Orega, the flexible workspace provider is expanding its high spec flexible workspace at The Capitol Building, 431 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11. Orega originally signed a Management Agreement with landlords M&G Real Estate for 10,000 sq feet but given its success in filling this space, it has now embarked on a
Design changes have been submitted for Botanic Place, a new office scheme with planning permission being developed by Railpen and Socius, which will see the delivery of the most sustainable and intelligent workspace in the UK, outside of London. The amendments, which are currently under review by Cambridge City Council,
PLANNING permission has been granted for an innovative new bioscience facility in Nottingham, creating more than 245,000 sq ft of laboratory, office and meeting space designed by CPMG Architects. Forming the latest phase of work to the northern edge of The Island Quarter in the heart of Nottingham city centre
International property and construction consultancy Gleeds has recently completed the transformation of its Manchester office. The project was undertaken by workplace consultancy and interior fit-out specialists, Blueprint interiors and will allow the business to remain in its city centre location. Situated at Abbey House on Mosely Street, Gleeds opted for renovation as
Fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors has been chosen to lead the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Sanctuary Buildings in London. The Department for Education (DfE) has appointed the contractor to deliver the phased CAT B fit out of 12,850m2 across floors of the property in Victoria.
Barings Real Estate, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, and Industrious the highly regarded flexible workplace provider have announced that soaring demand for flex space in Manchester has resulted in the Industrious St Peter’s Square flex centre at Landmark Manchester being 86% occupied less than 18
Wates has started refurbishment works at Ada’s new London Victoria campus, transforming a former secondary school into a National College for Digital Skills. Established in Tottenham in 2016 to address the talent shortage and lack of diversity in the digital industries by creating a diverse pipeline of talent, Ada is
Works on Coal House, an ultra-green, next generation office space in Cardiff city centre, have now been completed after a significant redevelopment programme. Thought to now be one of the most sustainable offices in Wales, Coal House, on Dumfries Place, has undergone a huge transformation, resulting in a cutting-edge 30,000
European real estate investor to deploy Honeywell solutions across its commercial building portfolio in Romania and Poland to improve operational efficiency and support sustainability efforts Honeywell announced yesterday that Globalworth, a leading real estate investor in Central and Eastern Europe, has selected its connected technology to help increase operational efficiency,
Office blocks across London and beyond could hold one of the keys to helping manage energy costs and enable decarbonisation. In a pioneering new scheme run by UK Power Networks, a building in Central London is helping to reduce demand on the electricity network at peak times, by adjusting its
Orega, the flexible workspace provider is expanding its high spec flexible workspace at The Capitol Building, 431 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11. Orega originally signed a Management Agreement with landlords M&G Real Estate for 10,000 sq feet but given its success in filling this space, it has now embarked on a second phase, taking a further 5,000 sq ft which has now been launched. The flexible workspace has been newly refurbished to provide a total of 276 workstations on the first and fourth floors of the building for companies between 1 and 100+ employees. The Capitol Building is home to high end office space located in a city centre location with an attractive Art Deco grand entrance and reception area. There are breathtaking citywide views. It is near to the shops, hotels, and restaurants of Central Aberdeen and only a 10-minute walk from Aberdeen Railway station and 20 minutes from Aberdeen Airport. Funded by M&G Real Estate, the former theatre hall was comprehensively refurbished and extended in 2016 by Knight Real Estate and was subsequently recognised as City Regeneration Project of the Year in 2018 by the Scottish Property Awards, celebrating the positive impact on the city. It also won the British Council of Offices best commercial workspace in Scotland award in 2017. The listed façade and 1920s entrance halls were retained and incorporated into the new building, which has been awarded a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating for its exceptional green credentials. These include an automatic building management system for energy efficiency control and the provision of internal bike racks and changing facilities to encourage green commuting. Orega’s new workspace is designed to be a modern, flexible base catering for Aberdeen’s oil, professional and financial businesses, offering: • Design-led space focusing on hospitality. • A wide choice of different working zones • A large meeting room suite • More space per person than the industry norm • On-site shower and changing