Attenborough-approved green
The wildlife charity’s UK HQ and education hub brings the spirit of woodland inside. With its light-filled arched timber frame, you could well be stepping into a gigantic treehouse.
📍Location
🏢Building Details
40,000 sq ft., 2-storey low-rise
Completed 2013, following £5m donation in 2006
Office space for 300 workers + education hub + 150-seat auditorium
👷🏾♀️ Developer & Contractor
Richard Bartlett – Director @ Willmott Dixon
✍️Architects & Engineers
Mike Taylor – Principal @ Hopkins Architects
Pam Bate – Partner @ Hopkins Architects
Paul Hunt – Associate Partner @ Hopkins Architects
Patrick Bellew – Founder @ Atelier Ten
Andrew Weir – Director @ Expedition Engineering
Fred Labbé – Director @ Expedition Engineering
Alexi Marmot – Founding Director @ AMA Alexi Marmot Associates
Peter Chmiel – Director @ Grant Associates
🌱Sustainability
BREAAM Outstanding – uses 67% less energy than typical office
Built on brownfield carpark site = minimal disruption to natural environment
Construction ‘take-back’ scheme diverted 99% of waste from landfill
Passive design: natural ventilation (facilitated by red and green ‘traffic light’ system indicating when to open windows) + effective insulation
5,000+ sq ft of roof solar PV panels provide 20% of energy
Sustainable urban draining system (SUDS) – attenuates floods and creates wild wetland area attracting aquatic invertebrates
🥦 Wellbeing
Ample outdoor working + relaxation space: dedicated areas for employees to grow their own plants, fruit and veg
High ‘gridshell’ design roof: grid of timber beams dissected by rows of skylights lets natural light flood in
Egalitarian ‘deep-green’ hot-desk plan (includes CEO + Directors): clear-desk policy minimises clutter and maximises productivity
Sound-masking system generates subtle ‘white noise’, masking background chatter with soothing birdsong
🎈Bonus feature
It was opened on 1st November 2013 by Sir David Attenborough himself. He even helped plant one of their indoor fig trees. If it has Attenborough’s approval, it has ours.
🔗 Check it out
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