A new green Cardiff office has won a special recognition award from the Building Research Establishment (BRE) as the highest scoring BREEAM rated office at design stage. The architect's practice and occupant, Stride Treglown was presented with the award at Ecobuild on the 3rd March by Carol Atkinson, Chief Executive of BRE Global, for achieving the UK first BREEAM Outstanding office rating with a score of 89.12%. The project is now underway with completion due by July 2010. The building has been designed to accommodate over 50 staff, over two floors in an open plan studio arrangement linked by an open-tread staircase. The 500sq.m building will breathe new life into a former industrial development, which is being redeveloped into offices. It is located on a former industrial service yard that will also become the shared parking area for this office and the nearby NSPCC offices (also designed by Stride Treglown) opened at the end of 2009.

The wedge shape design responds to its orientation and site entrance arrangement, whilst the building’s section and materiality respond to the desire for an exemplar building in sustainability, minimising energy consumption, waste and providing renewables on site. It has achieved a Grade A Energy Performance Certificate rating of 22 and its predicted emissions are just 14.2kgCO2/m2 per annum.

This is a reduction of 55% of the target emissions allowed for under the Building Regulations (31.7kgCO2/m2 per annum) achieved using a wood pellet biomass boiler for space and water heating, and a small array of roof mounted photovoltaics. Energy efficiency is aided by the adoption of a natural ventilation strategy using BMS actuated windows in the walls and roof, providing fresh air during the day and cooling at night.

With an anticipated annual energy load of 18.3MWh/annum for space and water heating, annual running costs for the biomass boiler are anticipated to be as little as £700. Water usage will be minimised with the adoption of spray fittings, low water use showers and wc’s and ‘grey water’ recycling for toilets. The Contractor is required to agree to a strict Waste Management policy, minimising waste or recycling as much as possible as well as achieving a Considerate Constructors score of 36 or more.

There is little room for enhancing ecology on site, therefore the roof has been turned into a ‘nature roof’. A new ecologically valuable habitat, appropriate to the local area has been created with 24 different plant species together bat and bird boxes.

Cycle spaces, shower and drying facilities are included for cyclists and activity pursuits. Car share parking spaces are given priority and in total the provision is lower than normal standards. BRE Green Guide Grade A or A+ materials and forms of construction are being used throughout.

Gareth Davies, director of Stride Treglown, said: ”We are delighted that the BRE has recognised what we have achieved and it is our intention to maintain this standard when the building is evaluated upon completion. We shall be monitoring our energy and water consumption so that we can provide the BRE with data that can be shared to demonstrate best practice.”