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Castlemead

Bristol, UK

Rising 80m into the skyline, Castlemead was once the tallest building in Bristol and remains a landmark for the city. Originally built in the 1970s, this 18 storey office complex was acquired by new owners in 2016, and has since been undergoing staged refurbishment to modernise accommodation and enhance tenant amenities.

º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s asset consultancy team was appointed by Knight Frank to provide professional advice for the engineering services for this latest phase, which will deliver a new reception area and state of the art cycle storage facility within the basement.

The intention was to combine creative design and sustainable practices to set a new standard for contemporary office space in the south west. As well as delivering a double height reception area and flexible meeting spaces, the refurbishment will provide leading edge provision for green transport initiatives. Measures include incorporating electric vehicle charging points within the car park, and opening up the basement to create cycle parking for 410 bikes, Brompton e-bike hire, a cycle repair facility, showers, drying room and lockers.

Challenge

Our client wanted to realise the first dedicated cycle zone outside London to achieve a CyclingScore Platinum rating, and with it gain recognition as one of the region’s best health and wellbeing facilities inside a commercial building. Our challenge was to take CyclingScore’s vision for a modern, funky facility and fit it into a 1970s concrete basement, which required both creative thinking and engineering ingenuity.

The revised reception area also proved complex, with the removal of the existing entrance structure to open up space and create welcoming public realm areas that establish a real sense of arrival. Work involved incorporating an extension to the front facade, new security speed gates and six refurbished 20-person capacity lifts.

Solution

Our asset consultancy team played a key role across both areas of this project. Working closely with the design team for the new reception area, we were able to recommend low energy installations that will maintain a comfortable environment within the space without compromising the expansive visual aesthetic. We advised on efficient ways to improve lighting and air supply, bringing the building up to contemporary standards and improving health and wellbeing.

Collaborating with CyclingScore, we worked within the confines of the existing basement structure to create an exciting active environment. From installing efficient drainage for the washing facilities to ensuring there is adequate ventilation, we incorporated all the practical essentials while realising an attractive space that people will want to use. We also replaced the building’s service lift to provide a bespoke, dedicated lift for cyclists to access these facilities.

Both the cycle zone and new reception area have been designed with low energy LED lighting schemes to complement the green credentials of this project. They are also fitted with automatic controls that respond to daylight and occupancy levels for maximum efficiency.

Value

By engaging with our client at the first opportunity, the º£½ÇÊÓƵ asset team gained a full understanding of the key commercial and aspirational drivers for this project, as well as the challenges and physical restraints posed by the building.

We then worked closely with the architect and project management team to develop engineering designs that provided robust solutions to overcome these constraints. Throughout, we kept low energy principles at the heart of this initiative, incorporating sustainable technologies to provide the best occupant experience within a commercial framework.

Castlemead is now home to the highest rated cycling space in the UK, having achieved Platinum Plus and a perfect 100 grading and from CyclingScore. As well as encouraging office workers to adopt more active lifestyles, these facilities support Bristol’s wider green transport initiative.

As we become ever more conscious of our built environment’s impact on the climate, finding ways of making older, out-dated buildings relevant is going to be critical. This is a brilliant example of how a seemingly inflexible, concrete tower block is being reimagined to provide contemporary office accommodation.