The British Standards Institution (BSI) will take the top two floors of The Acre, Northwood Investors’ flagship UK commercial scheme in Covent Garden.
The 260,000 sq ft retrofit project retains over 80% of Richard Seifert’s original 1980s structure. Compared to a new build scheme, this approach has reduced embodied carbon of the structures and facade by up to 50%, saving 4850 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to the lifetime emissions of nearly 1000 UK citizens.
Designed by global workplace design experts Gensler and leading sustainability engineers Arup, The Acre aims to meet stringent sustainability and wellness targets. These include a 4.5* NABERS UK rating, BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, WELL ‘Platinum’, Fitwel 3*.
BSI, the global business improvement and standards company, appointed by the UK Government as the National Standards Body, will take the total 29,000 sq ft of the seventh and eighth floors of the building. These feature biodiverse roof terraces, air-conditioning via Artus fan coil units, a technology developed by Arup that uses 80% less power than traditional units, and openable windows installed throughout the building as part of its passive design strategy.
Delivered by development manager Platform, The Acre has been transformed into an exemplar of sustainability in central London. Energy efficiency interventions have reduced operational energy use in the building by over 70%; it is all-electric and net zero in operation, with energy supplied from fully renewable sources, and blue roofs will harvest rainwater, giving the building a 50% reduction in water use compared to typical building regulations.
20,000 sq ft of ground floor retail, amenity and public realm have been designed to complement the best of Covent Garden’s retail, entertainment and dining offerings. The focal point of the ground floor is The Heart, a seven-storey central atrium for tenants and the general public, that doubles as a thermal envelope to support The Acre’s energy efficiency.
As part of a wider strategy to set a new standard in central London for employee wellness, including the addition of 12,000 sq ft of roof terraces to the building, The Acre also provides 350 cycling spaces and high-quality end-of-trip facilities to cater for active commuters.
Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive, BSI, said: “BSI will be moving to new headquarters in central London next year, when our current lease expires. As a purpose-led organization focused on accelerating progress towards a sustainable world through our work, and committed to decarbonizing our own operations by 2030, finding a new premises designed with sustainability front of mind was critical. The Acre is an exciting opportunity for BSI and we look forward to taking full advantage of our new space and contributing to our new community.”
James Myburgh, Associate at Northwood Investors, said: “Our ambition with The Acre is to set a new standard for retrofitting buildings by achieving rigorous sustainability targets. The BSI is a pioneer of global sustainability standards, and by welcoming them as our first tenant is a testament to the quality of design and delivery by the entire project team. Beyond sustainability, The Acre offers a best-in-class workplace experience with focus on occupiers’ health and wellbeing. We look forward to sharing that experience with the wider community through the new ground floor amenity and public realm, and with the BSI as it prepares to open its new central London home at The Acre.”
Mel Allwood, Sustainable Buildings Director at Arup, said: “From the outset, sustainability has been at the heart of The Acre’s design. By anchoring wellbeing into our approach, we responded to the needs of future tenants, community visitors and the planet. Our most important strategy for delivering carbon savings was the retention of the existing building and façade, while the introduction of infill blocks, opening windows, and a covered atrium let the building expand and breathe. This also helped us create an office people will want to be in, with extensive terraces and fresh air. We know the BSI’s quality requirements are some of the world’s most rigorous and as The Acre nears completion, we take the news of their move to The Acre as evidence of a job well done.”
