualified, Silver, Gold, Platinum.
- Platinum
This is WiredScore’s highest-awarded mark and confirms that a building fulfils requirements for the quality of its wired facilities, durability, and wireless network. Platinum award-winning buildings must attain a predefined technological degree or more during the evaluation process.
- Gold
WiredScore Gold ensures that a building has the connection ability for almost any type of user, with a proven capability for staying up-to-date with the electronic demands of modern-day life.
- Silver
WiredScore Silver buildings must contain business-critical connection features. The most frequently granted score, WiredScore Silver provides assurance that a building can meet the substantial bulk of occupants’ technology requirements.
- Qualified
A WiredScore Qualified award proves that a building delivers satisfactory levels of digital connectivity, and is capable of meeting most technical needs.
Take a look at our WiredScore projects
Our construction specialists can support customers in achieving building compliance and certifications. Recent projects include:
- 10 Brindleyplace, Birmingham – WiredScore Platinum
- 5 St Philips Place, Birmingham – Targeting WiredScore Platinum
- 19 Cornwall Street, Birmingham – Targeting WiredScore Silver
Pictured Above: 10 Brindleyplace, Birmingham – WiredScore Platinum
With COP28 on the horizon, organisations are increasingly looking at ways to raise ambition and accelerate action towards decarbonisation.
The key question remains how best to achieve it.
We believe climate change can only be achieved by a collaborative response, which is why we work with our customers to help streamline the decarbonisation process.
Take our Decarbonise Today service for example. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of your estates and objectives, we can assist in crafting a feasible and practical plan that will reduce carbon emissions.
We make it as easy as possible to implement, so that the plan can quickly begin to deliver tangible results.
This year we’ve hosted multiple roundtable discussions on the topic of decarbonisation. They have brought together customers and consultants to identify the main obstacles towards achieving net zero and looked at how to overcome them.
Recently, we held a roundtable in London in partnership with Procurement Hub. It focused on the challenges in transitioning to a lower carbon estate through refurbishment programmes and how to meet the commitments enshrined in legislation.
Here are some of the key takeaways:
The need for a more coherent approach to sustainable infrastructure
Strategic infrastructure planning is crucial. There is a huge emphasis on the need for a robust national framework that includes the National Grid’s capacity to accommodate new connections and future electricity demands. This will demand strong leadership from the government and the involvement of combined authorities.
However, it’s equally important to recognise the potential for local authorities to lead regional initiatives, such as low carbon heat networks for example, and localised electricity generation and storage projects. These initiatives allow local authorities to unite strategic partners and communities to drive sustainable solutions at a local level.
Exploring embodied carbon and whole life cycle approaches
Much of our discussion revolved around embodied carbon, with a notable development being RICS’ whole life carbon assessment standards for the industry. While there was a consensus that the standards are not yet perfect, they are viewed to be a positive step forward. User feedback and experience can support RICS in reviewing and refining these assessment tools in the future.
Conversations with customers and consultants have highlighted the significance of carbon credits in measuring additionality, and the growing openness of some insurance companies in covering timber structures due to their lower embodied carbon footprint.
The financial aspect
It is important to recognise that financial restraints present a significant challenge on the journey to decarbonisation.
The targets set by the government ask all industries to think and act differently. Greater modernisation is required to support the transition to net zero and current economic models do not fulfil the need.
It’s also critical that building owners make best use of their own resources by incorporating energy efficiency and decarbonising measures into their main capital programmes – and many are already doing so.
Additionally, the availability of grant schemes for public sector organisations and other measures that can reduce operational costs, mean there is a need to look at capital expenditure and revenue budgets in a holistic way.
Shared learning and striving for excellence
As decarbonisation is a relatively new challenge with ambitious targets, it’s important for the construction industry to share its learning more widely.
Digital Twin Models allow proposed interventions to be modelled against different scenarios and uses. It means that we can assess the impact of changes of use during the lifetime of a building, future proofing investment decisions and increasing operational efficiencies. Third party reviews ensure that processes are correct and as good as they can be.
