A green and gold future at 100 Liverpool Street
One of the first UK buildings to pursue WELL, as early as 2017, 100 Liverpool Street has now achieved WELL certification at the Gold level.
Along with all the building’s other awards and sustainability credentials, this latest badge verifies that every aspect of the space is designed and operated for human health and wellbeing. It demonstrates the long-term commitment we have to our places.
Setting bold and stretching targets
When we committed to WELL at 100 Liverpool Street, the certification system was very new and there were a lot of unknowns in terms of products, processes and verifications. Achieving WELL Certified Gold on such a major project is a great example of how setting bold and stretching targets – that you don’t quite know how you’re going to achieve – can drive positive, collective action. It was made possible with the buy-in of our main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, lead designer Hopkins Architects and engineers chapmanbdsp.
Customer interest in wellbeing has skyrocketed since we set out with 100 Liverpool Street. The building was a front runner in the wellbeing movement, which has been a fundamental part of our customer offer since we developed our wellbeing principles back in 2015. These are now fully embedded into our placemaking and Sustainability Brief.
Changing the industry
We were such an early adopter of WELL that there were no licensed Performance Testing Agents in the UK when we started at 100 Liverpool Street. So, we partnered with US-based Delos and worked closely with our supply chain to develop new skill sets and complex understanding. The first edition of WELL was particularly challenging to achieve, with 41 mandatory preconditions, versus only 23 in v2, and less freedom in how to score points. Piloting the certification took leadership on supply chain engagement.
Working collaboratively, we raised awareness around healthy material selection, and how products, design and manufacturing impact on wellbeing. To reduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), a shift was required in design expectations around finishes, as many water-based products don’t have the appearance that designers and customers typically looked for before. Water-based materials are now getting better in their appearance, with manufacturers recognising the need for change.
Leading on digital
WELL Certified Gold is not a badge that we’ve achieved and will then forget about. Wellbeing is embedded into our smart operation of 100 Liverpool Street. We’ve rolled out BL Connected, our smart platform, across landlord-controlled space, including Storey. This generates data from the building to drive energy efficiencies and optimise internal health and wellbeing elements in real time. Taking air quality as an example, we’re creating dashboards showing CO2 sensor data and optimising ventilation rates.
Greener Spaces and Thriving Places
Putting in green infrastructure not only benefits biodiversity and climate resilience – supporting the Greener Spaces pillar of our sustainability strategy – but also improves mood and productivity. Plus, creating social spaces that are welcoming and inclusive is essential to our Thriving Places sustainability pillar.
There’s a strong alignment between health and wellbeing and carbon goals. 100 Liverpool Street shows how using more natural, environmentally friendly materials can be good both for the health and wellbeing of our customers and for embodied carbon. It achieved 389kg CO2e per m2, which is way ahead of industry average benchmarks and exceeds our ambitious target to halve embodied carbon to below 500kg per m2 from 2030. To keep global warming below 1.5°C, it’s critical that we make that shift now.
Better choices enable better environments
Our entire project team focused attention on how better choices can enable better environments, as outlined below.
| Air: Monitoring air quality on site before works started, which influenced the ventilation design and led to the installation of carbon filters (at significant cost). This exceeded the WELL requirement, which was simply to leave rack space for future install. Customers also benefit from a smart ventilation system with CO2 sensors and high levels of fresh air, designed for 16 litres of fresh air to be supplied per person per second. Paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, flooring, insulation and furniture all tested for very low levels of VOCs to protect air quality. High-performance filtration system that is now being actively maintained and monitored. Collaboration with King’s College on local air quality monitoring. | |
| Light: Lots of natural daylight indoors through extra-tall, energy efficient windows, with a window-to-wall ratio of 52% and all regularly occupied spaces within 25 ft of view windows. High-performance glazing reduces solar glare. | |
| Fitness: Promoting active lifestyles through design, including a feature staircase encouraging people to move around and over 660 cycle spaces, along with showers, full-height lockers and changing rooms. | |
| Water: Consistently high-quality drinking water, with supply rigorously tested. | |
| Nourishment: Encouraging healthier food choices, including through the mix of cafés and restaurants in our new retail space. Los Mochis, a pan-Pacific concept, is opening a 14,000 sq ft flagship restaurant on the rooftop. | |
| Comfort: Insulation to minimise noise, temperatures optimised for thermal comfort and easy access for everyone through accessible design. | |
| Mind: Landscaped terraces on five levels and a biophilia plan to connect people with nature, along with thoughtful design strategies that inspire delight, including a beautiful atrium, seating amidst the greenery and views to St Paul's Cathedral. Guides available to encourage occupiers to benefit from WELL features and a health and wellness library of resources for all. |
An added challenge came at the final stage of the project. Because we gave customers early access to their space, to allow them to fit out, air quality performance verification couldn’t be completed until long after practical completion. The final timing of the certification is lovely though, coming in as our new park blossoms outside in Exchange Square. This is the latest in a series of public realm designs that follow our wellbeing principles.
With 100 Liverpool Street fully let and customers happy, our next three WELL projects are already in development. 1 Broadgate is targeting Platinum and two plots at Canada Water are aiming for Gold. It’s a continued learning and refinement process!
More on smart at 100 Liverpool Street here.
More on our new park in Exchange Square here.