Sustainability Report 2013

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Contents

Strategy Statement

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About This Report

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About Bennetts Associates

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Our Approach to Design

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Our Environmental Impact

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Our People

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Our Community

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GRI Content Index

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Strategy Statement

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This is Bennetts Associates’ second annual Sustainability Report aligned with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines.

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While we have monitored our business impacts over a number of years, our 2012 Sustainability Report marked the first time we have publicly recorded our performance. To the best of our knowledge, Bennetts Associates’ 2012 report was the first Sustainability Report from a commercial firm of architects anywhere in the world to be registered online on the GRI Sustainability Disclosure Database. Bennetts Associates is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading exponents of sustainable design, with a lengthy track record of completed buildings, innovation and research. Much of this work has been generated through a series of pioneering office buildings, but the practical lessons of these architecturally and commercially successful projects have since been applied to a wide range of building types, from theatres to visitor centres, industrial facilities, university departments, masterplans and the multi-award winning Jubilee Library development in Brighton. Recently recognised projects have received the ‘Best BREEAM Bespoke Award 2008’ (Suttie Centre, Aberdeen) and Building/UKGBC ‘Sustainable Project of the Year 2009’ (Hampshire County Council Offices, Winchester). Having designed some of the country’s most significant sustainable buildings, Bennetts Associates has also recognised for some time that the re-use and refurbishment of the existing buildings stock is as crucial as exemplary new buildings. The majority of buildings that will be in use in 2050 are already built, many of which are coming to the end of their useful lives. Legislation and fiscal incentives (such as the Carbon Reduction Commitments) are increasingly directed at the existing stock as much as new buildings. Equally, as the operational energy use of buildings is reduced then the embodied impact, the energy used to construct buildings, becomes yet more significant. Consequently for environmental, economic and often aesthetic reasons there is an imperative to begin looking at the existing building stock. Through a number of built and planned projects, Bennetts Associates has already tackled many of the differing conditions and challenges associated with sustainable re-use. This has ranged from the reworking of a series of historic buildings in Central London for the practice’s own occupation, to the transformation of Hampshire County Council’s 1960s Elizabeth II Court into one of the lowest energy offices in the country. The latter is already seen by many as a benchmark for creative and sustainable re-use. The experience gained on such projects is now being applied to a series of projects that are engaging with lighter intervention in 1960s buildings and with the re-use of lightweight 1980s business parks.

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Critical to the success of these projects has been Bennetts Associates’ culture of objectivity and analysis, which rigorously examines technical challenges so that the design solutions are not only workable but also constitute architecture of the highest order. In particular, the firm quantifies its designs through calculation of carbon dioxide emissions, recognising that global warming caused by greenhouse gases is by far the most pressing of all environmental concerns. Bennetts Associates also practises what it preaches. Various members of the firm have contributed extensively to books, conferences and research groups on sustainability. Bennetts Associates was one of the founding members of the UK Green Building Council in 2007, with members of the office serving on various committees and task groups, as well as Rab Bennetts sitting on the advisory board. Bennetts Associates strives to reduce its own environmental impact as well as that of the projects it designs, and to that end operates an ISO14001 accredited Environmental Management System that covers both business and project impacts. This is supplemented by an internal Sustainability Group that is responsible for further research, the carrying out of project audits and the wider dissemination of knowledge throughout the office. Our annual report covers both our design and business impacts and looks forward to some of the issues that we believe will be important over the next reporting period. The report is currently produced in accordance with G4 ‘Core’ Guidelines, but we intend to increase the breadth and depth of our reports over time with the aspiration to report in accordance with G4 ‘Comprehensive’ Guidelines. However, we believe firmly that the best measure of Bennetts Associates’ commitment to sustainable design is to be found in the timeless, humane and elegant environments that we help to build. Rab Bennetts OBE, Founding Director

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About This Report

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This report covers the full period from 1 January to 31 December 2013 and relates to activities across both of Bennetts Associates’ offices in London and Edinburgh. No other entities are included in the organisation’s financial statements. Over the reporting period Bennetts Associates has operated solely in the United Kingdom. In line with UKGBC recommendations Bennetts Associates reports in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, which provide a transparent and comparable framework for sustainability reports. This is our second annual GRI aligned report and our intention is to continue reporting on an annual basis. The report is in accordance with G4 ‘Core’ Guidelines, and has not been externally assured. We intend over the next few years to increase the breadth and depth of the report with the aspiration to report in accordance with G4 ‘Comprehensive’ Guidelines. Contact: For any questions regarding this report contact: Peter Fisher 1 Rawstorne Place London EC1V 7NL T: 020 7520 3300 E: [email protected] Scope of the Report: The content of this report has been defined using a four step methodology in accordance with GRI Reporting Principles. These steps can be summarised as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Identification of sustainability context and topics for inclusion Prioritisation of topics and identification of material aspects Validation and testing for completeness Review against sustainability context

The first step is the identification of aspects and their boundaries, based on the GRI Principles of Sustainability Context and Stakeholder Inclusiveness.

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As architects, sustainability impacts both our business activities and the buildings that we design. Low-energy, sustainable design has been central to our design process since the formation of the company, and publicly recording our business impacts forms a vital part of our engagement with both primary and secondary stakeholders. Our primary stakeholders are those involved in the design process, inclusive of Bennetts Associates’ employees, the wider project team and client. However, through the legacy of the buildings that we design and our wider impact as a prominent leader in sustainability in the built environment, we are also accountable to a large group of secondary stakeholders – including building users not originally represented by the client, other professionals, and the wider built environment community.

