1 Angel Square

1 / Introduction

Part of the British high street since 1863, the Co-op is the UK’s largest mutual retailer with a turnover of over £13 billion. In 2009 the retailer commissioned a new 400,000 sq ft, 16 storey head office building in Manchester to provide a modern working environment and facilities which will allow greater freedom for flexible working by its staff.

Key facts

  • 320,000 sq ft high quality office space
  • BREEAM Outstanding
  • Restaurant at 8th floor level with panoramic views over city
  • 320 person auditorium at lower ground level
  • 151 basement car parking
  • 105 bicycle spaces
  • Combined Heat Power Energy System using Coop grown rape seed oil
  • DEC and EPC ‘A’ rating

Related Disciplines

The Project Details

  • Client:
    The Co-operative Group
  • Architect:
    3DReid
  • Main contractor:
    BAM
  • Buro Happold services:
    Structural engineering, services, fire engineering, IT communications & control, safe & secure, lighting, facades, computational analysis, geotechnical
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2 / Challenge

Born and raised in Manchester the retailer’s decision to build their new headquarters in the city was a clear sign of the renaissance of their business and their confidence in the future, as well as their desire to play a part in helping to make Manchester a 21st century leader in sustainable development.

The Co-operative Group stipulated demanding sustainability targets for their new offices using a building energy strategy, developed through extensive research into UK and European benchmark buildings as the key to minimising the building’s environmental impact.

The client team set an ambition for a new building that would be good for their business, good for staff, good for the communities which surround it and good for Manchester.

3 / Solution

Our design team have more than delivered, with the building set to be one of the first to receive a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Building Research Establishment.

The building’s Combined Heat and Power (CHP) installation is a key component of the carbon reducing measures used. It will be powered by rape seed oil grown on the Co-operative’s own farmland which will enable the company to control the majority of their own heat and power supplies.

3D BIM technology was used extensively to coordinate the structural engineering, architecture and building services, as well as the basis of energy models. BIM was also used to develop fly-through films and animations to communicate design ideas to the client and within the construction team.

The design meets both theoretical Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ‘A’ Rating and more importantly, the actual Display Energy Certificate ‘A’ rating which determines the buildings energy in use.

Integration into the local public transport links was also key to the Co-op and the building will be easily accessible by cycle routes, and close to bus and tram routes.

4 / Value

The building sets a new benchmark for commercial office design, achieving a balance of sustainability, operational efficiency, space flexibility and high quality. The project succeeds in translating the client’s ethical approach to society and the environment in their business through their commitment to deliver a truly outstanding building.