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HRH The Prince of Wales opens pioneering green retrofit office in Cambridge
During a visit to the University of Cambridge, HRH The Prince of Wales met with experts and practitioners from all sectors and disciplines working together to solve the world’s biggest problems.
At a reception for the opening of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s (CISL) low carbon HQ and its new green entrepreneur hub – The Entopia Building, The Prince of Wales met with design and construction professionals - including Lucy Townsend, Sustainability consultant from BDP - before moving onto events to celebrate Commonwealth scholars and innovative academic and industry leaders collaborating on net zero aviation.
Lucy Townsend, sustainability consultant at BDP, said: “It was incredible to meet his royal highness today at the CISL today. As I described to him, the Entopia Building is not a normal retrofit project - but it should be. We have retrofitted an old 1930s Telephone Exchange and transformed into an ultra-low carbon sustainability hub for CISL as it scales up business, government and academic leadership, collaboration and innovation in sustainability.
“The project had a challenging sustainability brief, targeting BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Gold, and Enerphit certification, all balanced with the need to retain the special character of the building. What we have achieved here is an exemplar of sustainable design in existing buildings and the most efficient, world class facility of its kind.”
Professor Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, added: “The University of Cambridge’s work on climate change and sustainability is an outstanding collaborative achievement. Today we celebrate projects that have the power to change the way we live and the way our industries operate, hastening the transition to a low carbon world. The new Entopia building is now the most sustainable premises in the University estate, and a key contributor to reaching the target of eliminating our carbon emissions.”
Housed in CISL’s new ultra-green Entopia building, The Prince launched the Canopy incubator where SMEs and entrepreneurs can join the organisation’s international network of corporate, finance and sustainability leaders to share ideas and gain access to the wider University community.
Credit: Soren Kristensen
Clare Shine, CEO and Director, CISL said: “Bolder leadership and action are critical for human security and planetary health over the next 10 years. Today’s launch of the Canopy incubator at the heart of our ground-breaking retrofit HQ takes CISL’s global reach and impact to new levels. We’re creating new bridges between entrepreneurs, SMEs and the most powerful actors in the economy, to put their collective weight and innovation capacity at the service of inclusive and sustainable development. CISL thrives on openness. Through Canopy and our collaborations across Cambridge University, we hope to embrace fresh perspectives and forge solutions that work for people, nature and climate."
The £12.8m retrofit is supported by a £6m donation from greentech leaders Envision Group and a £3m grant from the European Regional Development fund (ERDF), which is also funding the operation of the Canopy. The University has invested its own funds in the project alongside an internal grant from its internal Energy & Carbon Reduction Project.
As part of a collaborative team approach, BDP provided building services engineering, sustainability and interior design services for The Entopia Building.