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Bennetts Associates has identified the following relevant topics for this report: • • • • •

Economic Context of Sustainable Design Environmental Management of the Practice Environmental Impact of the Practice Culture of the Practice Client and Community Engagement

The second step in defining the content of this report is the prioritisation of these topics, based on their materiality, defined through stakeholder engagement. Bennetts Associates implements an ongoing and continuous process of engagement with its staff through regular open-house office meetings and staff reviews, with its clients through the collection of feedback at key stages throughout the design and construction process, and with the wider built environment community through its membership and engagement with various industry associations. The boundaries of the relevant topics have been considered in relation to the material aspects that have been identified and prioritised with our stakeholders. When the aspect boundary has been defined as material within the organisation, it applies to the whole organisation (including both offices in London and Edinburgh), without any specific limitation. These material aspects are:

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Aspect G4-19 G4-20 G4-21

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Boundary

Materiality (including material entities and limitations)

Economic Performance Outside of the organisation

Risks and opportunities to clients and other entities within the project team of incorporating costs and benefits of sustainable practice (limited to entities with whom Bennetts Associates has regular contact)

Materials

Within and outside

Primarily use of stationery (e.g. paper) within the organisation, use of building materials on construction sites outside (geographical location within the UK, except for limited sourcing of materials from Europe)

Energy

Within and outside

Direct energy consumption of Bennetts Associates’ offices, and the energy consumption of the buildings we design that are outwith the organisation – this has a greater impact, and also holds the greatest potential for reduction (material to client and building maintenance contractors, predominantly within the UK)

Water

Within and outside

Direct use of water in office environment, and indirect use in the buildings that we design

Emissions

Within the organisation

Indirect emissions due to generation of electricity, business travel, staff commuting

Effluents and Waste

Within the organisation

Water discharge

Products and Services

Within the organisation

Mitigation of carbon emissions from property

Training and Education

Within the organisation

Skills management and lifelong learning, performance and career development reviews

Diversity and Equal Opportunity

Within the organisation

Monitoring of gender and minority breakdown

Customer Privacy

Within the organisation

Data protection

These material aspects have been validated against the GRI Principle of Completeness and approved by the Sustainability Working Group and directors of the organisation. The relative impact of each aspect is assessed according to its frequency and severity in normal circumstances, and where appropriate in abnormal circumstances. Frequency

Severity

Impact

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Abnormal

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Example of Impact Assessment

Following publication of the sustainability report the material aspects are reviewed against the sustainability context, and internal and external stakeholder feedback is actively sought in order to guide the preparation of the next annual report. There are no restatements of information in the form of quantitative data in this report from previous reports. The only restatements of information concern the methodology and scope of the report, and have been included where relevant to this reporting period and where required for reporting clarity. There have been no significant changes inherent in the scope of the report or the aspect boundaries.

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About Bennetts Associates

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Bennetts Associates is one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, with a reputation for design and delivery across a wide range of sectors. We are recognised as a pioneer of sustainability, with a wide range of completed projects, published papers and research that demonstrates how good design is compatible with high levels of economic, social and environmental performance. As such Bennetts Associates’ culture and working practices are in line with the Precautionary Principle set out in ‘The United Nations Rio Declaration on Environment and Development’ in 1992. The largest environmental risks associated with the practice’s operations lie in the services we provide designing buildings. While all buildings by necessity are unique and therefore to some extent experimental, our Environmental Management System and the tools we have developed to monitor our work ensure that environmental risks are assessed and mitigated regardless of any scientific uncertainty that may be associated with them. Bennetts Associates is one of the founding members of the UK Green Building Council.

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At a Glance: Total number of operations: Turnover: Capitalisation: Debt: Total services provided:

2 (offices in London and Edinburgh) £5,409,465 (Financial Year to 31st May 2013) £2,205,788 £0 1 (architectural design)

Portfolio: Bennetts Associates have a diverse portfolio across a wide range of sectors, scales and complexities that includes, but is not limited to, masterplanning, theatres and civic buildings, higher education, office buildings and hotels. Our workload is based entirely within the UK, with the exception of a hotel completed in Amsterdam in 2011. During 2013 the practice progressed design work on a number of projects demonstrating significant environmental credentials, including:

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• 5 Pancras Square, a new building for the London Borough of Camden at King’s Cross that is on course for one of the highest BREEAM ratings ever achieved in the UK; • The FloWave Wave and Tidal Test Facility for the University of Edinburgh, a unique marine facility for testing wave and tidal renewable technologies; • The refurbishment and extension of the former headquarters of the Woolwich Building Society to serve as the new headquarters for the London Borough of Bexley; • The completion of the refurbishment of Grove House, a speculative office development in Hammersmith for Low Carbon Workplace, a partnership between Stanhope, Threadneedle and the Carbon Trust. • A group of highly sustainable buildings in Basildon, Essex which form a rehoming centre for the Dogs Trust. As of 2013, the practice has won over 100 awards and 30 commendations, these include: • 16 RIBA Awards, 3 shortlisted for the Stirling Prize • 4 BCIA Building of the Year Awards • Civic Trust Awards for St Anthony’s College Oxford, Royal Shakespeare Theatre; Potterrow Development, University of Edinburgh, New Street Square; Brighton’s Jubilee Library; Loch Lomond Gateway & Orientation Centre; and Wessex Water Operations Centre. • Building Design Architect of the Year 2005, 2011, and Building Architectural Practice of the Year 2011. • European Hotel Design Awards for City Inn Westminster (2003); and Mint Hotel Tower of London (2011) (both now part of Double Tree by Hilton). • In 2013, the Gateway Buildings at St Antony’s College, Oxford, won a Civic Trust award, RICS Regional Award and awards from the Oxford Preservation Trust and the British Association of Landscape Industries. The practice’s extension to its own office in Rawstorne Place, London, won a New London Architecture Award and was shortlisted for an Architects’ Journal Retrofit Award.

