Greengage acted as the sustainability coordinators throughout the design and construction of the Exchange Square redevelopment works within the Broadgate estate. The project aimed to regenerate the public realm space to create a vibrant multi-functional area that benefits both people and nature. Greengage coordinated the project’s sustainability brief throughout the project, first devising targets that were appropriate for a project of this nature and then regularly reviewing and monitoring these targets with the team to maximise performance. An extensive material review process was undertaken throughout the design to identify opportunities for reducing material use or considering alternatives with a lower environmental impact. This resulted in the following key highlights:
- Granite paving and upstands were removed and re-purposed in a variety of off-site locations including as waterfront steps in Sunderland;
- Decorative stone from the water feature was sent to the British Library;
- Demolition waste was used on site as concrete within tree pits; and
- A 61% reduction in embodied carbon was achieved from early design to construction, primarily as a result of changing from granite to limestone paving.
Greengage also provided biodiversity advice at the early design stage as part of the wider Broadgate biodiversity strategy. Calculations were undertaken on the final landscaping, achieving a 600% biodiversity net gain with 26% of the site area being green space, a significant increase on the previous site.