Feedback on how buildings are performing is vital for continual improvement. One suggestion made at our roundtable with Procurement Hub, was that this kind of information should be built into contracts, so that designers, consultants and contractors are aware of the outcomes and can help identify useful adjustments. This can also support in achieving operational efficiencies, designing intuitive controls and further educating operators.
There was an acknowledgment of the challenges regarding systems that are already in place. In line with government policy, there was widespread agreement at our roundtable that it is preferable to make changes when systems are at the end of life.
There was also acceptance of the need to consider carbon reduction alongside financial savings. Low carbon will not always be the cheapest option but it will deliver long-term sustainability benefits and can in turn reduce a building’s lifetime cost.
Start your decarbonisation journey
It’s clear that decarbonisation needs a whole system approach.
Carbon calculators need to be used to determine what saves carbon, and businesses need to move away from focusing too much on financial payback.
Although net zero brings with it ambitious targets, this is a journey that we are all embarking on.
If you would like to discuss decarbonisation please contact us.
Willmott Dixon Interiors’ green-focused trainee challenge has been honoured at this year’s London Construction Awards.
‘The Power of Green’, which focused on creating accessible green spaces for local communities, has won the Excellence in Community Engagement award at a glittering ceremony in London.
The challenge was led by assistant design coordinator, Abi Inskip, who managed a team of 18 trainees tasked with investing in environmentally sustainable projects in London’s Waltham Forest and Alum Rock in Birmingham. Projects were also designed to educate people on the importance of accessibility and inclusion within the built environment.
Above: Abi Inskip with the London Construction Award
Abi has since led the roll out of our Building Green legacy programme, continuing an investment in the creation of accessible green spaces. Building Green is split into two branches: Building Green Lives, working in schools, universities, community centres and youth clubs to promote the construction industry and green skills; and Building Green Spaces, working alongside project delivery teams to create accessible outdoor community spaces.
Abi said: “It was a true privilege to lead the trainee challenge and make such an impact on multiple communities. It was amazing to see the transformation we made to the spaces and I’m proud to be continuing the legacy of this initiative with the Building Green programme.”
Bev Williams, director and responsible for trainees, Willmott Dixon Interiors, added: “We are hugely proud that our fantastic trainee challenge has been recognised and are incredibly proud of Abi and the efforts of our trainees in investing into local communities.”
Above: Our trainees and team that were involved in the project collecting the award
‘The Power of Green’ – a snapshot of our award-winning trainee challenge projects:
Walthamstow:
- Project Zero – a centre supporting reduction in violent crime, working with local young and unemployed people, and refugees. We engaged in careers fairs, decorated a previously empty car park on site, and painted brick walls ready for a local artist to create a mural. We also added planters and benches for visitors who can now use the previously disused bus for internet access for activities such as access to the debt service, job applications or arranging visas. Internally, we decorated a room which will be used to host sessions on sexual and mental wellbeing, drugs/alcohol awareness, and first aid. We continue to work with Project Zero on a new programme to improve racial equality within the construction industry and promote careers to the next generation.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are pictured in the internal room we decorated during a recent visit.
Above: Internal room our trainees decorated
- Langthorne Park – a pavilion run by the E17 toy library which helps low and supported-income families. We cleaned the amphitheatre and added planters to the outdoor area for growing fruit and vegetables. The kitchen area was also refurbished, allowing the delivery of cookery classes and supporting the charity’s aspiration of running a café to increase revenue.
Old kitchen appliances were shipped to Uganda to support a small family restaurant.
Above: Our trainees at Langthorne Park
- Lime Academy – a special educational needs school for ages 4-18. We transformed a large unusable open space into a school farm containing animal enclosures, over 35 planters, 6 bug hotels and a large sensory garden with level flooring. It provides outside space for many students who do not otherwise have access to a garden and/or family pets and allows for the curriculum to include agriculture lessons for students.
Above: The large field our trainees transformed into a school farm
Birmingham:
- Norton Hall – a community centre with a nursery facility that supports local young people including young mothers and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
We transformed the centre’s previously unusable, overgrown outdoor space into a memorial garden, with a quiet area for reflection and downtime. We also added benches and planters, removed undergrowth and cleaned graffiti, as well as delivering an associated landscape design competition for undergraduate students at Birmingham City University.
