Royal Bank of Scotland Headquarters - BREEAM

Edinburgh

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IES Consulting provided energy and environmental modelling services for the BREEAM Excellent RBS HQ in Edinburgh.

Key Facts

  • BREEAM Excellent Rating
  • £350m Development Value
  • 365,000 sq ft
  • 3500 occupancy

Completed in 2005, the RBS campus is made up of seven business houses linked by a glass-roofed street plus associated buildings for leisure, conference and training, all on the 90-acre parkland site of a former hospital. The building achieved a BREEAM excellent rating due to the energy and environmental modelling services provided by IES Consulting. The project was designed in line with RBS environment policy so to address sustainability and energy efficiency which made the project ideal to capitalise on IES expertise.

The design features displacement ventilation throughout allowing for fresh air free cooling for most of the year, chilled beams for additional passive cooling as necessary, coffered uplit ceilings, extensive heat reclamation, grey water recycling and sustainable urban drainage systems. In addition to the quality of the design the project includes a number of innovative construction and procurement techniques with a high degree of prefabrication to enable the project to be built to the exacting programme and budget set by the Bank.

Energy & Compliance

IES provided a complete energy modelling solution for the building to provide an energy use profile which offered insight on the highest predicted energy uses and how they could be practically reduced. The energy model included the solar shading effects due to the building's own form including the central street atrium. IES captured the HVAC design philosophy and with modelling of the HVAC system's chilled beams and free cooling could provide a detailed understanding on the building energy performance right down to the HVAC network. 

To complete the energy and carbon assessment, IES proved satisfactory compliance with the Scottish Building Regulations Section 6 calculation.

Daylight

IES provided internal daylight assessments using IES-Radiance to report back on the expected internal illuminance levels and plus the potential for glare within the office spaces, this would help determine any visual comfort issues and the measure needed to offset.

Evacuation

IES modelled evacuation predictions for a series of scenarios including total occupancy plus staged occupancy exits.

Awards

  • The Scottish Quality in Planning Award 2006
  • The EAA Awards 2006 top prize [Silver Medal]
  • Best Commercial Project & Best Interior at the Scottish Design Awards 2006
  • The Property Executive Magazine Awards 2006 Office Award
  • BCORegional Award 2006
  • BIAL Landscape Award 2006 for the Interior Landscape

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