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Governance: The firm is a private limited company that is wholly owned by its shareholding Directors and has no joint ventures, subsidiaries or outsourced operations. The firm is registered in London and works out of offices in London and Edinburgh. During 2013 our average number of employees was 73. There have been no significant changes to the size, structure, ownership or the supply chain of the organisation during the reporting period.

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The practice is managed by the Directors and Associate Directors, who are all experienced architects. It is governed by executive directors and has no non-executive directors or independent board members. Director Rab Bennetts chairs the Management Team, which includes all the Directors and Associate Directors. Our Sustainability Working Group and Quality Management Group meet regularly to ensure that management of environmental and social impacts are integrated into our everyday working activities.

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The material aspects that have been identified and prioritised in this report are managed generally through ISO 9001 and 14001 certification (both approved by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance, until 7 November 2014 and 17 June 2016 respectively), and specifically through the implementation of our Environmental Management System (EMS), coordinated by the Sustainability Working Group. The practice utilises an EMS to ensure that all projects are consistent in their approach to designing for sustainability. It acts as a guide to set, monitor and review objectives and targets related to both business activities and project performance. Our EMS is ISO14001:2004 accredited. The Sustainability Working Group meets monthly to research and oversee design strategies, materials, legislation and standards, as well as to manage and develop the EMS. The Sustainability Working Group reports to the Management Team quarterly, which evaluates the ongoing effectiveness of the implementation of the EMS and proposes any necessary adjustments. The publication and dissemination of this report is intended to engage our stakeholders more effectively in our management approach in order that their feedback can be incorporated into the EMS and our future activities.

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Case Study One: Five Pancras Square The new building will house a customer access centre, leisure centre, public library and offices for the London Borough of Camden. Located on Plot B3 of the King’s Cross masterplan, it responds to the emerging context of King’s Cross Central and to the historic environment of St Pancras station and the surrounding conservation areas. A BREEAM Outstanding rating will be achieved using low glazing ratios with an energy-efficient ventilation system, making it an exemplar of a highly sustainable city centre building.

Case Study Two: Grove House The retrofit of Grove House is one of the first completed commissions by Low Carbon Workplace, a partnership between Stanhope, Threadneedle and the Carbon Trust. The organisation aims to tackle the challenge of reworking post-war building stock to meet carbon reduction targets within the constraints of the speculative office letting market. A BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘B’ rating are achieved by exploiting the narrow plan to maximise daylight, and the use of efficient mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting.

Case Study Three: Marble Arch House Marble Arch House is a mixed-use development on the corner of Edgware Road and Seymour Street for the Portman Estate. The project employs a progressive approach towards sustainability with brise-soleil on the west façade to reduce overheating, balanced with high levels of natural daylight to reduce artificial lighting use. The design allows for passive ventilation to be implemented in the future. The building has achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’, with 40% lower carbon emissions than 2006 building regulations.

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Employee Engagement: Employee engagement is carried out through a combination of forums. Fortnightly office meetings take place, which are an opportunity for project teams to update the rest of the office on the progress of projects and to update the whole office on changes to regulations, standards and working practices. The practice holds six-monthly reviews for all staff. These are used to highlight any training needs or problems. A weekly internal newsletter is issued updating staff on wider practice activities, environmental policy updates from the UKGBC and PR issues. In addition to these, the whole office takes part in regular CPD sessions (at least every two weeks), and summer and winter CPD days, where staff are encouraged to present and/or external parties are invited to talk. Project design, sustainability and technical reviews are held regularly to ensure a consistent level of output and to challenge standards.

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Stakeholder Engagement: Over a number of years we have built up a clear overview of our main sustainability impacts. This has been informed in part by our own, mostly project related, experience and also through consultation and engagement with a number of stakeholders and organisations, including: • Internal reviews involving the Sustainability Working Group. • External consultant recommendations about key sustainability issues. Consultations form a continuous part of the design process, but are also incorporated into and formally reviewed at three key stages, as well as in RIBA Stage 1,2,3 and 4 Reports (formerly B, C, D and E) • Reviews of formal project client feedback conducted as part of our QA system. Client feedback is sought at the end of the planning process and again on project completion. Feedback is recorded on client feedback forms and is reported back to the management team at quarterly management meetings. • Feedback is also sought from consultants, contractors and users on an informal basis. Comments gathered in this way are recorded, filed and fed back to all staff internally. Any corrective or preventative actions that result from this feedback is recorded on the Continual Improvement Log and reviewed by the Quality Management Group and the Management Team. • Best practice sustainability research and reports, in particular through our continued involvement with the UKGBC. Stakeholder engagement has also been undertaken specifically as part of the preparation of this report. Bennetts Associates’ 2012 Sustainability Report was circulated internally to all staff and externally amongst our key stakeholders, and the feedback that was received has shaped the structure and content of this report.

