Great Portland Estates plc, working in conjunction with AET (Advanced Ergonomic Technologies) has won the British Council for Offices (BCO) Innovation Award for the redevelopment of 180 Great Portland Street. The Edwardian block in central London was reconfigured into 10,000 sq m of spacious offices, with careful architectural consideration incorporating a number of sustainable construction qualities.

180 Great Portland Street as a regeneration project offered a particular challenge, having limited headroom, structural and façade limitations. The aim was to maximise the lettable commercial space at the same time as minimising the material and construction costs – all the while constrained by the layout of the complicated Edwardian building. Sustainability was key for Great Portland Estates and the specification of building services had to allow for maximum future flexibility, considering the need for regular office churn, as well as offering energy saving solutions.

Specified by Cundall, AET provided Great Portland Estates plc with its Flexible Space System incorporating Hiross underfloor air-conditioning, making use of the existing floor voids through which the duct-free air-conditioning and ventilation system, along with all cabling and power distribution services, was fed. Unlike conventional fan coil or VAV systems, the underfloor option eliminates the need for large ceiling voids – a problem which often renders refurbishment projects unattractive and uneconomical, because of the resultant loss of headroom.

As well as its space saving qualities, the Hiross underfloor system also operates on low pressure and low energy which reduces the running costs of air conditioning. The system’s energy consumption can be up to 20-30% lower, compared to conventional VAV and fan coil systems, providing efficient air-conditioning for office spaces of varying size (Source BAA/DTZ).

The British Council for Offices rewards developments that tackle issues affecting the office sector and its mission is to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects. The annual BCO awards celebrate excellence in office space provision and the bestowal of winner of the Innovation Award is a highly respected achievement in the industry.

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