ABP London’s £1.7 billion Royal Albert Dock Development’s first phase has been placed in the top 10% of sustainable commercial building design after it was awarded an ‘Excellent’ rating by sustainability body BREEAM.

Multi-disciplinary design practice, Hilson Moran were the BREEAM assessors for the project whilst also providing sustainability consultation, utilities & infrastructure design, environmental building design, vertical transportation, acoustics, security and fire services on the scheme. The team worked closely with ABP London to achieve its commitment to provide a new commercial centre that enhances the well-being of the people who will use it and the surrounding natural resources.

The RAD masterplan, designed by London leading architects Farrells, is to be delivered in six phases across 10 years and will create a new business community, comprising over 2.5 million sq ft of new office space, in this historically trading capital in east London.

ABP placed the BREEAM criteria at the heart of its plans for a sustainable community. Type A and B office buildings utilised efficient mechanical ventilation and highly efficient mechanical cooling equipment throughout with central cooling and heating from an onsite energy centre. In terms of renewables, a large array of photovoltaic panels were installed on each building, reducing the overall energy demand and thus carbon emissions. 

The project will reenergise this part of the city, installing a vibrant 24/7 district on London’s waterways. This will be a platform for financial, high-tech and knowledge driven industries looking to establish and further their business in the UK and European markets.

The recently completed first phase will include 460,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation in suites starting from 1,300 sq ft up to stand alone buildings of 150,000 sq ft, across 21 brand new contemporary buildings.

John Mui, ABP London’s Chief Operating Officer, said:

“We are thrilled to have secured this milestone in the development which once again shows our commitment to create a sustainable project that will accelerate business growth in this part of London. I thank Hilson Moran and all of our consultant teams’ efforts on this achievement.”

Scarlett Franklin, Sustainability Consultant at Hilson Moran said:

“This is a fantastic achievement for the whole RAD development team. The result is based on a continued collaborative and supportive project design team, contractor and client and creates a sustainable goal for the scheme.”

Peter Barbalov, Partner at Farrells said: “Sustainability is an essential part of the RAD masterplan and it is brilliant that the first phase has received this recognition, setting the benchmark for future phases and establishing its performance within the top 10% of UK new non-domestic buildings. From ensuring indoor air quality to using sustainable materials, we were committed to achieving this rating from the outset. We, along with the wider project team, designed with the end user in mind and have created, through the use of smart materials and design tools, commercial buildings and green public spaces which meet their working and wellbeing needs”.

Photo Credits: Guy Archard