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Green Sky Thinking Week We took part in Green Sky Thinking week in April 2013, hosting an event that addressed the question: Which issues will be important for achieving sustainable buildings and cities?

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This took the form of a panel discussion and question and answer session with the audience, focussing on urban sustainability and energy. The consensual conclusion was that locating buildings in the centre of cities has many environmental advantages, including greater densities and better transport connections, but that this needs to be balanced with careful consideration of the relative costs and benefits of renewable energy technologies and district energy supply. Speakers included Clare Hebbes, Project Director at Argent for the wider King’s Cross masterplan, to which Bennetts Associates have been appointed as architects on two separate projects. The feedback we gained from this event was invaluable, and has contributed to the practice’s research output, including the expansion of our analysis of the direct and indirect carbon emissions of projects we are involved in from the design stage, including the prediction of embodied and operational energy consumption. Ecobuild In March Directors Julian Lipscombe and Simon Erridge spoke at two Ecobuild seminars at the Excel Centre about the practice’s approach to retrofitting strategy and resource efficiency. In April, Rab Bennetts (Director) and Peter Fisher (Associate Director) were invited to Shanghai to speak at Ecobuild China. Themes included ‘Revitalising, Redeveloping and Regenerating’, contributing to the practice’s wider understanding and approach to sustainability at a global scale. Marks & Spencer In June Rab Bennetts spoke about ‘Designing & Sourcing Sustainably’ at Marks & Spencer’s ‘Plan A’ conference held at Wembley, London. Bennetts Associates’ London office hosted Marks & Spencer’s ‘Plan A’ policy group for a day-long follow-up meeting in August, followed by a presentation to the office in the evening. Discussion ranged from ethical procurement of food and clothing to sustainable buildings and transport, and both organisations benefitted from a wide exchange of knowledge and specialist experience. World Green Building Week Sustainability Researcher Ranald Lawrence spoke in September to a panel of built environment professionals about Bennetts Associates’ approach to sustainability in different contexts, and the lessons that we can learn for designing in a changing climate in future.

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Architects’ Journal Footprint Live:The Green Rethink As part of the AJ’s Green Rethink conference at the Royal College of Physicians in November Peter Fisher participated in a lunchtime roundtable debate on whole life costing and why it is becoming an increasingly critical consideration in building design, hosted by Hattie Hartman, Sustainability Editor of the AJ. In addition, Rab Bennetts joined a panel discussion alongside Patrick Bellew, Pascal Mittermaier and Lynne Sullivan to discuss what they believe is the future of green design and policy for architecture, masterplanning and development. Specifically asking what are the emerging trends, what will define the green of tomorrow and which way the government wind is blowing. A feature highlighting the key outcomes of the conference discussions was published in the AJ following the event. Open House In September the London office took part in Open House London, a weekend where architectural practices and notable buildings open their doors to the public. Alongside displays of current and recent projects, visitors were able to see how Bennetts Associates’ award-winning office extension, ‘326 Downstairs’, has fostered and stimulated the design ethos of the practice. Staff were on hand to talk visitors through the projects on display and to talk about the role of architects generally.

The UK Green Building Council Bennetts Associates is a founding member of the UK Green Building Council, and Rab Bennetts is a member of the board of trustees. Both the Government and opposition parties consult the UKGBC on proposed environmental policy that impacts the built environment and through membership of the UKGBC rapid response team Bennetts Associates is often called upon to comment on consultation documents for forthcoming legislation. Bennetts Associates are also active contributors to the UKGBC’s online resources platform “Pinpoint”. Ben Hopkins is part of the key-user group, regularly contributing and rating resources and providing feedback and advice on the design and administration of the database. The practice has contributed several resources and has a number of registered contributors to the site.

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Green Sky Thinking Week

Open House

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Our Approach to Design

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Sustainable Design: As architects by far our greatest environmental impact is indirectly through the projects that we design rather than our direct impact as an organisation. Consequently how we design is of utmost importance. The most sustainable buildings are those grounded in human comfort that therefore have less need to consume energy by compensating for discomfort through heating, cooling, ventilating and lighting. What excites us about such buildings is not only their reduced environmental impact, but also that they are simply better and more pleasant architecture: the tall ceilings that allow the stratification of stale air; the well-proportioned windows that allow natural light to enter without too much solar gain; the natural ventilation that allows the movement of air; the thermal mass of exposed structure that ensures more stable temperatures; the views out to green spaces that increase bio-diversity and filter the air; the simple, analogue controls that allow people to control their own environment. All are qualities that most people would associate simply with more beautiful buildings rather than specifically more environmentally benign ones. Five Key Steps to Sustainable Design: We have defined five key steps to sustainable design that are applicable to all projects: • Briefing - understanding the project objectives and agreeing ambitious but realistic performance targets. • Passive design - ensuring that the design of the building is optimised to respond to its ambient climate and reduce its need for mechanical systems. • Active systems – only using active systems when really needed. • Low carbon and renewable energy - consider renewable and low carbon energy supplies. • Monitoring and feedback - once a building is occupied, then we must ensure that it works as well as it can and that any lessons learnt are fed back into the beginning of the design process. As well as architectural aspirations, all our projects must show sustainable ambition, with project deliverables that are supported by hard data (such as CO2 emissions), rather than mere aspiration.