facilities. • Unlimited barista-quality coffee • Secure bike parking • Carparking It is the third flexible workspace for Orega in Scotland, where the company also offers space in George Street and Vincent Street in Glasgow. The company now offers flex space from 23 locations across the UK and is the UK’s leading provider of flexible workspace under Management Agreements (as opposed to leases). Lynsey O’Keefe Chief Operating Officer at Orega, commented: “Orega already had a strong presence in Aberdeen; we opened Phase 1 of The Capitol Building 100% occupied and this has led to us taking additional space. We are attracting much interest from a wide range of businesses who are increasingly looking for a flexible way to occupy very high-quality space that is also value for money, in support of the return to the office to work. This is a trend which shows no sign of abating in Scotland, as in the rest of the UK. John Duxbury, Head of UK Portfolio Asset Management at M&G Real Estate, added: “Through our refurbishment of The Capitol Building we have created much-needed Grade A, sustainability-led office space in Aberdeen that has led to new leases with Orega and Ryden in recent months. Our work at The Capitol Building continues our strategy of developing assets of scale in prime locations where we are able to enhance the built environment by delivering buildings with best-in-class ESG credentials that attract leading occupiers, enabling us the potential to deliver compelling returns for our investors.” M&G Real Estate is part of M&G plc’s £76.6 billion private assets and alternatives division*. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Design changes have been submitted for Botanic Place, a new office scheme with planning permission being developed by Railpen and Socius, which will see the delivery of the most sustainable and intelligent workspace in the UK, outside of London. The amendments, which are currently under review by Cambridge City Council, will significantly reduce the carbon impact of construction, improve energy efficiency, promote active travel with greater accessibility and priority for cyclists over cars, and enhance the volume of accessible shared outdoor green space. The minor material amendments were submitted to the local planning authority by means of a Section 73 planning application on Friday 26 May. Botanic Place, located next to Cambridge University Botanic Garden on Hills Road, has an existing planning consent for a new £500m, 500,000 sq. ft workspace scheme, designed by award-winning architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM). The workspace prioritises energy efficiency to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer whilst using 70% less energy than traditional office buildings and will be powered using renewable energy sources. Doug Higgins, Development Director, Socius said: “Through our conversations with the council and community over the past few years, it is clear that sustainability, green space and limiting vehicle congestion are of high importance in Cambridge. We are pleased to have submitted this Section 73 Application which we hope will position Botanic Place as the most sustainable and intelligent workplace in the city. “We thank people who have taken the time to engage with us on these amendments and we look forward to the council determining our application in the next few months.” The amendments to the plans will reduce construction time and disruption, lower vehicle traffic, and provide more public green spaces. The proposed changes include reducing the depth of the basement and delivering both buildings in one phase to shorten construction time by 21 months, increasing the amount of publicly accessible green space to over 2000sqm and an enhanced cyclist experience with two dedicated entrances placed in the centre of the scheme. In line with the City Council’s Climate Change Strategy, the new plans will also significantly reduce the number of car parking spaces available and increase the number of cycle parking spaces to over 1,500, encouraging active travel modes within the city. Richard Van Lente, Senior Asset and Development Manager, Railpen said: “The plans for Botanic Place have incorporated feedback from the local community and will see over 200 local jobs created, the development of cafes, restaurants, a market hall promoting healthy and sustainable local food and drink, alongside the existing public house which will be renovated. It’s an exciting project, within a thriving knowledge-led economy and a supportive local authority who share our commitment to sustainable development.” Botanic Place will drive economic and social value for the community by providing new amenities and employment opportunities, both in construction and operation. In addition, Railpen and Socius aim to contribute to the recovery of wildlife in the area by providing green spaces designed to nurture the natural habitats of native species. