Queen Comes to Call - Loving Angels It's Said

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14 November 2013 | Updated 01 January 1970

Ahead of its official opening by The Queen today, the Co-operative Group’s new head office in Manchester - 1 Angel Square - has been declared the most environmentally-friendly building in the world. The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (better known as BREEAM, an internationally acclaimed system of assessing buildings) gave One Angel Square a score of 95.16% - the highest ever awarded.

The Queen, who will be accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will tour the property and unveil a plaque to mark the formal opening of the 14 storey building in the city centre.

It is said The Queen will tell an audience just how impressed she is with the development.

The BREEAM award comes as a result of the building’s many environmentally friendly features, which include power generated from crops grown on the Group’s farms – a rapeseed fuelled combined heat and power system; heating and cooling the premises by drawing air below the basement and redistributing it at the earth’s core temperature – 50 litres per second are drawn in via a massive atria; a double skin façade that acts as a ‘duvet’ to insulate the offices in the winter and ventilate it in the summer; and of course, the natural daylight afforded by the glass structure.

One Angel Square is phase one of NOMA, a major scheme to redevelop 20 acres of the northern part of Manchester city centre. The 10 year programme will create a mixed use district, incorporating office space, residential, and leisure facilities.

The £100million Co-Op building was built by BAM Construction, the designer was 3D Reid and the consultant engineer was Buro Happold.

Euan Sutherland the Co-Op’s Group Chief Executive, said: “From the outset the Group set very high aspirations for the green credentials of the new building but for One Angel Square to be recognised as the most environmentally friendly building in the world is a truly remarkable achievement.  The visit today of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh symbolises the completion of the building and one of the most significant UK construction projects in the past five years.”

Gavin Dunn from BRE Global, said: “This achievement of the highest score ever under BREEAM reflects an ambitious vision and commitment from The Co-operative Group and their project team.  They have created a highly sustainable, extremely low carbon space. An excellent working environment with deep green credentials.”

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 14 November 2013

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