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Climate Change: Bennetts Associates recognises that our planet is entering a period of rapidly increasing global environmental uncertainty. While this uncertainty is complex and has many different symptoms, it is widely agreed that the primary cause is man-made global activity, and the release of harmful gases to the atmosphere as a by-product of energy consumption. This presents a huge challenge, and one that we believe we as architects must respond to. The financial implications of climate change to the global economy are stark – the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change concluded that the overall cost will be equivalent to losing a minimum of 5% of global GDP per annum indefinitely, though including a wider range of risks and impacts this may increase to 20% of global annual GDP.

However we believe that the transition to a low carbon economy can provide Bennetts Associates with a unique opportunity to enhance the economic and social value of the services that we offer to society. We foresee no direct increased cost to our customers related to the services that we offer as a result of the implementation of Bennetts Associates EMS for this reporting period. There may be indirect costs as a consequence of the specification of improved building construction standards, sustainable materials and technologies, although these are likely to be mitigated by reduced life cycle costs and increased productivity. Environmental Management System (EMS): Bennetts Associates has developed a number of tools to ensure that all projects are designed to be as sustainable as possible. These have been embedded into our EMS to ensure that all projects are consistent in their approach to sustainability. An environmental performance indicator matrix covers the design stage of a project, a project procurement plan and compliance schedules cover procurement and a project sustainability report covers completion and monitoring. Environmental Performance Indicator (EPI) Matrix: The multitude and complexity of regulations, standards and initiatives that cover sustainable design can be bewildering. Over a number of years we have developed an EPI Matrix that pulls together various sources into a table that is simple to understand. It acts as a clear briefing and monitoring tool and covers six key, numeric indicators that cover operational energy use, embodied energy, transport energy, water use, site waste and bio-diversity. The requirements of various standards for the six key indicators are aligned into columns ranging from standard to pioneering.

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Example of our EPI matrix

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Operational Energy: Until recently Bennetts Associates has been collecting operational energy data from key projects measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per square metre GIA. However, measurements were based on different emission factors, significantly Building Regulations Part L and CIBSE TM46, which have different conversion factors for electrical energy. In order to remove inconsistencies and ‘future-proof ’ the data for future changes in the carbon efficiency of gas and electricity, it was decided to collate and store ‘raw’ energy data for key projects in kWh/m2, including data for design target, EPC certification and monitored energy usage where available. Information is disaggregated into figures for regulated and unregulated gas and electricity use as well as renewables where appropriate, and can be output into kgCO2e/m2 information based on up to date emission factors. The use of kgCO2e/m2 data will allow for straightforward comparisons between operational, embodied and transport energy consumption in future, especially as more embodied energy data becomes available.

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Bridging the ‘Performance Gap’ In August 2013 CIBSE published TM54: Evaluating Operational Energy Performance of Buildings at the Design Stage, with the aim of tackling the ‘performance gap’ between ‘expected and realised energy performance’. Two reasons are cited for the gap: a) because ’the method of calculating energy use for the purposes of compliance does not take into account all the energy uses in a building’ and, b) because in order to ‘deliver a building that uses as much energy as expected requires that the design is built as intended, the engineering systems are commissioned effectively and the operators and occupiers of the building understand how to operate and maintain the building’. TM54 offers guidance to address the operational use ‘more fully, and accurately’, using a 17 step calculation methodology. It aims to build upon the National Calculation Methodology, covered by Building Regulations Approved Document L2A, which compares a proposed design with a ‘notional building’ (with the same geometry and services, and assumed fabric and systems efficiencies, occupancy patterns and environmental set-points). The National Calculation Methodology does not take account of small power, servicing outside of operating hours, or unusual weather patterns and construction.

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The 17 steps can be broadly summarised as follows: 1-2: 3-9:

Establish floor areas/occupancy patterns by interview. Establish demand due to lighting, small power, domestic hot water, and other special uses by simple calculation. 10: Input internal heat gains due to factors established in steps 3-9 into dynamic simulation modelling software. 11-12: Establish demand due to space heating, cooling, fans and pumps and humidification using dynamic modelling. 13: Estimate management factors. 14-17 Analyse results comparing different scenarios, review against benchmarks, and calculate uncertainties. Bennetts Associates has adopted a simplified version of this methodology, which has been tested against completed projects for fine-tuning.

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Embodied Energy: There are many reasons why embodied energy has not received the same level of attention in the construction industry as energy consumption in completed buildings, however three primary reasons are: a) because embodied energy values remain insignificant in comparison with energy use over the lifespan of most buildings (unless the building achieves a high standard of efficiency in day-to-day operation), b) the inherent ambiguity in the definition of the term (e.g. whether it includes transportation, sequestration, recycling – all of which involve different methodologies for calculation with differing levels of particularity and uncertainty), and c) the laborious process of collecting and converting quantities usually derived for cost calculation into measurable volumes for embodied energy calculation. As the energy performance of buildings does improve, the issue of embodied energy will become more important. Methodologies are now becoming more mainstream, and there has been some attempt to codify standards. In 2011, the University of Bath introduced a revised version of their Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE V2.0), which has become as close as can be to a building industry standard for the calculation of embodied energy and carbon data ‘from cradle to gate.’ Bennetts Associates has adopted a methodology for the calculation of embodied carbon of building structures utilising the ICE dataset and standard of ‘cradle to gate.’ While this only includes the structure, it adopts the principle of the University of Bath/BSRIA report that ‘the processes and products that will be most significant should be identified and focused on first.’ An estimation of the remaining embodied carbon of the building can be approximated by extrapolation based on more detailed case studies. This process has been implemented in a number of new projects at the earliest stages.