Above: Norton Hall’s memorial garden
Willmott Dixon Interiors delivered Birmingham’s largest office refurbishment, a £40m back-to-the-frame retrofit transformation of 10 Brindleyplace.
The vision of the project, which was developed by CBRE Investment Management, revealed a new, modern commercial office space with a focus on smart technology, sustainability and wellness, which would make it a desirable location for future occupants.
In line with Willmott Dixon’s 2030 ‘Now or Never’ sustainability strategy, the project has a strong emphasis on sustainable design and occupier wellness. The building meets Net Zero targets in operation with an EPC A rating (which exceeds Government requirements for 2030) and is on target to achieve a BREEAM rating of Excellent, WiredScore Platinum and is Birmingham’s first building to achieve Fitwel 2 stars accreditation, a standard that measures occupant health and wellbeing.
The project design achieved BREEAM points for its indoor air quality plan, low carbon design, energy efficient lighting, safe walking paths to public transport hubs, the provision of cycling facilities, and efficient water consumption.
Other key achievements of the project include:
- Optimised passive design and an all electric plant have achieved a 60% annual reduction in energy savings compared to a typical office of equal size.
- The existing building foundation, basement, and structural frame have been retained, which has enabled significant savings of almost 60% on embodied carbon when compared to creating a new development, according to a projected 60-year building life cycle assessment, led by the Venture team.
- 53% operational carbon reduction, compared to pre-refurbishment and savings of 658 tonnes of CO2 per year.
- Performance is aligned with UK’s net zero trajectory, exceeding 2025 interim performance targets.
- During the project, 100% of construction waste was diverted from landfill, either to be reused on other projects or recycled.
Sustainable design
The design of the redeveloped 10 Brindleyplace has drawn on thermal insulation, air tightness, glazing ratios, and glass specifications to reduce heating and cooling demands, thereby saving energy, operational costs, and carbon.
Our project team added a completely new energy efficient external façade system clad in a brick slip. More than 245,000 bricks have been installed on the project – covering an approximate area of almost 40,000 sq ft – which has delivered ten times the thickness of insulation, without any loss of net internal area which is a major contributor to the elevated EPC A rating.
The need for gas and fossil-fuels has been removed, instead utilising all-electric heating, cooling and hot water systems. The system will be powered by renewable green energy, delivered in part by on-site solar PV, helping to reduce operational costs.
Biodiversity
Following the implementation of an ecologist’s recommendations, the ecological value of the site has been safeguarded, with effects on biodiversity minimised through a five-year landscape and habitat management plan.
A green wall and green roof have been implemented along with beehives and biodiverse planting in line with expert recommendations. These all play a significant role in enriching our urban landscapes, making the space environmentally friendly and improving health and wellbeing of the building occupants. In addition, rainwater harvesting provides water for irrigating the building’s green features and flushing its toilets.
Smart Technology
Every element of the plant works within the building is connected through a common smart platform, deployed by Smart Spaces, from the heating and ventilation to the lighting and access control. This 3D digital model forms a digital twin of the building, enabling real time control and monitoring, which enhances performance and reduces energy wastage, which makes 10 Brindleyplace one of the most technologically advanced office buildings in the country. The building has achieved WiredScore Platinum certification, supporting data connectivity and off-site server options, also reducing onsite power demand.
The strong focus on sustainability and occupier wellbeing has also led to the delivery of enhanced amenities within the refurbished building, including a fitness studio and bouldering wall; cycle storage for 100 bicycles; electric vehicle charging; and two communal landscaped roof terraces.
It all means that 10 Brindleyplace will truly set a new benchmark for the reinvention of existing office space in Birmingham.
Find out more about the project here.
You might be aware of some of the sustainability accreditations available in the marketplace but which one is right for your building? As part of our sustainability series, we’re unpacking the features, benefits and assessment criteria of each accreditation.
Our latest article focuses on NABERS, a world leading environmental performance rating tool for commercial buildings.
What is NABERS UK certification?
The original NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) rating programme was established by the Australian government in 1998.
