20 Fenchurch Street in London achieves a BREEAM rating of Excellent
Overview
Developers Canary Wharf Group and Land Securities deployed innovative measures throughout the design, construction and operational phases of 20 Fenchurch Street in London. It is one of the most sustainable buildings of its type in the city with a BREEAM rating of Excellent. It features the UK’s largest green wall, roof-mounted photo voltaic (PV) panels and London’s first hydrogen fuel cell in a commercial building.
Solutions
Thermographic surveys of heat loss
Using the same technology as fire and rescue search teams, the thermal conductivity of the entire façade was checked and found to conform with exacting heat loss performance standards.
Low and zero carbon (LZC) technologies
The building benefits from roof-mounted solar PV panels which are predicted to generate 27,300kWh of electricity per year.
Sustainable concrete and structural steelwork
All concrete and steelwork are certified as Sustainably Sourced in accordance with the BRE Global Standard BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products.
FSC certified timber
20 Fenchurch Street is one of only 80 projects globally and 44 in the UK that have achieved FSC certification. This recognises the incorporation of wood products from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. It was a FSC Full Project for the shell, core and full fit-out of the Sky Garden and restaurants, common areas, the pocket park, annex building and levels 14, 15, 16, 17, 35, 36, 37.
UK’s largest green wall
The green wall provides a much-needed plant and insect ecosystem, an important habitat for nesting birds and valuable green infrastructure.
First hydrogen fuel cell
20 Fenchurch Street boasts the first hydrogen fuel cell to be installed in a commercial building in the City of London. It will be switched on later this summer and will produce heating and cooling, as well as generating 300kW of low-carbon, low-emissions electricity. This will reduce the building’s carbon dioxide emissions by at least 270 tonnes per annum.
Benefits
96.4% construction waste recycled
The vast majority of construction waste was diverted from landfill, with 96.4% of waste either reused, recycled or recovered through a variety of onsite and offsite resource management processes. For example, all excavated material was reclassified under the CLARE Code of Practice and was sent for use as fill material in an offsite land reclamation project. Unwanted timber pallets and packaging was re-used by an exporter of military memorabilia.
Reduced noise and air pollution
Real time noise and dust monitoring stations were established during the construction process which were used to help the site team monitor and maintain noise and air quality within acceptable thresholds. The data was used to help inform a pioneering report on construction air quality within the City of London, in conjunction with City of London and Southbank University.