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PLANNING permission has been granted for an innovative new bioscience facility in Nottingham, creating more than 245,000 sq ft of laboratory, office and meeting space designed by CPMG Architects. Forming the latest phase of work to the northern edge of The Island Quarter in the heart of Nottingham city centre – led by developer The Conygar Investment Company PLC – the two buildings of the new development will be connected at the upper levels by a glazed link. To create a sleek and modern appearance, a materials palette of grey brickwork and off-white terracotta façade modules will be highlighted with gold metal plant screens and entrance surrounds. Meanwhile, clear glazing will be used for circulation spaces and ceramic-backed spandrels for fixed desks and laboratory benching. CPMG Architects served as the delivery architect for Phase 1A of work for The Island Quarter, including the now-iconic building housing hospitality venues Binks Yard and Cleaver & Wake, which completed in September 2022. Nick Gregory, director at CPMG Architects, said: “We have optimised the use of glazing influenced by the anticipated internal arrangements of the new biosciences facility, and to reflect the usage of the buildings. We have incorporated a DNA sequencing pattern into the brick detailing and on specific elevations, these sections of brickwork will also be up-lit by lighting positioned within the landscaping. “The designs also serve to break down any divide and give a natural transition between indoor and outdoor spaces through the inclusion of bi-fold doors that enable large sections of the ground floor to open into the wider landscaped plaza. “With the designs now approved by the city council, it takes Nottingham’s exciting overall story forward, helping to position the city as a leader in biosciences and large-scale development. It also, of course, marks another significant step in The Island Quarter’s progress and we look forward to continuing our relationship with The Conygar Investment Company PLC and the wider project delivery team to make the vision a reality.” External landscaping has been designed by Studio Egret West to echo the vision for the overall site, incorporating rainwater gardens and medicinal planting along with an ecology-focused street linking this latest phase of work with the rest of The Island Quarter. The planning permission was announced during a joint presentation by The Conygar Investment Company PLC and Nottingham City Council at UKREiiF, in a session that also revealed updates to the overall masterplan for the 36-acre site. Christopher Ware, property director at The Conygar Investment Company PLC, said: “Gaining planning approval for the bioscience facility is a significant step forward for the continued regeneration of The Island Quarter. We are continuing to build momentum on site, and this phase will feed into the latest updates to the masterplan.” The adjustments to the masterplan – produced by Leonard Design Architects and Studio Egret West – include additional wooded and grassland areas, along with re-imagining of the streetscape throughout the eastern side of the site to improve access to the Victoria era warehouses. The scheme was submitted by Axis PED on behalf of The Conygar Investment Company PLC, with support from WES, Quartz Project Services, Studio Egret West, Tier Consult and Chord Consult. For more information, please visit https://www.cpmg-architects.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
International property and construction consultancy Gleeds has recently completed the transformation of its Manchester office. The project was undertaken by workplace consultancy and interior fit-out specialists, Blueprint interiors and will allow the business to remain in its city centre location. Situated at Abbey House on Mosely Street, Gleeds opted for renovation as opposed to relocation in order to retain its connectivity, giving its 80-strong staff more options to walk, cycle, or use public transport to get to work. The refurbishment forms part of a wider strategy to create a unified yet unique style for all Gleeds UK sites, delivering offices that reflect regional cultures and traditions. The new layout incorporates a relaxed, welcoming area for visitors, collaboration and break out spaces, relaxation zones, and a workplace café to promote healthy eating and wellbeing. Versatile desk, seating, and meeting room arrangements with access to the latest high specification video conferencing and digital technology enable collaboration on a global basis. Brian McArdle, director at Gleeds said, “Blueprint Interiors has helped us to create a showcase office in Manchester. We now have a sustainable, fit for purpose space that has boosted morale and increased levels of employee engagement, making embracing hybrid working easier for all. By embedding more technology, we’re also enabling teams to collaborate more effectively across the UK and on international projects. This renovation has set a new corporate benchmark that will attract professionals to join us, impress our clients and be enjoyed by our employees.” Andy Sawyer, project director from Blueprint Interiors added, “The design principles were driven by a desire to provide a more open plan hybrid work environment that reflects the way people prefer to work has significantly changed. The office has also been designed to embrace the Gleeds vision and values in all areas to create an office space that inspires people to be happy and motivated to deliver their best work.” Blueprint Interiors has been working with senior leaders at Gleeds UK to achieve a unified yet unique style nationwide, starting with offices in Bristol and Manchester. