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The Built Environment – Designing for people, place and planet

Discover how our focus on the carbon footprint of the built environment has led us to develop and implement new solutions towards a sustainable world.

Discover how our focus on the carbon footprint of the built environment has led us to develop and implement new solutions towards a sustainable world.

As designers and advisors, we continue to support our client’s decarbonisation goals with our deep technical expertise and the creation and delivery of net zero roadmaps that define the changes required at portfolio, asset and operational levels.

By considering the entire lifecycle of buildings and using sustainable design principles that optimise building performance and reduce energy consumption, we shape buildings that are fit for the future – whilst bringing positive outcomes to the people and communities they serve.

We are delighted to share our latest collection of projects that demonstrate how, together with our clients, we strive to deliver greater outcomes to people, place and planet.

Designing for people and place

The built environment should balance the needs, aspirations, and experiences of its surrounding communities and people.

By placing people at the centre of the design process, we can create spaces that are functional, safe and enjoyable to use, as well as aligned to the fabric of their surroundings.

Read below about some projects that showcase our human-centred approach.

British Library Extension

British Library Extension

The British Library extension creates a new front door for the institution, welcoming a new generation of public participation in line with their Living Knowledge vision. To boost social value, Arup drew on insights from five years of local socio-economic analysis to create a tailored and quantified social value framework. This includes a compact that will encourage occupiers of the commercial space to promote local jobs and support volunteering and schools programmes in Somers Town.

Exchange Square

Exchange Square

A new haven for wellbeing and biodiversity, the 1.5-acre park in Exchange Square quadruples the amount of green space at Broadgate in Central London. Helping British Land de-risk the project, we identified where the existing structure, suspended over 10 live train lines, could support mature trees, tens of thousands of plants, lawns, water features and a new retail unit. This boosted wellbeing for the local area without the need for a new structure.

Brent Cross Town Substation

Brent Cross Town Substation

Supporting Brent Cross Town’s goals of net zero carbon by 2030, the new substation will provide clean power for 6,700 new homes, offices, retail and leisure spaces. Designed to boost social value, the substation is wrapped in a giant public artwork, creating a new landmark in a prominent location. Rising 21 metres high, the structure embraces circular economy through the re-use of steel and is surrounded by native tree planting and wildflower meadows, enhancing biodiversity.

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Soho Place

Soho Place

Located above Tottenham Court Road station, Soho Place provides new public realm, the first new West End theatre in over 50 years, offices and retail space. Together with Derwent London, we prioritised environmental, social and economic outcomes, combining our expertise in metro, property and music venues. Working closely with Crossrail and London Underground over 15 years, we steered changes to station design, moving infrastructure below ground to add 28,000 sq ft of lettable space above ground.

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One Wood Crescent

One Wood Crescent, Television Centre

One Wood Crescent is the latest addition to the Television Centre (TVC) development in White City. Previously home to the BBC, TVC provides offices, homes, television studios, restaurants, a cinema and a hotel as part of a 1.7 million sq ft neighbourhood for London. Arup’s integrated multi-disciplinary design approach has enabled Stanhope to achieve their lowest embodied carbon new build, exceeding current Greater London Authority’s aspirational targets.

Maggie's Centre

Maggie's Centre

Supporting people living with cancer, Maggie’s Centre at University Hospital Southampton is a welcoming oasis. Working closely with Maggie’s and Architect AL_A, we transformed this car park into a light-filled centre where the users are always the key focus. Soft pastel ceramic walls promote a sense of calm, insulating rooms, providing warmth and separating the spaces acoustically; and large windows allow views of the garden in all directions. 

Sandwell Aquatics Centre

Sandwell Aquatics Centre

The only brand-new venue for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Sandwell Aquatics Centre will be opening to the public as a community leisure facility in summer 2023. Working with architects Robert Limbrick, we advised on designs and supported construction phasing to create a venue that could adapt for community use after the Games. It will give local residents access to one of the best aquatic centres in the UK, leaving a lasting sporting legacy.

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Urata Lookout Café

Urata Lookout Café

Our third social project with young architectural practice CAUKIN Studio, the Lookout Café provides jobs and sustained income for the Urata Village Community. Designed and constructed with local people, we engineered the structural frame using local materials to construct the café in only eight weeks. Featuring a large veranda, plenty of seating, kitchen space, public toilets and a private caretaker’s residence, it is one of only two cyclone-resistant buildings in the area.

Decarbonising buildings

Decarbonising the built environment is a critical step in mitigating the impact of climate change.

Arup continues to use sustainable design principles and deep technical expertise to create energy-efficient buildings that have low carbon footprints. This includes incorporating renewable energy systems, passive design strategies and sustainable materials into projects. 