NABERS ratings are used to assess and rate the energy efficiency and environmental impact of buildings. They consider factors such as energy and water consumption, waste management, and the quality of the indoor environment, to provide a more accurate understanding of how much energy an office uses in practice.
The widespread use of NABERS energy ratings in Australia has been a major factor in improving the performance, cost of ownership and carbon emissions of both existing and new-build commercial office space. It is also strongly linked to increased market value and rental premiums compared to equivalent buildings without a NABERS rating.
NABERS UK certification is an adaptation of the original programme. A simple, comparable, performance-based rating system, it is used to inform engineering design and introduce energy efficiency measures that help bolster the energy performance of office buildings, including during operational use.
NABERS UK offers two products:
- Energy for Offices: This system is for an existing building(s) and provides a NABERS UK energy rating based on its measured operational impact on the environment.
- Design for Performance (DfP): This is a framework process implemented during the design stage. It ensures commitment by the developer or owner to embed energy targets within design, procurement, and delivery. A DfP agreement is required where the targeted NABERS UK energy rating is 4 stars or above, and ensures that the project delivers against its target design expectations.
Why is NABERS UK popular?
NABERS is unique in its focus on ensuring that the ultimate energy performance of a building in use is aligned with its design, procurement, and construction.
For example, a building can be designed and modelled as being NABERS 5*, procured and built as 5*, and verified as 5* in use.
As NABERS UK measures and rates the energy use of offices, it helps building owners to accurately track and communicate the energy performance of their building, and identify areas for savings and improvements.
In addition:
- The scheme uses a simple star rating to communicate the efficiency of a building to a non-technical audience.
- Detailed rules and quality assurance procedures ensure that ratings are reliable and repeatable between different assessors.
- NABERS UK improves accountability through a separate assessment of the base building’s energy use, which is independent of the energy efficiency of a tenant’s energy needs.
- A rating demonstrates market leadership and enhances the reputation of a building, which in turn attracts premium tenants who want their offices to be energy efficient.
What are the benefits of NABERS UK certification?
Incorporating NABERS UK into the design of a building provides several benefits, including:
- Reduction in environmental impact: energy efficiencies are optimised through advanced simulation modelling, testing the design against a range of expected operational scenarios.
- Lower operational costs: particularly when compared with similar projects that are not registered for NABERS UK certification.
- Journey to net zero: certification requirements support NABERS UK projects in achieving net zero operational carbon emissions.
- Energy efficiency: helps deliver design intent for optimising energy use.
- Third party verification: 12-months data post-occupancy is independently verified as part of the NABERS UK certification process.
How are NABERS projects assessed?
NABERS UK is administered by BRE, which is responsible for the day to day operations of the scheme.
Early engagement with BRE is essential in establishing the type of assessment (i.e. for whole building, tenant or landlord areas).
A NABERS UK assessment occurs post-practical completion and is based on actual consumption data of the building’s end users.
All projects assessed for NABERS UK certification are required to meet the scheme’s assessment rules, which include:
- The Net Lettable Area of the assessment must align with the RICS Net Internal Area measurement.
- A correction adjustment for vacancies is applied as voids, so that only the occupied NLA is assessed in the rating.
- Lift shafts, fire stairs, plant rooms, car parks, common areas, toilets, and foyers are excluded from the NLA measurement and classed as an overhead to the productive capacity of a building (i.e. as they are essentially non-productive spaces in terms of accommodating tenants and earning rent).
- NABERS UK requires the customer to be involved from the outset of the project by initiating the pre-rating process with BRE Global, prior to the appointment of a NABERS UK assessor who will verify the rating.
- A NABERS UK accredited assessor must be appointed to demonstrate whether the operational energy usage has met the design intent for energy.
- The building’s performance over 12 contiguous months is supplied to the NABERS UK assessor, using data from utility bills, meter readings, and other sources.
- There is a minimum threshold for post-occupancy to proceed with a NABERS UK assessment.
- A minimum number of intensive energy simulation scenarios need to be modelled to inform the design development.
How are NABERS projects scored?
NABERS UK delivers a rating for buildings from one to six stars, with a scoring system that works in a similar way to the energy efficiency ratings for white goods such as fridges and washing machines.
