Office Relocation 2010
Our step into a sustainable future
In 2010 we will move into new offices in Temple Quay, Bristol. To create and maintain an environmentally-friendly and sustainable building we are considering a wide range of initiatives which include using harbour water as a heat exchanger for our cooling/heating system, rain water recycling, advanced recycling facilities, building with environmentally-friendly materials and a bespoke highly energy-efficient heating/cooling system.
Taking the latter system as an example, we have been advised that, given the position of our building and its occupation levels, a natural draught air system would be incapable of providing a suitable working environment. While this was disappointing initially we have made progress in specifying a mechanical air conditioning system which will set new standards in terms of efficiency. Through the use of remote sensors in each of the rooms, temperature control systems (and lighting) will only be activated if a room is occupied. Once a room has been left un-occupied for over 15 minutes the heating and cooling system and lighting automatically turn off. Given that many of our lawyers are out visiting clients or in meetings at any given time, the potential savings are very significant. While we are still engaged in the process of setting targets for the new building we anticipate that this system and other energy saving initiatives have the potential to halve our current annual consumption of 2000 units of electricity per member of staff.
We are aware that currently many of our staff live within comfortable walking and cycling distance of our current offices – and we provide facilities to help them do this. The new building, although still in the centre of the city and close to Temple Meads railway station, will involve a longer journey for many of them, so we are taking steps to ensure that we continue to encourage and facilitate environmentally-friendly commuting. We are in discussions with a local ferry company about opening up a regular ferry service from the city centre. We have specified a requirement for 200 cycle racks and associated showers, changing and locker facilities to encourage those who currently drive or are driven to work to consider green alternatives. Our target is to ensure that the current 50% of staff who walk or cycle to work continue to do so and, in addition, that we halve the number (currently 20%) of staff who drive to work and park in the city centre.
We are convinced that the new building will enable us to raise our targets for delivering in-kind support to the local community. The meeting rooms, seminar complex, training facilities and catering in the new building will be a very significant improvement on what is available to us now and we intend expanding our current policy of making our facilities available to those organisations committed to improving the lives of people in our region.
To see how work is progressing, take a look at the webcam.
"We are confident that the new building will be a vivid demonstration to all visitors that an entirely Bristol-based business is capable of achieving a national and international reputation for top quality service standards while not losing sight of its responsibilities to its surrounding community."
Bob Llewellin, Director of Premises and Services