Read below about some projects that are bringing us closer to the reality of net zero.

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11 & 12 Wellington Place

11 & 12 Wellington Place

The fourth building in the UK to achieve a NABERS UK Design for Performance 5* rating, 11 & 12 Wellington Place is our eighth building at MEPC’s Wellington Place. Working closely with architect TP Bennett and contractor Wates, we led on both NABERS and building systems engineering – creating the most energy-efficient office building in Leeds. Fully electric, all its energy will come from renewable sources, positioning the building 22% ahead of the UKGBC 2035 target.

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MECD

Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD)

MECD – a world leading learning and research environment and the single largest construction project ever undertaken by a higher education institution in the UK – brings together the four engineering and material science departments into one coherent facility. Advising on the project since 2014, we brought the University closer to its commitment to be net zero carbon by 2038. MECD has 50% lower predicted energy use than existing buildings and 40% lower emissions with some 97% of deconstruction materials recovered for reuse.

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Fubon Xinyi A25 Tower

Fubon Xinyi A25 Tower

Setting new sustainability standards for Taiwan, Fubon Xinyi A25 provides offices, alongside public gardens and a museum of contemporary and modern art. Through a strategic approach we helped shape its design, reducing structural steel by a third versus local benchmarks and saving 23,500 tonnes of carbon. Fully electric, the tower achieved Taiwanese Green Building Certification (EEWH) Gold, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold, becoming an example of exceptional seismic and typhoon resistance.

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CO—RE ESG Strategy

CO—RE ESG Strategy

Development management specialist CO—RE came to Arup for support in developing their ESG strategy. We helped shape the vision and strategy and are now working to embed the concept across their projects and turn environmental and social targets into reality. We are supporting in moving projects closer to net zero, improving wellbeing and adding social value. This new strategy empowers teams to deliver the right solutions for each project and encourages innovation through collaboration.

Sky Innovation and Pavilion Restaurant

Sky Innovation and Pavilion Restaurant

Designed to support Sky’s net zero commitment while promoting wellbeing, we provided multidisciplinary services for the Innovation Centre – an inspiring activity-based working environment that facilitates and fosters ideation, innovation and collaboration. Through lean design and sustainable materials, structural embodied carbon was reduced by 22% in the net zero Innovation Centre – achieving a BREEAM Outstanding rating – and 38% in the Pavilion. Both buildings achieved WELL Platinum and are ahead of UKGBC 2025 targets.

One Portwall Square

One Portwall Square

Located in Bristol’s commercial district, One Portwall Square offers 33,750 net sq ft of offices and a landscaped square with trees. We helped Nord and AHMM turn this highly constrained site into a BREEAM Excellent and EPC A market-leading building in innovation, whilst maximising lettable space. The building has in-slab cooling and mixed mode ventilation which allows ‘free running’ for nearly six months each year, reducing carbon emissions by 60% compared to Building Regulations 2013 requirements.

Southern House

Southern House

Home to multiple Government departments, the performance of Southern House had the potential to be optimised. As a trusted advisor to Avison Young, we ran a six-month analysis of building systems, fault finding on the system configuration, and revealing the value of switching to condition-based building management. By resizing the building systems, we reduced operational emissions by 18%, saved £125,000 on annual energy and maintenance costs and also £1.4m on plant replacement over five years.

Rack Centre Building Two

Rack Centre Building Two

Rack Centre’s latest expansion will bring unprecedented carrier-neutral scale to West Africa, increasing IT power capacity from 1.5MW up to 13.5MW. It is the first data centre in EMEA to achieve the international EDGE certification for sustainable design. It is forecast to be 35% more energy efficient than the average for regional data centres and to use 41% less water, reducing operating costs and supporting the client’s net zero carbon ambitions.

Reimagining existing buildings

Retrofitting existing buildings is an essential element in the fabric of cities and achieving net zero carbon ambitions, often delivering greater social and commercial value to their nearby communities.

By improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and improving the health and comfort of occupants, retrofitting can help create a more sustainable built environment for the future.

Read below about some projects where we have extended the life of existing buildings to deliver transformative and sustainable outcomes.

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City Hall

City Hall

Supporting the Mayor of London’s net zero carbon goals, the new City Hall is located in a former office and exhibition centre. Engineered by Arup over a decade ago, it was the first building in the world to achieve BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum. It is now re-established as an exemplar of sustainability, through a BREEAM Outstanding refurbishment – we improved efficiency by 20% and reduced carbon by 50%.