It provides a benchmark for progress, helping building owners to better understand their building’s performance when compared to other similar buildings.
A six-star rating is classed as ‘world leading’ and demonstrates that significant efficiency measures have been incorporated to reduce consumption and, consequently, greenhouse gas emissions.
Take a look at our NABERS UK *projects
- Aspiring NABERS (rating level in design development): 5 St Philips Place, Birmingham
- Target NABERS 5 star rating: 19 Cornwall St, Birmingham
5 St Philips Place, Birmingham: Aspiring for NABERS rating
* Both projects are currently in construction/preconstruction.
Willmott Dixon Interiors has handed over a new state-of-the-art children’s audiology testing centre in Brighton ahead of schedule.
The fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor has completed the £2.1 million design and build project at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (RACH) on behalf of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex).
The new c.1,870 sq ft testing facility contains four purpose-built audiology booths, as well as new office space, a repair room and a vestibular room for balance and sensory testing.
It will allow the Paediatric Audiology Department to relocate from the adjacent Barry Building – which is earmarked for demolition – and integrate its existing services with the main children’s hospital.
Awarded by Procurement Hub Framework, the project saw the demolition and strip out of former administration and office areas at RACH to create space for the new centre. Willmott Dixon Interiors has installed new structural steel in the building, alongside new raised floors, fire doors and live services. Built to a high acoustic standard, finishes include acoustic vinyl flooring and acoustic ceilings throughout.
The 32-week project was delivered within a live, 24/7 hospital environment, and was completed two weeks earlier than programmed. The contractor achieved an outstanding Considerate Constructors Scheme score of 44/45, with zero complaints received during its delivery. Items including radiators, lighting and ceiling tiles have been salvaged for use elsewhere within the hospital, and 99% of construction waste was diverted from landfill.
Alongside the main works, Willmott Dixon Interiors carried out a coordinated series of social value activities, which saw careers events, work experience placements and more than 50 visits by local school and college students. Site teams raised over £3,500 for charity through initiatives including the Brighton 10K and donated 70 hours of time in volunteering with local good causes.
Graham Shaw, managing director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “Delivering a project of this size within a functioning hospital environment is never easy. We have also had to put strict dust control measures in place and navigate challenging site logistics throughout the duration of the build. We’re hugely grateful to our site teams, supply chain partners and staff and patients at Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital for enabling this project to be completed in a successful and sustainable way, and ahead of time.”
James Millar, deputy director of capital development and property at UHSussex, said: “The new children’s audiology testing centre delivers a world class environment for staff and patients in Brighton. Our paediatric audiology teams do a tremendous job in the assessment and management of children’s hearing and hearing devices. These new and modern facilities will enable them to provide a more streamlined service in a better, safer and more suitable environment.”
Clare Moore, client relationship manager (South) at Procurement Hub, said: “It is fantastic to see the relationship between UHSussex, Willmott Dixon Interiors and Procurement Hub develop further with the completion of this latest project. The Audiology department delivers vital services to children, the newly refurbished areas will provide a modern and welcoming environment for patients as well as an upgraded area for staff to continue delivering excellent services.
“Procurement Hub’s Major Projects Framework allowed the Trust and Willmott Dixon Interiors to engage compliantly and collaboratively at a very early stage, testing the project budget and programme through a robust viability appraisal before entering into a formal design and construction contract. With value for money being demonstrated throughout, we look forward to supporting the Trust in delivering future projects that are needed to support the overall Capital Plan.”
It is the latest project to be delivered by Willmott Dixon Interiors on behalf of UHSussex, following completion of works at Thomas Kemp Bridge and a two-storey modular extension of the Urgent Treatment Centre at Royal Sussex County Hospital. The contractor is currently building a new Urology Consulting Department at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.
Willmott Dixon Interiors has recently delivered the refurbishment of 10 Brindleyplace in Birmingham. The project combined 10 and 8 Brindleyplace into one building to create a single floor by floor open office space of 212,000 sq ft, over nine floors.
