Eco Factor: Sustainable office space for London.
Designed by Allies and Morrison Associates, London’s King’s Cross will get its first of the new generation buildings incorporating both functionality and sustainability. Earmarked for Sainsbury’s to host its new sustainable Store Support Center, the 570,000-square-foot complex will be used as a mix for retail, small businesses, health center, restaurants and demonstration suites.
According to the demand, the project has been successful in achieving a BREEAM “Excellent” rating, which is the UK standard for sustainability. To be developed at a cost of €106.8 million, the project will deliver an overall carbon savings of 41% below the UK Building Regulations Part L (2006). The proposal includes half an acre of rooftop gardens with other green features like solar tailoring and rainwater harvesting for landscaping and toilet flushing also been integrated. Construction on the complex is scheduled to commence in May this year and it’s due to be completed by the first half of 2012.
The Dark Side:
The area covered by roof gardens could have been used for renewable electricity generation, especially considering the amount that has to be spent on the building.
