Roche HQ Reaches Major Milestone

The UK HQ for leading healthcare company Roche has achieved two major milestones. Designed by BDP, the headquarters has reached topping out stage and has achieved a BREEAM Environmental Performance Index of 10 out of 10 and an 'Excellent' rating. 

While BDP has previously achieved 'excellent' and 'very good' BREEAM ratings on other buildings, this achievement follows BDP setting itself new, comprehensive and ambitious environmental performance targets as a means of delivering more sustainable development in the UK and Europe.

The targets were set at BDP's annual Directors' Conference in March (2004) when the theme was The Tipping Point - Sustainability and BDP.  This topic was selected in response to the new European Union Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) regulations that come into force in January 2006 when all new buildings will be given performance rating 'labels'. 

"Sustainable development has been a core value at Roche ever since the company was founded 108 years ago so we were keen to ensure that our new UK headquarters was designed as sustainably as possible," said Roche's Managing Director John Melville.  It features a cut in C02 emissions to around 20% below current Building Regulation limits.  Other sustainable aspects include timber framed curtain walling, ground water cooling from boreholes and ammonia refrigeration plant which contributes nothing to global warming and does not deplete ozone.

The topping out of the 21,800 square metres three-storey building took place on 21 September (2004) with employees moving into their new offices in late 2005.

BDP's multi-disciplinary appointment includes architecture, interior design, all engineering and landscape design. Cost consultant and planning supervisor duties were delivered through BDP's joint venture partner Clarus Consulting. Construction Manager is pcm.