As part of the work, we carried out the Cat B fit-out of level 1, which is one of Birmingham’s largest available floorplates at over 27,000 sq ft, creating office space, kitchen area and quiet rooms along with the Cat B fit-out of the Ground Floor which includes the reception desk, break out areas, café space and event space.
The flexible workspace on Level 1 will be managed by Spacemade, which they have branded 10X and will provide private studios and co-working space for more than 500 people. The meeting rooms have been designed to have moveable sliding partitions to divide meeting space, creating flexibility. Podcast facilities are also available along with a coffee shop and roastery and a 2,000 sq ft auditorium and event space.
Sustainable design
We worked with Associated Architects to ensure the collaboration of design and delivery achieved a high end yet sustainable result to meet the customer’s aspirations.
The concept of the design is focussed on texture, pops of colour and natural elements. A palette of earthy and warm tones was used, which was complimented by the natural timbers and planting which are a strong feature in the overall project.
Marble and Brass are used subtly throughout to bring a high-end feel with floor finishes which includes barrier matting, terrazzo tiling, porcelain tiling, carpet tiles, vinyl and floor paint.
CAT B fit-out at 10 Brindleyplace: Warm tan leathers and timber elements with an injection of colour into the kitchen cabinets.
Creating a calming atmosphere
The reception picks up on organic forms through the feature seating and soft linear lines in the reception desk design. In the Breakout space, two pill-shaped teapoint bars will feature warm tan leathers and timber elements with an injection of colour into the kitchen cabinets. Alongside carefully selected elements of soft-seating, secluded seating booths in feature alcoves, bespoke partitions and panelling, and unique table details; the space will provide a variety of different working atmospheres suitable for every tenant of the space. Textured fabrics, rugs and planting are a strong feature across the project and lighting has been used to create welcoming spaces.
Cat B fit-out at 10 Brindleyplace: The concept of the design is focussed on texture, pops of colour and natural elements.
Focus on wellbeing, technology and sustainability
In line with Willmott Dixon’s 2030 ‘Now or Never’ sustainability strategy, the project has a strong emphasis on wellbeing, technology and sustainability. The completed building has achieved BREEAM Excellent, Wiredscore Platinum and is Birmingham’s first office building to receive Fitwel accreditation, a standard that measures occupant health and wellbeing.
In addition, smart building technologies has been deployed by Smart Spaces to provide real-time energy monitoring and enhance user experience, for building access and organising events. This will allow the building occupiers to have the ability to control the lighting and temperature within a specialised 10 Brindleyplace app which has been developed.
PIR lighting has also been used throughout which allows significant savings on energy bills.
Find out more about the project here.
CAT B fit-out at 10 Brindleyplace: Textured fabrics, rugs and planting are a strong feature across the project.
Our site team at our Inventa project in Oxford has embraced a sustainable waste-reducing initiative, transforming old pallets and scrap timber into practical planters and compost bins. This project has made remarkable strides towards recycling and reusing resources.
We are currently redeveloping two former retail warehouse units into world-class laboratory and creative office space at Inventa in Oxford.
Growing a Variety of Vegetables
Using seed packets, the team sowed a range of vegetables, including potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and various types of lettuce. The seeds were planted in Spring to allow them to come to life during the spring and summer months. This has been a cost-effective way of creating an impressive vegetable patch, showcasing how sustainable practises can be installed at an inexpensive rate.
Repurposing Pallets for Planters and Compost
To construct the planters, we re-used approximately 1-2 pallets for each one along with available scrap wood from the site. The composting bin required 2-4 pallets with timber off-cuts. The planters have been placed along the site hoarding, offering an uplifting sight for visitors.
Collaboration with GoGreen on Food Waste
At Inventa, we have collaborated with GoGreen in our sustainability efforts. Our food waste is collected regularly by the waste management service. Regular collections of our food waste ensures a positive impact on the environment, a reduction in waste, and supports our commitment to sustainability.
Committing to Reducing Environmental Impact
Our emphasis on recycling, reusing, and efficient gardening practices at Inventa has led to a reduction in waste and an improvement to the environment, a successful example of our sustainable and environmentally responsible practices on site. This is part of our wider Now or Never sustainability strategy to improve the environment and commit to reducing the impact the construction industry has on the planet.
