Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Project team

Design
Architype and BDP

Client
University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership

service

Completion

2021

The Project

As part of a multi-disciplinary design team, we are providing wellness and sustainability consulting for the ultra-low carbon retrofit of a 1930s building set to become the new offices and headquarters for the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). The project has a challenging sustainability brief, targeting BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Gold, and Passivehaus EnerPHit certification, as well as a requirement for a circular economy office, all balanced with the need to retain the special character of the building due to its location within the central Cambridge Conservation Area.

The Entopia Building, as it is now called, will set new standards for low energy use, carbon emissions and impact on natural resources as well as user experience and wellbeing measured against multiple benchmarks. This international exemplar for sustainable office retrofits demonstrates how an existing office building can be made highly energy efficient in its redevelopment and use, whilst supporting the enhanced wellbeing of staff and visitors.

Building occupants will benefit from design strategies informed by thermal comfort, acoustics and daylight modelling. Passivehaus principles include the maximization of daylight and enhanced indoor air quality, while all material specifications were informed by BREEAM and WELL certification. Wellbeing is also supported by access to an external roof terrace and lightwell courtyard, biophilia and combined first aid/nursing room for new mothers.

The team continues to work with CISL to adapt their policies and operational practices to ensure the final occupied building continues to promote the core principles of the WELL Standard.

Project Images

illustrated cross section showing workstations to the left and hot desks and white framed booths to the right, as well as lots of plants and bio-based materiality

Elements of biophilia are introduced to internal spaces to support end user wellbeing, providing visual and physical contact with natural elements.

illustration of a casual lounge area with stylish green couch and accent chair in an office, located beside a meeting room, with textured cork ceiling fixture overhead

The project is targeting 50 innovations, including the use of bio-based materials and the reuse of lighting from another building refurbishment, which will involve re-testing and re-warrantying more than 350 LED lights.

illustration of a modern workplace with couches, lounge chairs, lots of plants and daylight ad textured cork ceiling feature

As part of a multi-disciplinary design team, we are providing sustainability consulting for the low carbon retrofit of 1 Regent Street, the new offices and headquarters for the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).

cross section of an office interior with workstations on the left and boardroom on the right, with lots of plants and bio-based materials such as woo and cork

As a world first, The Entopia Building aims to achieve multiple sustainable building certifications, including BREEAM (Outstanding), the Passivhaus ‘Enerphit’ standard, WELL (Gold) certification, alongside the application of ‘circular economy’ principles to minimize the volume and impact of natural and made-made resources used in the building.

a 1920s-era British light stone coloured heritage building of three or four storeys

This deep retrofit was balanced with the need to retain the special character of the building, due to its location within the central Cambridge Conservation Area.