Royal approval for world’s most environmentally friendly building

The accolade comes on the day (14 November) that Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will tour One Angel Square and then unveil a plaque to mark the formal opening of the 14 storey building in the city centre.

The British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), an internationally acclaimed system of assessing buildings, gave One Angel Square, built by BAM Construction, a score of 95.16% - the highest ever awarded.

The unprecedented award comes as a result of the building’s many environmentally friendly features, which include power generated from crops grown on the Group’s farms; heating and cooling the premises by drawing air below the basement and redistributing it at the earth’s core temperature; and a double skin façade that acts as a ‘duvet’ to insulate the offices in the winter and ventilate it in the summer.

One Angel Square is phase one of NOMA, a major scheme to redevelop 20 acres of the northern part of Manchester city centre. The ten year programme will create a truly mixed use district, incorporating office space, residential, and leisure facilities.

Euan Sutherland, The Co-operative Group Chief Executive said: ‘From the outset the Group set very high aspirations for the green credentials of the new building but for One Angel Square to be recognised as the most environmentally friendly building in the world is a truly remarkable achievement. The visit today of the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh symbolises the completion of the building and one of the most significant UK construction projects in the past five years.’

Ian Fleming, director of BAM Construction, said: ‘The commitment of The Co-operative to build a truly sustainable building set us a challenge unprecedented in commercial buildings. To have achieved the goal with this BREEAM accolade is a testament to the genuinely collaborative approach between The Co-operative, BAM Construction, the designers 3D Reid, Buro Happold and all our partners. This synergy combined with new technology and traditional construction skills has created a world class building and a legacy for which the people of Manchester can be proud.’

Gavin Dunn, Director of BREEAM, BRE Global, said: ‘This achievement of the highest score ever under BREEAM reflects an ambitious vision and commitment from The Co-operative Group and their project team. They have created a highly sustainable, extremely low carbon space. An excellent working environment with deep green credentials.’

[This month the construction of The Co-operative Group’s new head office won BAM Construction’s Tony Grindrod, from Chester, a silver medal at the Construction Manager of the Year Awards.]