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Soft Landings: The ‘Soft Landings’ framework is designed to improve the performance of highly serviced buildings in particular, by ensuring that users and facilities managers of newly completed buildings are fully familiar with how their building operates before the design team and constructor disengage following practical completion. Bennetts Associates’ first Soft Landings project was recently completed for the Dog’s Trust in Basildon, on their new rehoming centre. In preparation for further integration of the framework into projects, ‘Soft Landings’ outcomes have been mapped onto the Sustainability section of the practice’s Workstage Deliverables plan. These outcomes are derived from the example worksheets included in the ‘Soft Landings’ framework published in 2009. The framework itself provides more detailed guidance as to the actions to be taken to achieve each outcome.

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BENNETTS ASSOCIATES ENERGY BENCHMARKING (CO2/m2/a) -30

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OFFICE EPC Ratings BA PROJECTS: Camden B3 (predicted) with CHP & PVs Camden B3 (predicted) Oxford Humanities (predicted) EIIC (actual East block only) EIIC (predicted with data centre) Wessex Water (actual) Wessex Water (predicted with control centre) Edinburgh University (predicted) NSS Bldg 2 (B) (actual)

Renewable Energy Regulated Electricity Heating Unregulated Electricity Data Centre A EPC B

NSS Bldg 3 (C) (actual) C

NSS Bldg 5 (D) (actual) D

NSS Bldg 6 (A) (actual) New Street Sq (predicted) BENCHMARKS:

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PassiveHaus Standard EGC19 Type 1 NV Good Practice EGC19 Type 2 NV Good Practice EGC19 Type 3 AC Good Practice EGC19 Type 4 AC Good Practice EGC19 Type 4 AC Typical

Example of CO2 matrix

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Our Environmental Impact

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Direct and Indirect Energy Consumption: Our CO2 emissions are recorded as part of our EMS and all factors for converting energy use into CO2 emissions are taken from the Defra/DECC’s 2013 Guidelines to GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting. The London office uses gas for heating, whereas the Edinburgh office is supplied by electricity only.

breakdown of consumption for November 2013, regulated energy accounted for some 33.4kWh/ m2 of total consumption. Of the regulated energy consumption, 98.1kWh/m2 is accounted for by gas central heating and hot water supply, and 38.6 kWh/ m2 by electric lighting. Unregulated energy use as a result of small power accounted for 96.3kWh/m2 of consumption.

Consequently our only direct energy consumption during the reporting period was gas for the London office, amounting to 97,073kWh. Our indirect energy consumption was 82,673kWh, of electricity in London, and 47,502kWh in Edinburgh. We believe that this aspect of Bennetts Associates operations is material as unregulated electricity usage for I.T. equipment is the most significant environmental impact of our core services.

Daily power trends for lighting and small power vary little, and generally follow the pattern of activity in the office. On the average weekday, 36.88KWh of energy is consumed in lighting, compared with 5.23kWh on the average weekend day. On a weekday, power levels tend to rise from 7am in the morning, reaching 1.7kW by 9am, although a slow and steady rise is observable to 2.7kW by 4pm in the afternoon, at which point power falls back to 1.7kW by 11pm, from which it falls again to almost zero by 2am the following morning. This is broadly in line with occupancy patterns, as the cleaners do not finish work until 10 or 11pm.

Disaggregated data for the energy consumption of the London office has been gathered since the end of October 2013. According to the

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On the average weekday, 76.91KWh of energy is consumed in small power, compared with 43.55kWh on the average weekend day. On a weekday, power levels tend to rise from a base level of almost 2kW at 8am in the morning, reaching a peak of 5.4kW at 12pm. There is a small dip in power consumption over lunch, but power levels do not fall below 5kW again until after 5pm, at which point they fall to 2.5kW by 7pm, and back to 2kW by 11pm. However, the relatively high base line level of small power consumption means that over 50% of energy use due to small power occurs between 7pm in the evening and 8am in the morning, or at weekends. Post Occupancy Evaluation Near the end of the year a building user survey of perceived temperatures at different times of the year, and a thermal comfort survey based on ASHRAE Standard 55 were conducted. According to the Building User Survey (sample size: summer, 48; winter, 54), the mean score for temperature in summer was +1.35, where -3 is

