Blog: SECBE Awards 2022 finalist - TECHNIQUE - GRAHAM

23 March 2022

Net Zero sponsored by Willmott Dixon

TECHNIQUE - GRAHAM

Net Zero Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards 2022 finalist

TECHNIQUE is a former printing works and gin distillery situated at 132-140 Goswell Road in the heart of Clerkenwell. The building has been designed to improve the sustainability of the site and provide office accommodation that is modern and fit for purpose. The fully refurbished development offers 74,000 square feet of modern workspace, retail and an art gallery, over six stories with high-ceilings and generous open volumes, to accommodate more than 850 people, as well as 5,000 square feet of affordable office space dedicated to small businesses.

Against the waste of energy and resources involved in tearing down existing buildings, the project was instead set out to be centred around adaptive reuse and sustainability.

Three entirely new floors have been built using super-performing glue and cross laminated timber (CLT) structural components, sourced from sustainably managed forests, resulting in a 43% reduction in carbon emissions.

Structural elements of the CLT addition were pre-fabricated off site and assembled on site, cutting site traffic by 70%. The building has been topped with 10,000 square feet of green roof, increasing local biodiversity, and reducing the heat island effect. A new sunken courtyard brings natural light down to a flexible commercial unit of 6,350 square feet on the ground and lower-ground floors.

The building is set to achieve a BREEAM Excellent sustainability rating, a rare achievement for a refurbished building. The new lobby is clad in Wastebasedbricks – made from 60% recycled material. The construction phase was powered by 100% renewable electricity tariff, validated by REGO.

99.5% of all construction waste was diverted from landfill.

Key achievements:

• Savings in embodied carbon emissions through the retention of the existing structure and building fabric.

• Using CLT carbon emissions were reduced by 43% when compared with concrete and steel.

• Construction phase was powered by 100% renewable energy.

• Client: Northern and Midland Holdings
• Project partners: General Projects, Quartz Project Services, Buckley Gray Yeoman

Find more about the Project and its Partners

GRAHAM (LinkedIn and Twitter)

General Projects (LinkedIn and Twitter)

BGY (LinkedIn and Twitter)

Quartz Project Services (LinkedIn and Twitter)

Find out who wins at the Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards 2022 Ceremony on Thurs 30th June 2022.

About the Net Zero Award (sponsored by Willmott Dixon): 

High environmental and climate performance in construction aims to meet present day needs for housing, working environments and infrastructure without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs in times to come. It seeks to limit impact on the natural environment and demonstrate whole life sustainability. It is most effective when organisational culture, high design quality, technical innovation and transferability are abundant. More info

>> Find out more about the other Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards finalists here