254,879 sq ft
of office, leisure and retail space
BREEAM
outstanding
407
tonnes of carbon saved annually
Creating two landmark buildings in the heart of Leeds City Centre.
The project consists of two blocks, which are 10 and 11-storeys high respectively, that sit above a shared one-level basement and are joined by a link bridge.
The two buildings form part of the wider Wellington Place development, one of the most prestigious city centre business quarters in Europe that is helping to regenerate the city’s West End.
The intention of the design was to set new standards for sustainability and energy efficiency.
11 & 12 Wellington Place was designed not only to be BREEAM Outstanding, but to be the first building outside London and the fourth in the country to achieve an excellent five-star NABERS design-reviewed target rating for energy and operational efficiency, with net zero embodied carbon.
The solutions
Minimising the reliance on fossil fuels and reducing energy demand was key to meeting the buildings’ enhanced design demands.
The decision eliminated gas from the buildings and provided an all-electric solution. Fundamental changes to the MEP systems included the use of a reversible air source heat pump system to replace gas fired boilers, as well as air-cooled chillers to eliminate fossil fuel use.
Our approach
Other sustainable design solutions included a triple glazed façade to minimise heat loss, a highly efficient curtain walling with air permeability of 2 m3/(h m2)@50Pa, and high efficiency ventilation systems.
700m², roof-mounted solar photovoltaics (PV) will generate the equivalent annual electricity of more than 42 homes, saving a forecasted 407 tonnes of carbon annually and will mean the building is run entirely on electricity generated from onsite PV and electricity from a renewable energy tariff, meeting the requirements of UKGBC net zero carbon operational energy standard.
Smart building controls incorporate lighting and access control systems to reduce energy demands. A dedicated, real-time energy management and metering system will feedback operational energy information to a smart building platform, accessible via a mobile app, that also provides tenants with control over heating and lighting.
The clever steel frame design reduces embodied carbon by offering large spans that reduce the need for concrete columns and the number of piles.
Sustainability at its heart
The use of offsite manufacturing for the frame also reduced carbon during construction. The use of cellular beams has made the building lighter and more cost-effective, requiring shallower foundations and consequently shortening the programme.
Onsite sustainability measures included cycle storage for workers, PV panels to provide energy to the onsite cabins, and closed loop recycling so the fall protection is recycled and sent back to the factory to be redistributed to other sites.
The wider benefits and impact
11 & 12 Wellington Place has set a new standard for future-proofed sustainable office development. It is the most sustainable building in Yorkshire and one of the most sustainable in the UK as a whole.
It is the first outside London and fourth in the country to achieve an excellent five-star NABERS design-reviewed target rating for energy and operational efficiency.
The buildings’ intelligent design, fabric-first approach and extensive use of solar power also means it will be net zero carbon in use and has achieved a design stage BREEAM Outstanding rating.
11 & 12 Wellington Place
Sustainability at its heart
11-12 Wellington Place HVAC
11-12 Wellington Place internal frame
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