LOCATION BACKGROUND
Founded in 1961, WWF is a global conservation charity that aims to find ways for people and nature to share the Earth’s resources fairly. The organisation operates in more than 100 countries. The WWF’s new headquarters building in Woking, Surrey, is situated on a raised concrete platform above a municipal car park.
Designed by Hopkins Architects with environmental design consultants and building services engineers Atelier Ten, the pioneering two-storey building features an 80 metre-long curved timber gridshell roof with fully-glazed walls and end elevations underneath.
The upper floor of office space, which is tucked under the arched roof, is formed of two concrete platforms set either side of a central atrium. Natural light for the upper floor is provided by rows of skylights running along the length of the building.
The Living Planet Centre was named Office and Workplace Lighting Project of the Year.
CLIENT BRIEF
WWF’s challenging brief reflected the core sustainability and energy values that needed to be incorporated into the design and operation of the building.
In addition to wanting the building to be an exemplar of low-carbon office design, there was also a requirement for it to be certified BREEAM Outstanding. For this to be achieved, it was critical that energy efficient features such as a natural ventilation system, a ground-source heat pump and more than 400 photovoltaic panels were complemented by a low lighting load.
PHI’S SOLUTION
Phi’s fittings were chosen to light the office spaces and meeting rooms surrounding the central atrium. To meet the brief, Phi proposed its contemporary, linear Stria fitting. This high-output direct/indirect light source was used in pairs of 2.8-metre lengths to provide optimum lighting levels in the open plan office areas.
Made from silver grey die extruded aluminium and with an Opal PMMA MPO, each two-length fitting included a central cover plate and, where required, an integrated three-hour LED emergency pod. Six, one-metre Stria lengths were also used in each of two large enclosed rooms on the lower floor. Phi’s fittings contributed to a total lighting load of only 5.5W/m2 which helped the Living Planet Centre to meet its key target of BREEAM Outstanding certification.
Jonathan Gittins, Atelier Ten’s lighting engineer for the project, was delighted with Phi’s contribution adding: “It was a challenging brief and using Phi’s lighting solutions was significant in helping us to meet the strict performance criteria.
“Their willingness to work and closely collaborate with designers and contractors alike eased the process considerably and the final solution was impressive. We look forward to working with them again.”
Karen Gravestock, WWF’s director of people & place and coordinator of the Living Planet Centre project, was thrilled to achieve the highest ranking in the BREEAM process, the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings.
She added: “We set out to exceed the 85% pass mark for “Outstanding” so to achieve a score of over 90% is simply brilliant. The LPC is an inspiring building; it’s great place to work and to visit. I would like to thank all our partners who have worked with us to achieve this award.”
