19 June 2009
Landmark ‘green’ building to slash tenants’ running costs cut by a third
A showpiece environmentally- friendly speculative office building on Cardiff’s waterfront is set to save tenants over a third on running costs and dramatically reduce their carbon footprint say developers.
The ultra-green credentials of the landmark 3 Assembly Square building were outlined as Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson laid a brick to mark the completion of the highest point of the construction. She applauded the developers’ Aviva for their commitment to helping Wales achieve its targeted 3% carbon emissions reduction each year until 2011.
The 66, 250 sq ft building at the Cardiff Waterside estate has achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’ status, an environmental assessment which takes into account a building’s carbon emissions from drawing board to day-to-day tenancy and its carbon footprint has been monitored by construction firm BAM since work began on-site almost a year ago.
Designed by architects Scott Brownrigg and sustainability consultants Arup with environmental concerns to the fore, the Grade A flexible office space on Britannia Quay has green design features which will see energy, water, maintenance and replacement running costs slashed by 34% overall against a comparable office building.
For example, tenants at 3 Assembly Square will save 50% on water costs thanks to an underground water tank which harvests rain from the roof and distributes the inflow to serve toilets while energy costs will be cut by 35% due to a biomass boiler which heats wood pellets with the fuel lasting for six or seven weeks at a time.
The building also features cooling devices called chilled beams that circulate air using the principles of natural heat convection. Chilled beams are low maintenance as there are no moving parts, accessible and flexible and have a long-life cycle incurring reduced running costs.
Joy McSmythurs, partner at Knight Frank LLP, which acts as investment and asset manager for Cardiff Waterside said: “The topping out ceremony marks a milestone in the development of Cardiff Waterside. 3 Assembly Square is the first step in the next phase of 550,000 sq ft development we are planning for the estate, so it is important that the building sets high standards in terms of design and sustainability.
“3 Assembly Square is unique in that it can help tenants cut their carbon footprints while saving valuable pounds on a daily, weekly and monthly basis due to the considerably reduced running costs achieved through the inclusion of these green features.
“Cardiff is suffering from a shortage of Grade A office space and 3 Assembly Square will address this critical issue upon its completion in spring 2009. The building is a fully-flexible space and interest has already been high.”
“With a breathtaking waterfront location, easy accessibility, great local amenities and prestigious neighbours like The Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Waterside has the right mix to become one of the UK’s premier business locations.”
3 Assembly Square is the latest phase in Aviva’s £140 million investment at Cardiff Waterside. The development currently already includes 460,000 sq ft of superb office space over seven, flexible, contemporary buildings which are now almost fully let. Planning consent has been given for an additional 550,000 sq ft.
The commitment to the environment on the 3 Assembly Square site is part of a wider green policy adopted across the entire Cardiff Waterside estate. An eco-champion has been appointed by each of the 26 tenants, including blue-chip companies such as HBOS, Atradius and Regus, to ensure the estate’s impact on the environment is as low as possible.
The building will be a distinctive addition to the Cardiff Bay waterfront, with timber louvres and feature glazing creating a tapestry-like effect across the exterior of the building, highlighted by a free-standing brise-soleil screen. Inside there will be a full height atrium with staircase and lifts designed as a single sculptural form offering panoramic views across Cardiff Bay.