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors has been chosen to lead the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Sanctuary Buildings in London. The Department for Education (DfE) has appointed the contractor to deliver the phased CAT B fit out of 12,850m2 across floors of the property in Victoria. The project has been designed to create a more modern, sustainable and streamlined office environment, which reflects the Department’s adoption of hybrid working practices. Willmott Dixon Interiors will deliver collaborative and open plan workspaces, including hot desking facilities and staff breakout areas, as well as new meeting rooms with state-of-the-art conferencing technology. The design is characterised by its focus on diversity and inclusion, with features that directly cater for those with sensory, cognitive, physical or developmental needs. They include the availability of sensory spaces, improved lighting and acoustic properties and a muted colour palette. Existing plant facilities will be upgraded as part of DfE’s decarbonisation agenda, while the infrastructure will be put in place to support the future use of photovoltaic solar panelling. Works will be carried out in a live environment, with staff decanted to alternative floors during separate phases of the project. The project is expected to be completed by autumn 2024. Graham Shaw, managing director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “This important project will allow the DfE to facilitate hybrid working and consolidate its existing footprint within the Sanctuary Buildings. We’ll be refurbishing the building to modern standards and future proofing its plant facilities, to deliver a sustainable workplace environment that promotes wellbeing and inclusivity. It is the second significant project we have been appointed to deliver on behalf of the customer and we’ll be working in close collaboration to ensure everything is completed on time and with minimal disruption to occupants.” The contract was awarded to Willmott Dixon Interiors via the Southern Construction Framework. The project team includes Arcadis, which is delivering principal design, project management and cost consultancy services. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barings Real Estate, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, and Industrious the highly regarded flexible workplace provider have announced that soaring demand for flex space in Manchester has resulted in the Industrious St Peter’s Square flex centre at Landmark Manchester being 86% occupied less than 18 months after its launch. The 32,000 sq ft premium flexible workplace which is operated by Industrious is located across the ground, second and third floors of Barings’ award-winning 180,000 sq ft Landmark development at St Peter’s Square in Manchester City Centre. Since its launch, the space has attracted high profile occupiers including JPMorgan Chase & Co, HSBC, Nordcloud (part of IBM) and CMC to name a few, resulting in high occupancy levels. Ralph Dorey, Managing Director, UK at Industrious comments; “Flex space continues to be in strong demand and we’re finding that businesses have much clearer requirements for space and will come to us with exact desk needs and hours of meeting room space per month which is in contrast to previous years when there was more uncertainty. Many have a two year commitment with internal reviews after 12 months and we’re seeing demand polarised with most requirements for either 50-200 desks or at the smaller end of 2-10 desks. Regardless of the size though, it’s the perks that all the companies want in terms of the catering and hospitality offering, the events, the wellness programme and exercise facilities without having to compromise on a central location.” The benefits offered by the centre have proven so popular that the team has now launched a Community Membership scheme for occupiers on traditional leases in Landmark, which include; Vanguard, Starling Bank, Santander, Xero, RSM, Allianz Insurance, Grant Thornton and JLL, to benefit from the hospitality and wellbeing programme on offer as well as discounts on meeting rooms and conference facilities. Ian Mayhew, Managing Director, UK Asset management at Barings, said: “The flex centre has always supported Landmark’s traditional occupiers with overflow meeting and coworking space, and the ability to expand into flexible private offices as needed. However, the new community membership initiative allows them to benefit from daily breakfast, coffee, tea and snacks, and a weekly calendar of virtual and in-person programming and events, which can be invaluable in the attraction and retention of staff. One of our new occupiers, Santander who have signed a lease for 11 years, is moving to Landmark from another Industrious centre and we know that the community membership offered by Industrious was an important factor in their decision making. It’s also a good example of how the partnership between Barings and Industrious is operating for the benefit of the building as a whole.” The flex market hasn’t reached saturation according to Dorey. “We’re actively looking for new locations for our flex centres. If you have the right building with the ability to deliver the best set up then the demand will be there. As a premium provider of space, one of