Top BREEAM rating for Hanson design and build

A newly-completed commercial building developed by Hanson UK at its former brick works in Bedfordshire has received the top BREEAM Excellent rating.

The 63,500 square foot Kimberley development at Stewartby, built on a brownfield site, has two wings of office space linked by a central hub and is designed to be passive. It is naturally ventilated, demonstrating the effectiveness of masonry construction in reducing energy consumption. It also incorporates low carbon techniques such as increased insulation, thermal mass, SUDS and rainwater harvesting.

Duncan Edwards, Hanson project manager, said: “We wanted to create a simple, practical and sustainable building appropriate to its settings, reflecting the historical importance of the site as a brick works and providing a showcase for our products.

“The design, by tp bennett architects, demonstrates the potential for brick to be used in new and innovative ways. Its versatility is reflected in its use as a cladding on the office facades, as a load-bearing material and as a structural frame.”

In addition to the extensive use of Hanson bricks, aggregate blocks and aircrete blocks, the building features the company’s precast concrete products, aggregate and asphalt. The car park also uses Hanson Formpave’s Aquaflow permeable paving system with a ground source heat pump to harvest rainwater and provide a sustainable heating and cooling system for the building.

“This has been an interesting and exciting project for us,” Duncan added. “As well as influencing the design of the building and the products used, we have project managed the build and are delighted to be rewarded with the top BREEAM rating.”

The property is being marketed for rent or sale by commercial property experts Lambert Smith Hampton