After a 10-month refurbishment programme to turn it into one of the most sustainable office buildings in the UK, in the heart of what is already the country’s greenest city, work has now finished on Silbury House.
With the intention of making it the most sustainable office building in Milton Keynes, developer RO Group embarked on a large-scale, standard-setting venture to introduce new technologies to overhaul the Silbury Boulevard property. RO Group worked closely with project management consultancy Gardiner and Theobald, architects GSS Architecture, contractor Thomas Sinden and agents Bray Fox Smith and Lambert Smith Hampton.
The best-in-class green building features not only groundbreaking environmental features in both the building itself and its energy and water usage, but has also been transformed into a beacon of occupant wellbeing, achieving Fitwel accreditation that optimises premises to support occupants’ health and wellbeing.
Edward Rowlandson, Group Managing Director, said:
“We are immensely proud of Silbury House and thank all those that have helped us achieve our goal of becoming the most sustainable office building in Milton Keynes. This building reflects our holistic approach to sustainability, incorporating various advanced solutions, including insulation, glazing, and energy generation techniques to reduce ecological impact. We remain dedicated to environmental excellence and to improving the social and health aspects of this flagship building’s performance.”
Making a difference
The refurbishment of Silbury House has delivered an improved EPC rating, from E to A, and is targeting an Outstanding BREEAM rating, which represents the top 1% of UK buildings. It is also targeting a NABERS 5.5 stars through its energy efficiency measures, a rating it would share with only two other buildings in the UK.
Embodying carbon management features that exemplify the construction industry’s shift towards sustainability, Silbury House’s Whole Life Cycle Carbon Assessment identified significant CO2 emission potential savings, with a focus on reducing carbon from materials like raised access floor panels and carpet tiles. The reuse of raised access flooring in the building represented a carbon saving equivalent to powering a laptop for nearly 85,000 years.
Other key features include:
- Measurable Energy smart power sockets – to automatically identify and eliminate small power waste
- Infersens – intelligent water sensors to minimise water waste with flow and temperature monitoring sensors
- RESET Air – through the integration of sensors and continuous monitoring, RESET Air standard is applied to consistently assess air quality in the whole building for the benefit of occupier health and wellbeing.
- Heat recovery VRF air-conditioning for high performance and optimum efficiency
- 20% solar PV energy generation via 116 solar panels
Fit for purpose
Silbury House holds the highest three-star accreditation in the Fitwel scheme, recognising the fact that everything in the building has been designed to create an inviting environment that improves occupant health and productivity.
Among the features that enhance the daily lives of those working and visiting Silbury House are a new courtyard garden and communal business lounge. The building has secure car parking with eight EV charging points, secure cycle storage and unisex showers on all floors.
The furniture in the building is sustainably sourced and responsibly made, and work surfaces are recycled paper-based, made from Petrofree resins and recycled waste stream paper.
RO Group invited guests to the official opening of Silbury House at the end of June and there has already been considerable interest from potential occupiers. The ground floor comprises four high-quality workspaces from 14 to 20 workstations with kitchen and breakout spaces, meeting rooms and informal meeting pods, while the first and second floors deliver easily divisible floorplates, accommodating requirements from 4,270 to 17,689 square feet.
Edward Rowlandson added:
“Silbury House represents an ironclad commitment to a future where sustainability is integrated into every aspect of our operations. Attaining both BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and Fitwel accreditations sets a new benchmark in the industry. It demonstrates our holistic approach to sustainability; covering energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, and a health-focused environment for our occupants.”
Find out more about Silbury House here
Contact agents Ian Leather at Bray Fox Smith on 07860 612242 or ianleather@brayfoxsmith.com or Tom Harker at Lambert Smith Hampton on
07702 884405 or tharker@lsh.co.uk