the key factors for us has always been the detail on aspects such as sound attenuation. This has been critical for organisations such as HSBC UK who require that level of privacy. We have a formula that works and are looking into more partnership agreements to continue to roll out the centres.” Industrious operates four locations across the U.K. The centre at Landmark offers 23 private offices accommodating one – 300+ people (Industrious Team), multiple conference rooms with state-of-the-art technology to accommodate in-person and hybrid work (Industrious Meet), and coworking spaces for individual workers (Industrious Share). Private offices come with an array of branding options for occupiers, enterprise-grade technology and customisable layouts. The space also features a cafe, multiple lounge and seating areas perfectly suited for group meetings and collaboration. In a commitment to providing an engaging workplace experience, in addition to the hospitality and wellbeing programme, members can expect high-speed and secure Wi-Fi, mailing and printing capabilities, on-site support from a dedicated Community Manager, access to a global network of workspace and more. Completed in 2020, the 180,000 sq ft award-winning Landmark development offers 14 floors of BREEAM Excellent and Wired Score Platinum certified, office space in Manchester City Centre. Barings’ focus on well-being, customer experience, sustainability and technological infrastructure at Landmark has delivered a world-class office building with the capacity to support the implementation of Hana by Industrious’ high-quality and hospitality-driven operations. Landmark also provides all-important facilities for existing and future tenants, including the introduction of contactless technologies enabling touch-free movement within the building, access to secured bike spaces, an eleventh-floor terrace, a fully equipped locker room with showers, electric car charging stations and more. Leasing agents on Landmark are CBRE, Colliers and JLL. For more information, please visit www.industriousoffice.com or www.landmarkmanchester.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wates has started refurbishment works at Ada’s new London Victoria campus, transforming a former secondary school into a National College for Digital Skills. Established in Tottenham in 2016 to address the talent shortage and lack of diversity in the digital industries by creating a diverse pipeline of talent, Ada is a pioneering college and charity for young people aged 16-24, with 97% of its alumni working in tech or studying advanced degrees. The project, carried out for the Department of Education (DfE), involves upgrading the building with the latest digital technology education facilities. The Wates project will ready for teaching to start at Ada’s new campus for the Autumn 2023 term. Workshops will be converted into IT suites for the college’s core computing qualifications and lecture theatres will replace traditional classrooms. Plans also include a cafe, sports hall, gym and roof terrace with views over London. Ada is working to remove the glass ceiling for women and encourage individuals from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds into the tech industry. Students benefit from a diverse curriculum, opening doors into a variety of careers in fields such as cybersecurity, animation and data analytics. Ada has reached its capacity due to the number of students wanting to enrol and take their first step towards an exciting career in the tech sector. The new Victoria location not only offers more in terms of facilities, it also provides a wider geographical reach for future learners and employer partners. The new building will also allow Ada to double their learner numbers in the coming years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Works on Coal House, an ultra-green, next generation office space in Cardiff city centre, have now been completed after a significant redevelopment programme. Thought to now be one of the most sustainable offices in Wales, Coal House, on Dumfries Place, has undergone a huge transformation, resulting in a cutting-edge 30,000 sq ft office building that is net zero carbon in operation[1], stylishly designed and promotes health, wellbeing and productivity. Formerly known as Dumfries House, Coal House has been redeveloped by investor and developer Create, which is currently in talks with several potential tenants about taking space in part of the building. Coal House is 100% powered by renewable energy, partly by its own solar panels, with an energy-efficient heating, ventilation and comfort cooling system, as well as LED lighting, to keep energy use to a minimum. Smart building technology, including a network of intelligent sensors, monitors and manages air quality, energy consumption, temperature and occupancy of the spaces, helping to save energy and cost. Tenants can access the real-time data through the bespoke CoalHouse.Life app, enabling cost efficiency and accurate ESG[2] reporting. A zero-to-landfill waste management system and low-flow water appliances are also in place. With spaces for both creative collaboration and quiet contemplation, Coal House is home to the Atrium Lounge and speciality coffee and juice bar, the Coffee Bar, with a proportion of profits made from drink sales donated