BREEAM Brilliance

21 May 2014

With sustainability at the forefront of most construction projects taking place, we have looked at how this is measured in new buildings. Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology or ‘BREEAM’ for short has become a fundamental way of measuring the sustainability levels of new construction projects. Here we take a look at 5 new projects that are designed to achieve the top rating of ‘outstanding’.

Dogs Trust, Stevenson Farm

The state of the art new facility is being built on the 13-acre Stevenson Farm site, at the junction of the A127 and Nevendon Road, near Wickford. Using photovoltaic solar panels, the project is on course to gaining ‘outstanding’ BREEAM status, and providing over 20 spacious kennels and a large dog welfare unit, this is a puppy paradise.

University of Hertfordshire Campus Redevelopment

The massive redevelopment of The University of Hertfordshire will provide 2511 student accommodation rooms and new sports facilities, including multi games areas and pitches. More impressively, the building will lead the way in sustainability, currently on track to achieving a true carbon-zero accreditation and meeting BREEAM Outstanding requirements through completely renewable energy sources.

Waitrose Store, Broughton Retail Park

As part of the redevelopment of the Broughton Retail Park in Chester, the largest Waitrose store in the country is being built. The brand spanking new building will have a 320 space underground car park, and its renewable and sustainable materials should ensure this project has a belter of a BREEAM rating.

Furnace Community Primary School

This new two form entry school is a revolutionary project. Ordinarily any new project achieving the ‘outstanding’ BREEAM rating is noteworthy in itself. However, if all goes to plan this project will mark the first time a primary school in Wales will achieve this standard, doing so by ensuring the building is environmentally friendly as it is being fitted with solar panels in order to make it a carbon neutral facility.

Spitalfields Hotel, Tower Hamlets

This 185 bedroom luxury hotel will be one of the first of the new hotel concept ‘hub by Premier Inn” that is being opened in London. With stunning curtain walling adorning the facade, this hotel should be an ‘outstanding’ building in more ways than one.