One Angel Square is ‘world’s greenest building’

THE Co-operative Group’s new Manchester head office, One Angel Square, has been declared the most environmentally-friendly building in the world.

The announcement was made ahead of a visit by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh who will tour and formally open the building today.

BRE Global, which runs the BREEAM environmental assessment scheme, said the building had achieved the highest score yet.

Its environmentally friendly features include power generated from crops grown on the Co-op group’s farms; heating and cooling the premises by drawing air below the basement and redistributing it at ambient temperature; and a double skin façade that insulates the offices in the winter and ventilates them in the summer.

One Angel Square is the first phase of NOMA, a major scheme to redevelop 20 acres of the northern part of Manchester city centre. The building has already been sold with the Chinese investment fund Gingko Tree and RREEF paying £142m in a sale and leaseback deal in February.

Co-op chief executive Euan Sutherland said: “From the outset the group set very high aspirations for the green credentials of the new building but for One Angel Square to be recognised as the most environmentally friendly building in the world is a truly remarkable achievement.  

“The visit today of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh symbolises the completion of the building and one of the most significant UK construction projects in the past five years.”

Gavin Dunn, Director of BREEAM, BRE Global, said: “This achievement of the highest score ever under BREEAM reflects an ambitious vision and commitment from The Co-operative Group and their project team. They have created a highly sustainable, extremely low carbon space. An excellent working environment with deep green credentials.”