to a local charity chosen by the Coal House tenants. A calendar of events curated by the Coal House team and space for businesses to hold their own events will pave the way for an inclusive community feel by creating opportunities to socialise and forge new connections. Other features of the Coal House app include breakfast and lunch deliveries to your office as well as meeting catering – all provided by Cardiff-based The Tidy Kitchen Co, which provides quality convenience and luxury healthy food. The app also offers a visitor management system, as well as access to services that can be arranged by the concierge team, such as dry cleaning, cycle repair and car valeting. Local discounts and offers, including for a nearby nursery, coffee shops and bike servicing, are also available for tenants via the app. Careful attention has been paid to create an industrial-chic aesthetic within the space by award-winning design agency Run for The Hills. The shared spaces draw on a biophilic design approach, which brings the beauty and calm of the outdoors inside. Plenty of plants and natural materials, such as sustainable bamboo, eco-engineered timber and recycled weave flooring, aim to boost residents’ creativity, productivity and well-being. Ricky Humphreys, director of Create, said: “We are delighted to have given a new lease of life to this once dated city centre office building, creating a highly sustainable, future-fit workplace that will provide an inspiring and attractive working environment with plenty of perks for businesses and staff. We set out to achieve an optimal balance between retaining the embodied carbon in the existing building and keeping energy consumption to a minimum, in line with our goal to make Coal House somewhere environmentally conscious businesses would feel proud to be based.” Coal House is equipped with eight electric vehicle charging points and grab-and-go community bikes for use by the on-site community. There is generous secure cycle storage and car parking, showers and changing facilities, as well as a DIY bike maintenance station where bike users and visiting technicians can carry out repairs and servicing. Coal House is just five minutes on foot from Cardiff Queen Street and a short walk to Cardiff Central. Kieran Crowe, director and head of net zero buildings at the Low Carbon Alliance, which acted as a consultant on Coal House, said: “Coal House has showcased the ability to achieve net zero in operational status and an impressive EPC ‘A’ rating through retrofit, by utilising standard fit-out practices alongside technology. “The building self-generates most of its power needs through rooftop PV and does not utilise any fossil fuels. I hope other developers and property funds can take inspiration from this building and understand that great outcomes for the environment are possible and commercially viable. As members and partner of UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero programme, we have taken Coal House forward as a leading example of retrofit for net zero.” There is between 3,000 – 30,000 sq ft of high quality space available to let immediately at Coal House, aimed at companies who want to take a conventional lease but with the added amenities not typically provided in many office buildings. The space, which has disabled access, has superfast plug and play fibre connectivity and can be fitted out according to tenants’ requirements, and even provided on a fully serviced basis. The building has achieved Wired Score Platinum, SKA Gold and AirRated Platinum, as well as targeting Fitwell two stars and BREEAM Excellent. Coal House is marketed for let by Savills and Knight Frank in Cardiff. Interested businesses should contact Gary Carver at Savills via gcarver@savills.com or by calling 07972 000 171, or Mark Sutton at Knight Frank via mark.sutton@knightfrank.com or by calling 07919 395 593. Visit https://www.coalhouse.co.uk/ to find out more. [1] The redevelopment of Coal House has been aligned to the definition of Net Zero Carbon published by UKGBC. Coal House has to date achieved an EPC A rating, which verifies the building is highly efficient. [2] Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
European real estate investor to deploy Honeywell solutions across its commercial building portfolio in Romania and Poland to improve operational efficiency and support sustainability efforts Honeywell announced yesterday that Globalworth, a leading real estate investor in Central and Eastern Europe, has selected its connected technology to help increase operational efficiency, support sustainability efforts, and improve the occupant experience across the Globalworth portfolio of commercial office buildings in Romania and Poland. Globalworth will use solutions from Honeywell Forge for Buildings, a comprehensive approach to building system operations and management, to help improve performance and reduce energy consumption throughout its facilities from a single point of control. Buildings are a primary consumer of energy – the UN Environment Programme 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction found the building and construction sector accounted for 34% of energy demand and 37% of energy and process-related CO2 emissions in 2021. In Europe, the numbers are even more concerning with the buildings sector accounting for 40% of the continent’s total energy needs, 80% coming from the use of fossil fuels.