“much too cool” and +3 is “much too warm”. The mean score for winter was +0.19. From this analysis it can be seen that the temperature in the Upstairs Printworks and the Mezzanine are both perceived to be between “too warm” and “much too warm” in summer, while remaining “comfortably warm” in winter, while the New-build Ground Floor and 326 are perceived to be on average the most comfortable spaces throughout the year. The Downstairs Printworks closely matches the building average in terms of perceived temperature, remaining the warm side of “comfortable” throughout the year. A further question based on the Nicol Scale (extrapolated from the usual -2 to +2, to -3 to +3, for ease of comparison) was employed to differentiate between actual and preferred feeling, as it should not be taken for granted that the preferred feeling is neutral. The results show that the Upstairs Printworks and the New-build Ground Floor were perceived to be the warmest at the time of the survey. Average air temperatures in each were 25.4C and

25

23.8C respectively. The Mezzanine was also perceived to be warm, with an average air temperature of 23.7C. 326 and the Downstairs Printworks were perceived to be the coolest spaces, with air temperatures of 22.9C and 22.8C respectively at the time of the survey. Both the Building User Survey and the Thermal Comfort Survey reveal potential to save energy by reducing internal space heating in the office. However, more significant energy savings might be possible by attempting to lower the base level of small power demand over the weekends and at night.

EN15

Resultant Total Carbon Emissions: For 2013 our total carbon emissions were 107,015kgCO2e. Of this total, emissions from the London office equated to 77,610kgCO2e, and emissions from the Edinburgh office equated to 29,404kgCO2e. Business travel is logged and annual consumption statistics are reported to the Sustainability Working Group with CO2e emissions separated out for rail, air, taxi and couriers. Currently the use of personal cars for business travel is logged but not reported for end-of-year consumption statistics and the figures also do not include staff commuting. We encourage staff to cycle and provide secure cycle storage and showers. Around a third of the office cycle into work regularly; and TFL’s Barclays Bikes Scheme and Oyster cards are provided to encourage the use of public transport for site visits.

EN8 EN22

Water Use: Domestic water usage is a significant material aspect of our operations, especially with increasing water shortages in London and the south-east, and because of that we believe it is important to monitor our water usage and encourage efficient behaviour to save natural resources. There is no industrial use of water at either office; therefore usage is restricted to sanitation and kitchen use, water for which is drawn from the mains. In 2013, water use totalled 720 m3 for London and 126m3 for Edinburgh. All water is discharged as domestic sewage.

EN1

26

Materials and Recycling: Bennetts Associates uses approximately 802 reams of paper a year, equivalent to 1,185.9kg (1,778.9 kgCO2e per year). We believe this aspect of our business is material because it represents our largest direct usage of raw materials. To minimise the impact of paper usage, all paper is derived from recycled sources or managed forests and oxygen bleached. Scrap paper is used for draft letters, reports and messages and the printers and copiers are set to print double-sided. The Sustainability Working Group monitor paper usage on a monthly basis and occasions of large usage (e.g. drawing issues) are actively managed by administrative staff.

General waste is generated on a daily basis from the office studios and kitchen areas. Hazardous waste in the form of IT equipment, florescent tubes, batteries and fridges is produced less frequently. First Mile, Paper Round and AnyJunk deal with waste produced by the London office whilst Shanks and LEEP Recycling dispose of waste from the Edinburgh office. The amount of paper recycled for the year was 9,300kg which amounts to a carbon saving of 13,950 kgCO2e when compared with sending the paper to general waste. The large difference between the amount of paper recycled compared to paper used is due to the large amount of incoming correspondence and literature that the practice receives despite requesting digital material where possible. Waste contractors operations and recycling are monitored by the Sustainability Working Group, in compliance with ISO14001. Procurement: Bennetts Associates’ core product is the supply of architectural services from RIBA Stages 0 to 7. As such the supply chain related to this primary activity is limited in scale, encompassing utilities, administrative supplies, I.T. services and equipment, catering and transportation. Bennetts Associates’ Environmental Management System includes a list of 42 approved suppliers. The impact of products or services is assessed according to frequency and severity, and evidence of ISO 14001 compliance is actively sought. All services are supplied from the United Kingdom. Similarly, all sub-contractors operating in Bennetts Associates’ premises are required to abide by the provisions of the EMS, including the procurement of products or services. Bennetts Associates reserves the right to stipulate the use of specific products by sub-contractors.

G4-4

G4-12

The procedure for buying in services involves the Office Manager examining the Register of Environmental Aspects to determine those purchased goods or services which do not have a significant environmental impact. In making this assessment the following is taken into account: • The quantity of the goods or services purchased. • The resources (raw materials, energy, etc.) that have been consumed in the manufacture of the goods. • The impact of the supplier’s or subcontractor’s operations on the environment, under normal, and/or abnormal conditions. To this end, where possible energy efficient cars are used for taxi journeys, push bike couriers are booked, fair trade and environmentally friendly kitchen and bathroom supplies are purchased. 27

Our People

Employees: At Bennetts Associates we are proud of the friendly and accessible work environment the practice has cultivated. As testimony to this is a very low staff turnover of 4.1% (UK average is 15% (source: Monster.co.uk). G4-10 G4-11

G4-9 G4-10

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The work of the practice is predominantly performed by directly employed architectural staff, with external consultants employed only for specialist tasks. There was no significant variation in employment numbers in the period covered by this report. 0% of staff are covered by collective bargaining agreements, however Bennetts Associates is a RIBA Chartered Practice and therefore operates in compliance with the RIBA Code of Professional Conduct, including employment and equal opportunities requirements. The breakdown of staff as of 31st December 2013 is as follows: Male

