Following an identification of user needs and option appraisal studies by Appleyards; Defra staff and members of the Rural Payments Agency are now accommodated in a new building, designed to encourage good sustainability practice throughout design, construction and occupation processes.  Lion House is formed of two blocks located to the south and east of the existing building, which remained fully operational during construction, prior to being demolished. 

In order to manage stakeholder expectations and issues with open plan working, construction activities and safety, a comprehensive stakeholder communications strategy was developed, involving intranet, newsletters, project boards, mock-up area, user forums, presentations and surveys. We branded the project ‘ZEBRA’ (Zero Emissions Building Renewing Alnwick) to promote Defra’s role as a sustainability leader. 

Challenges/Achievements

‘Smart Working’ concepts have been facilitated to ensure more efficient use of space within the building.  Appleyards has introduced the concepts of a sustainability charter and sustainability champion, setting a number of targets in relation to management, internal environment, energy, transport, water, materials, land use, ecology and pollution.  These include providing a Carbon Neutral Building in operational terms, complete with wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, solar heating and a biomass woodchip boiler, achieving a BREEAM rating of Excellent and a score of at least 76% against the 2006 Offices Design and Procurement Methodology, and minimising mains water consumption through selection of low water use fittings and the use of a rainwater harvesting system with a target of <1m3/person/year. 

Occupancy levels have been significantly reduced as well as whole life value and negligible primary energy and water use per capita. A display screen that conveys real-time building energy performance information means that the users can take ownership of their environment which we regard as a key aspect of occupant satisfaction.

Lion House has achieved a BREEAM score of 81.5% at design stage and is currently undergoing post construction review under BREEAM 2008.

The building has won over 15 awards including the CIBSE Low Carbon Awards New Build Project of the Year 2009, the Constructing Excellence in the North East Award for CIBSE Environmental Initiative of the Year and the RICS North East Renaissance Award for Sustainability. Furthermore, Lion House has achieved the highest BREEAM score in the Offices Category 2006.