🟩 GreenBricks Building of the Week 🟩 One Angel Square

Sliced-egg green

One of the largest to ever achieve such green credentials, this building is not about environmental add-ons or eco-bling wind turbines: sustainability is truly integrated into the structure.

📍Location

Manchester, UK

🏢Building Details

• 16-storey, 3-sided triangular structure – 325,000 sq ft

• Completed Feb 2013, for Co-operative Group’s new HQ

• Nicknamed the ‘sliced egg’ due to distinctive shape

👷🏾‍♀️ Developer & Contractor

• Ian Fleming – Director @ BAM

• David Pringle – Property Director @ The Co-operative Group

✍️Architects & Engineers

• Nab Speakes – Director @ 3DReid Ltd

• Gosia L. – Associate Director @ 3DReid Ltd

• Anna Wendt – Partner @ BuroHappold

• Paul Richardson – Principal @ BuroHappold

• Mark Phillip – Partner @ BuroHappold

• Jason Gardner – Director @ BuroHappold

🌱Sustainability

• EPC A+, BREEAM Outstanding (95.3%) = world-record at the time

• Fully glazed double skin façade with louvred panels – insulates in winter and facilitates ventilation in summer

• Cogeneration heat and power plant uses biofuel and rapeseed oil, sourced from local Co-op farms = energy-plus building

• Heat recovery from IT systems helps to heat building

• Greywater and rainwater recycling systems for toilet flushing + irrigation

🥦 Wellbeing

• Integration into public transport links, easily accessible by cycle routes; 105 on-site bike stands

• Soaring open atrium flooded with natural light; reflected by white painted concrete reduces need for artificial lighting from 500 to 330 lux

• Roof top and extended public area planting

• Construction involved a high level of community engagement: 900+ people benefitted from on-site training, engagement with 1,000+ students, and 54% of workforce from Greater Manchester area

🎈Bonus feature

It’s future proofed against temperatures forecasted for 2050 – meaning it can cope with a potential 3-5 degree increase plus 30% more rainfall. The building becomes more efficient as global temperatures rise. Now that’s forward-planning.

🔗 Check it out

https://www.3dreid.com/project/one-angel-square/