BRE Office Building

The design of this landmark project provided a model for offices of the future, receiving the highest BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating ever recorded at the time. 

A black-and-white external photo of the BRE building, with notable ventilation chimneys and a blue-sky above.

Key information

Architect

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Client

Building Research Establishment

Value

Undisclosed

Year of Completion

1996

Sector

Challenge

Our founder, Max, worked with architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios on this project, which provided 1,350m2 of office space and seminar facilities. Around 96% of the material from the demolition of former workshops on the Watford campus was recycled – the first use of recycled aggregate for a concrete superstructure in the UK.

The building’s innovative design reduced heating energy consumption, avoided air conditioning, and minimised the need for artificial lighting. To provide sufficient natural ventilation and light, the plan depth was kept to 13.5m, with large areas of openable window at both sides. 

Ventilation is assisted by stacks and circulated via special sinusoidal (wavy) ceilings. Thermal mass was used to minimise temperature variations, and photovoltaic panels reduced energy consumption.