Camden Town Hall

Camden Town Hall

Grade II listed Camden Town Hall has been transformed to become one of the most sustainable historic buildings in Camden. Set to receive BREEAM Excellent, heating and cooling of the building is powered 100% by renewable resources, which has been combined with improved insulation and upgraded glazing to reduce energy usage. Integrating these new systems within the neoclassical town hall, the democratic, community and civic facilities have been modernised and historic features have been restored.

Bow Bells House

Bow Bells House

Bow Bells House is a 215,000 sq ft office building that links the Bank of England and St Paul's Cathedral. Arup has advised on a range of projects in recent years – from performance analysis and light touch works, to a net zero carbon pathway and building upgrades. Originally developed in 2007, the refurbishment will retain as much of the existing structure as possible, while enhancing the occupier experience, improving operational efficiency and reducing running costs.

Scottish National Gallery

Scottish National Gallery temporary works

Looking to create new subterranean exhibition suites, the National Galleries of Scotland turned to Arup for the most technically complex phase – securing the Gallery's Grade A listed façade whilst creating a 6m deep excavation beneath. Bringing together multidisciplinary experts, we used a combination of digital tools and adaptable solutions to de-risk the temporary works. Predicting movements and strains above unpredictable ground conditions was key to secure the Palladian façade until it was transferred onto permanent works.

Alexander Stadium

Alexander Stadium

For Birmingham to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the city needed to redevelop Alexander Stadium into a world-class stadium. By engaging with Arup early, we were able to provide co-ordinated design, planning and engineering services, enabling better outcomes. Improvements to the stadium include upgraded tracks, an all-weather pitch, increased spectator capacity, teaching spaces and better facilities – creating a centre for sporting excellence that will benefit local residents for generations and boost the region’s economy.  

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Learning & Teaching Building

Learning & Teaching Building, University of Strathclyde

The University of Strathclyde wanted to join two buildings – one Grade B listed – to enhance the student experience. Working with BDP, we reused the existing structures as much as possible, achieving a 67% carbon reduction on a new build project. Through adaptive reuse, we strengthened the existing structure to minimise new foundations, converted storage chambers into new social spaces, and engineered a cantilevered steel frame projecting off the existing frame to increase valuable floor area.

Digital transformation

Digital technology and data are transforming the way we design and engineer buildings, enabling a deeper level of insight and allowing us to reduce operating costs and optimise the life of buildings.

Embedding real time data also provides our clients with valuable metrics to optimise the in-use performance of their assets.

Read below about some examples of how digital is embedded throughout our projects’ lifecycle.

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Air One

Air One

Showcasing how advanced air mobility can cut congestion, improve air quality and decarbonise transport, Urban-Air Port is the world’s first vertical take-off hub for flying taxis and delivery drones. Using digital tools, we created a rapidly deployable hub that is 60% smaller than traditional helipads, with an innovative lifting platform. 100% of components are reusable and the hub can be operated completely off-grid, opening up possibilities for rapid response air mobility in emergency situations.

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Centre for Student Life

Centre for Student Life

Part of the biggest Cardiff University campus upgrade in a generation, the Centre for Student Life houses a range of facilities under one roof. A complex and constrained site, we used our digital capability to maximise available space. Automated column reinforcement refined structural efficiency, saving carbon and costs. Advanced modelling made it possible to keep the Students’ Union open, and Arup SoundLab allowed us to design out structural isolators for vibration from the nearby railway.

Hanoi Opera House

Hanoi Opera House

Amongst Vietnam’s most significant performance venues in 100 years, Hanoi Opera House features one of the largest concrete shell roofs in the world. By developing an advanced algorithm with Renzo Piano Building Workshop, we shaped it to be as thin as possible, ultra-light and highly resilient to earthquakes and storm winds. This helped us minimise material use, reduce carbon and save costs. Pearlescent tile cladding reflects solar radiation, regulating temperatures and reducing energy use.

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City Road

City Road

Suffering multiple leaks, the hot water system at this residential development needed replacement. With limited site access during the pandemic, Arup created a 3D model of the building, which allowed us to engineer a solution to completely replace the faulty system without relocating residents, avoiding disruption and halving project costs. The new, efficient system cuts energy use and emissions, reducing operating costs. It also allows tenants to monitor their consumption through a smarter billing system.  

Paradise Centre Phase Two

Paradise Centre Phase Two

Paradise will deliver 1.8 million sq ft of space when complete in 2028, comprising offices, retail space, a hotel and 370 residences. To realise the potential of this complex site, we developed a comprehensive digital model, and provided all engineering and specialist design for the three-phased development. As part of phase two we engineered One Centenary Way, the most complex of buildings at Paradise, and our smart-enabled home in the Midlands from summer 2023.

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