Project News
BURO HAPPOLD LEADS MAJOR DEEP RETROFIT OF NEW BATH HEADQUARTERS Back-to-frame redevelopment of 1980s Pinesgate West office targets net zero in operation, WELL Platinum and BREEAM Outstanding Buro Happold, the global engineering, design and advisory practice, is set to transform the 1980s Pinesgate West building in Bath into a low-energy, allelectric headquarters, demonstrating how deep retrofit can deliver highperformance, low-carbon workplaces. Working with architect AWW and landlord Watkin Property Ventures, Buro Happold is engaging in a backto-frame retrofit of the Pinesgate West office that will retain the existing concrete structure and renew it with a new high-performance facade. The refurbished building will target WELL Platinum, BREEAM Excellent with an ambition for Outstanding, and net zero carbon in operation. All-electric systems, supplemented by renewable energy generation at roof level, will significantly reduce operational carbon, while the reusefirst approach to the existing structure minimises the embodied carbon associated with new construction. A key focus of the new building is bringing people together. The workplace has been designed to encourage collaboration and Image: © AWW
connection, with a variety of flexible spaces that support focused work, teamwork and informal interaction, all underpinned by a strong emphasis on wellbeing. The transformation of Pinesgate West reflects Buro Happold’s commitment to upholding the sustainability principles and performance standards it advocates for clients around the world. The new Bath office will act as
a living demonstrator of low energy, high-performance refurbishment, showcasing how existing commercial buildings can be reimagined to deliver outstanding environmental and social outcomes. The move to Pinesgate West comes in Buro Happold’s 50th year, marking a significant milestone in the firm’s longstanding relationship with the city where it was founded. From its origins as a seven-person start-up led by engineering visionary Ted Happold, Buro Happold has grown into a leading global consultancy with 3,700 employees across 37 locations worldwide. Phil Lines, Buro Happold’s Bath Office Director, said: “Pinesgate West will bring our people together in a space that truly reflects who we are as a practice and what we stand for as environmental leaders. By transforming an underused 1980s building into a high performing, net zero in operation workplace, we are showing that ambitious, low carbon refurbishment is both possible and preferable. “Delivering this project has been a collaborative effort from the outset, and we are excited to create an office that supports wellbeing, enables new ways of working and deepens our connection to Bath as we look ahead to the next 50 years.”
Image: © Buro Happold
Image: © Buro Happold
Mark Watkin Jones, Chief Executive of Watkin Property Ventures, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Buro Happold as it begins this important new chapter in Bath. “Pinesgate is a significant building in the heart of the city, and this investment reflects our shared belief in the value of high-quality, sustainable workspace that meets the needs of leading businesses for the future.” Duncan Taylor, Director and Architect at AWW, said: “The refurbishment of Pinesgate West for Watkin Property Ventures embodies our retrofit-first approach, striking the right balance between reuse and renewal. “By transforming an outdated office building into a modern workspace, we will be dramatically improving its energy while reimagining its external identity and refreshing the external appearance to feel considered, contemporary, and confident. The result is a workplace ready for the future, and a unique new home for Buro Happold.”
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