The Brief: The building is located on a brown field site bounded by an existing buildings and a side road in the suburbs of Edgbaston meaning that it’s design had to integrate with neighbouring buildings in a conservation area, yet also bring a new style of Architecture to the site to attract the tenant. A contemporary style, square building on columns with under-croft parking and two floors now provides 17,000ft² of accommodation. The development won awards for the BCO Midlands & East Anglia Regional Award and Midlands Insider Property Awards – Sustainable Development of the Year in 2007). 

The Engineering Difference: The use of up-flow ventilation utilised free cooling and provided a good quality of indoor air. Careful engineering of the south façade minimised solar gain and the north and east façades were engineered to provide optimum daylight. This was the first commercial building in Birmingham to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Key Aspects: 

• BREEAM Excellent rating
• Upflow ventilation utilises free cooling and therefore a good indoor air quality. The use of upflow ventilation that utilises free cooling and provides good Indoor Air Quality
• Engineering of the south façade, designed to minimise solar gain.
• Use of glass with a good shading co-efficient to balance with daylight factor
• Large areas of glazing on the north and east elevations and an atrium to provide excellent daylight factors
• Energy metering at all distribution points, monitored by the BMS against use trends

Value: £2.2m approx

Client: Calthorpe Estates 

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