Specialists from across the construction sector are investing their expertise in considering new and improved ways to design and build sustainable spaces.
While that offers a range of benefits for our health and wellbeing, the range of associated accreditations can be overwhelming.
We’re unpacking the basics of each of these sustainability certifications, including WELL Building StandardTM (WELL v2TM). We’ll take a close look at the features of certification, what benefits it may offer you and how your project will be assessed.
What is WELL certification?
The *WELL v2TM is a performance-based system that addresses specifying, measuring, monitoring and verifying features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing.
It is an evidence-based standard developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and focuses on the intentionality of design, construction, and operations of buildings to promote human health and wellbeing.
WELL certification is designed to complement other existing building green building programs such as LEED, by providing a framework that specifically addresses the health and wellness of building occupants.
*The WELL Building StandardTM is currently in version 2. Its scoring system is more flexible than WELL v1, motivating more building owners to seek certification.
Why is WELL popular?
The WELL Building StandardTM is detailed, thorough and established on the principles of being: globally applicable, equitable, evidence-based, customer-focused, technically robust, resilient.
The standard has minimal barriers to entry for intentionally designing spaces that nurture health and wellbeing.
The IWBI Governance Council upholds the integrity of the WELL Building Standard development process.
Each WELL feature meets four tenets outlined below:
- Evidence-based approach that links design, policy and built environment strategies to health and well-being outcomes.
- Verifiable through on-site assessments and testing of building performance.
- Implementable as demonstrated through WELL v1 and/or WELL v2 pilots.
- Presented for outside input by engaging with a diverse community of professionals, specialists, peer reviews and other 3rd parties, whose participation informs the development of WELL.
What are the benefits of a WELL certification?
The benefits of a WELL certification are being studied and reported.
One such study has been recently published in issue 224 of the Journal of Building and Environment 224 (2022) 109539. It found an increase in occupant satisfaction and perceived health, wellbeing, and productivity in WELL certified spaces, with features that improve air quality and minimise exposure to toxins (i.e. asbestos and mercury).
Once certified, a building can use the WELL certification to differentiate itself in the market, attract tenants or occupants who prioritise health and wellness, and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
How are WELL projects assessed?
WELL v2 projects are categorised for assessment in two main groups, established via ownership type of the project:
- Owner-occupied: the project is mainly occupied by the project owner (NB this may be different from the building owner).
- WELL Core: the project owner occupies a small portion of the project area and rents/leases most of the space to one or more tenants.
WELL is made up of ten concepts:
- Air
- Water
- Nourishment
- Light
- Movement
- Thermal Comfort
- Sound
- Materials
- Mind
- Community
Each concept consists of features with distinct health intents and criteria requirements. Features are classed as preconditions (these are universal and mandatory requirements for all projects) or optimisations (these are flexible and selectable requirements depending on the function, typology of the project, etc.).
The applicability of features within concepts to WELL core projects, depends on factors such as relevant population and project area.
How are WELL projects scored?
WELL assessments have a dynamic scorecard with a total of 100 points across ten concepts.
To achieve WELL certification, a project must achieve all the preconditions and meet specific performance criteria in each of the concepts.
Projects may earn no more than 12 points per concept. Ten additional points are available under the Innovation concept.
If a project earns more than 12 points in any concept, the additional points are counted toward Feature I01, provided the maximum points in the innovation concept have not yet been reached.
There are different levels of WELL certification:
- WELL Bronze Certification: 40 points; no minimum points per concept
- WELL Silver Certification: 50 points; minimum 1 point per concept
- WELL Gold Certification: 60 points; minimum 2 points per concept
- WELL Platinum Certification: 80 points; minimum 3 points per concept
Take a look at our WELL projects
- Targeting WELL Gold: 5 St Philips Place, Birmingham (completion expected in 2023)
- Targeting WELL Gold: 19 Cornwall St, Birmingham (currently in preconstruction phase)
CGI of the new reception area at 19 Cornwall Street that will be created.
Read more on other sustainability accreditations including: BREEAM and Fitwel.