[i] To help reduce this energy demand, Globalworth will use the machine learning models within Honeywell Forge for Buildings to monitor energy consumption across its buildings, down to a device or asset level, and make automatic adjustments to minimise energy consumption while maintaining occupant comfort and productivity. “We believe that building technologies can provide not only better experiences for our tenants but can also add value in helping to achieve operational and sustainability goals – all without sacrificing occupant comfort. We are investing in Honeywell Forge for Buildings for its ability to integrate systems, improve maintenance, and save energy, with the aim of helping us to optimise our selected building operations,” said Dennis Selinas, CEO of Globalworth Group. Honeywell solutions, including Honeywell Forge Site Performance, Carbon and Energy Management, an application of Honeywell Buildings Sustainability Manager, and Honeywell Sine visitor management solutions, will help Globalworth digitalise real estate operations across its facilities in Romania and Poland. “Building inefficiency is a major challenge to Europe’s overarching climate objectives, and with the continuing energy challenges that Europe faces today, there is a pressing need to update existing buildings across the region with the right technology to maximise their energy credentials,” said Mark Loughran, president, Honeywell Central and Eastern Europe. “Honeywell Forge for Buildings represents a ready now solution to this challenge. Globalworth’s implementation of these offerings will support the company in meeting its environmental targets, while maintaining its occupants’ comfort and reducing its overall operating cost.” Globalworth is an innovator and early adopter of technology to help enable world-class experiences for its blue-chip roster of tenants. The company invests in technologies to continue to help improve the operational efficiency, safety and security, and resilience of its buildings while supporting its sustainability goals. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Office blocks across London and beyond could hold one of the keys to helping manage energy costs and enable decarbonisation. In a pioneering new scheme run by UK Power Networks, a building in Central London is helping to reduce demand on the electricity network at peak times, by adjusting its temperature throughout the day. A typical office block needs to be kept at 21-22 degrees centigrade. By simply changing the times of the day at which the aircon is running and avoiding running at full power during the peak period, buildings can help reduce demand on the network. The minor change in temperature is imperceptible to most workers, and offices can earn revenue from the electricity network. Taking a smarter approach to using capacity on the network frees up space for more low carbon technologies like electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps to connect more quickly and at lower cost. In a partnership with BankEnergi and supported by Oaktree Power Limited, UK Power Networks can now call on Bracken House in Central London to provide flexibility services to the electricity network. UK Power Networks has since had interest from several companies offering similar solutions in London and beyond. The project builds on the Greater London Authority’s pioneering Flex London project, which set out to demonstrate how buildings could help manage peaks in demand on the network. Flex London concluded that flexibility could become London’s “greatest energy decarbonisation asset” – with potential for up to 1GW of flexibility by 2050 – which would free up capacity for almost 500,000 electric vehicles. Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy said: “Buildings are responsible for nearly 70 per cent of the capital’s carbon emissions, so it’s important we manage their energy demand intelligently to help us reach net zero by 2030. It’s great to see UK Power Networks building on the Flex London project to help bring energy bills down and deliver a more flexible, lower carbon energy system for all. It’s also a great example of how a relatively small change can help make London a greener and healthier city for all Londoners.” Sotiris Georgiopoulos, Distribution System Operator Director at UK Power Networks said: “Flex London paved the way for buildings to help us decarbonise the network and now this partnership is demonstrating it can become a reality. Particularly in cities like London, making tiny changes to the way buildings operate can lead to tremendous benefits for customers, saving money and helping us connect more green technology.” BankEnergi CEO, Rajvant Nijjhar said: “We are pleased to be supporting UK Power Networks in providing demand side response services to a landmark London building. The building’s owners will benefit from lower costs and carbon emissions, without the occupants noticing a difference in comfort levels. We see this as the future in balancing grid supply and demand issues and providing vital services to DNOs like UK Power Networks. We are now looking forward to rolling out our solution across multiple buildings in London and across the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
