Go-ahead given for 'UK's greenest building'

Norwich councillors have given the go-ahead for a new low carbon exemplar building for the University of East Anglia within the Norwich Research Park (NRP).

BDP’s engineers are working on the NRP Enterprise Centre which will push the boundaries of the university’s already established approach to developing energy efficient buildings. Working with Architype, the project will be the UK’s first commercial building to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating, and be Passivhaus certified.

Half of the building will provide lettable floor space for SME start up businesses including offices, meeting rooms and hot desks, with the rest housing teaching and learning facilities for the University.

The project is on target to be a ‘carbon sink’, through maximising the use of local materials and construction. It will not only provide a low embodied carbon building but help stimulate the local economy and traditional skills. Timber will come from Thetford Forest, straw for the innovative prefabricated thatch panels from Norfolk and building materials such as rammed chalk, heather and flint will all be locally sourced and fabricated.

Construction is expected to start this summer to allow the centre to open in January 2015.

All images copyright to Architype.