by Brianna Crandall — March 8, 2013—10-12 Downing Street, the building complex in London that has included the home of the British prime minister since 1735, is one of 17 international buildings to receive BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) Awards at Ecobuild in London on March 5. The complex also comprises the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, housing for some 150 workers, and a suite of presentation and ceremonial staterooms. The Grade 1 listed historic building is undergoing a phased modernization and renovation program under which the building’s display energy certificate (DEC) rating has improved from E to D since 2009; energy use is published in real time on the Number 10 Web site.
The Downing Street complex was assessed under the BREEAM In-Use scheme for existing buildings, and this year receives a special award for the building that made the most improvement from year to year in its BREEAM In-Use performance. Other BREEAM Award winners range from Victorian terrace homes in Manchester and industrial buildings in Wigan, to innovative office and retail developments in Paris, London and Istanbul. The wide range of building types reflects BREEAM’s expansion from its original focus on new buildings to existing buildings in use, refurbishment projects and community level masterplanning, notes BRE Global.
According to program administrator BRE (Building Research Establishment) Global, the BREEAM Awards pay tribute to the outstanding skill and determination of the building owners, developers, project teams and assessors who are setting new standards in sustainability. All of the award-winning buildings achieved at least an “Excellent” rating, which requires a BREEAM score of 70 percent or above, with an increasing number reaching the 85 percent needed for “Outstanding.”
The winners of the BREEAM 2013 building awards are:
- In-Use Special Award: 10-12 Downing Street
- Industrial: Armstrong Point, Wigan
- Refurbishment Special Award: Bowker Street, Manchester
- Fire Station: Carlton Fire Station, Nottingham
- International — Offices: Challenger, France
- Data centers: Cobalt Data Centre 2, Newcastle
- Education: Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen, Bridgend
- International — Other Buildings: De Balk van Beel, Leuven
- Healthcare: Edge Lane Hospital, Liverpool
- Other Buildings: Five Pancras Square, London
- Prisons: Kitchen and VT Workshops,HMP Thameside
- In-Use Parts 1 and 2: Kanyon, Istanbul
- In-Use International (Pilot) : Le Hive, Paris
- Offices: One Angel Square, Manchester
- Multi-residential: Llys Ton Extra Care Centre, Bridgend
- Courts: Newport Magistrates Court
- Retail: Waitrose, Bracknell
Awards were also presented for the most successful BREEAM Assessor company and for individual BREEAM Assessors and BREEAM In-Use Auditors, acknowledging the vital role these professionals play in the success of the program. In recognition of BREEAM’s growing international presence, the BREEAM Country First assessor awards were introduced this year, recognizing the pioneering work of BREEAM Assessors in Bulgaria, China, Greece, Iceland, Lebanon and Malta.
The U.K.-based BREEAM is an international design and assessment method for sustainable buildings, with over 250,000 buildings certified and over a million registered for certification since it was first launched in 1990. Credits are awarded in nine categories according to performance, leading to a single overall score on a scale of Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent or Outstanding, which is also reflected in a star rating from 1 to 5 stars.
