Innovations in sustainability are at the heart of Bloomberg’s office designs, from engineering to construction to building operations. But their new European headquarters in London is their greatest achievement in sustainability yet — in fact, it’s the world’s most sustainable office building. It scored a 98.5 percent BREEAM sustainability rating, the highest design-stage score of any major office development.
This project was a great opportunity to build an office that will maximize the well-being of their employees while minimizing the company’s environmental footprint. Where sustainable technologies didn’t exist, they invented them – collaborating with experts around the world to source, test, and manufacture new materials and designs.
Here are five of their favorite eco-friendly features at our new European headquarters.
Integrated Petal-design Ceiling
Their innovative ceiling panels feature 2.5 million polished aluminum “petals” that save energy by improving the efficiency of heating, cooling and lighting functions. Incorporating 0.5 million LED lights, the ceiling uses 40% less energy than a typical fluorescent office lighting system. Its unique petal design also helps manage acoustics and airflow.
Natural Ventilation
When the outside air temperature is suitable, they can turn off their mechanical ventilation system, open the custom bronze blades shading the building’s interiors and cool the building with naturally flowing air. This significantly reduces energy consumption.
Smart Airflow
When the building is in natural ventilation mode, air is drawn up through the building’s six-storey ramp and out through vents in the roof. Sensors also allow them to adjust indoor airflow in response to how many people are in the building, which will save 600-750 MWh of power per year.
Water Conservation
The building is 70% more water-efficient than a typical office building. An on-site water treatment plant allows them to collect and reuse rainwater from the roof, as well as “grey water” from sinks, saving 25 million liters of water a year. Recycled water feeds their airline-style vacuum-flush toilets, which use net zero mains water.
Green ‘Living Wall’
The high-ceiling pantry is a great space for meetings with colleagues and clients. It overlooks St. Paul’s Cathedral and is flooded with natural light from the atrium above — making it a perfect space for their “living wall.”
Explore roles in their new London office here.