Female

Total

Permanent

44

24

68

Fixed-term

3

2

5

Full-time

47

23

70

Part-time

0

3

3

Architectural Staff

44

17

66

Support Staff

2

10

7

London

42

24

66

Edinburgh

5

2

7

Total

47

26

73

Bennetts Associates is an equal opportunity employer and is fully committed to a policy of treating all of its employees and job applicants fairly. The practice takes all reasonable steps to employ, train and promote employees on the basis of their experience, abilities and qualifications without regard to race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, national origin, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age, marital or civil partnership status or disability. We believe that our sustainable practice should extend to the way we engage with our employees, and so we actively seek to recruit our staff directly from university as well as industry, and we provide placements, support and training for students between RIBA Part I and II courses. Management Team

Architectural Staff

Support Staff

% Male

80%

70.6%

16.7%

% Female

20%

29.4%

83.3%

% Age < 30 years

0%

47.1%

33.3%

% Age 30 - 50 years

70%

54.9%

66.7%

% Age > 50 years

30%

2%

0%

% Minority Group

0%

9.8%

16.7%

G4-56

LA12

29

Training and Development: Extensive CPD is carried out through the year and goes far beyond the CPD requirements of ARB/RIBA. This is done through formal seminars, lectures and courses as well as informal office meetings and presentations. The breakdown of training received over the reporting period is as follows: LA9

LA11

G4-15 G4-56

PR08

30

Male

Female

Average

Architectural Staff

24.5 hours

30 hours

27.25 hours

Support Staff

18.5 hours

18.5 hours

18.5 hours

Average

21.5 hours

24.25 hours

23 hours

To identify training requirements and to understand people’s career development needs, 100% of staff receive six monthly career development reviews. In order to improve the performance and the standard of the service provided by the practice, feedback is always sought and recorded where possible. Particular attention is given to the performance of architectural staff; the client’s perception of the practice throughout the project process; and reactions to the completed project. Any corrective or preventative actions that result from this form of feedback is recorded on the Continual Improvement Log and reviewed by the Quality Management Group and the Management Team. Adherence to Codes of Conduct: As an RIBA chartered architectural practice with all qualified technical staff accredited by the ARB, Bennetts Associates conforms to Standard 3 ‘Honest promotion of services’ of the ARB Standards of Conduct and Practice. The organisation’s values and principles are publically available on the ‘Practice’ section of our website (www. bennettsassociates.com/practice). There have been no complaints received during the reporting period, substantiated or otherwise, covering breaches of customer privacy.

Marketing: The practice has a good reputation among existing clients and consequently a large proportion of work results from referrals and recommendations. The majority of the marketing activity, therefore, is generally aimed at improving the brand rather than chasing new markets or clients. The strategy focuses on projecting the firm as experts in the field with a robust reputation for design excellence and meeting deadlines and budgets. This is done through architectural awards, the publication of major projects and participation in conferences and seminars. In 2013, digital media was used more extensively to communicate with clients and vested interests. All promotion of the professional services of the practice comply with the codes and principles applied to advertising outlined by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Her Majesty the Queen meets Bennetts Associates staff at the official opening of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

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Our Community

G4-24 G4-25

Community Investment Strategy: Our community investment strategy takes many forms and includes charitable donations, pro bono architectural work for a number of organisations and contributions to educational programmes, such as lectures at schools of architecture. Our current business plan allocates ½% of turnover to charitable donations and identifies three key sectors for investment: Architecture; Education; and Environment. Association Membership Bennetts Associates holds affiliations with the following:

G4-16

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Royal Incorporation for Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Association of Consultant Architects (ACA) Founding Member of UK Green Building Council Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) Construction Productivity Network (CIRIA) NEC Users Group Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT) Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA) British Council for Offices (BCO) City Property Association (CPA) New London Architecture (NLA) Partner Theatres Trust supporter

Voluntary Initiatives G4-15

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Architectural • Article 25, a charity which helps to provide better shelter wherever there is disaster, poverty, or need; • The Architects’ Benevolent Society: donations, as well as support and participation in a number of its fundraising activities; • The London Festival of Architecture: active participation in its organisation.

Educational • Funding a number of prizes at various schools of architecture including the Sustainability Prize, Edinburgh College of Art / Heriot Watt University, Sustainability Prize at Greenwich and Bartlett School of Architecture prize. • Support and employed work placements for Partners in Hope, which helps disadvantaged young people with a background in care to find work placements. • Work placements generally. • A number of staff teach and/or examine at various schools of architecture. • Participation in both the Open House and past Junior Open House schemes. Environmental • Bennetts Associates is a founding member of the UKGBC and continues to support it both through on-going donations and though pro-bono support for the board of trustees as well as contributions to committees and task groups. • Climate Care to offset travel emissions by Bennetts Associates CPD trips. In addition to these we provide funding, general sponsorship or allocate time to the following: • Children’s health charities such as the Teenage Cancer Trust and Partners in Hope. • Cultural establishments including Hampstead Theatre; Sadler’s Wells Theatre; the Royal Shakespeare Theatre; and St Paul’s Cathedral. • Resource for London. • London Wildlife Trust.

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GRI Index

GENERAL STANDARD DISCLOSURES G4-32

General Standard Disclosures

Page

External Assurance

4

No

G4-3

6

No

G4-4

6, 27

No

G4-5

6

No

G4-6

6

No

G4-7

12

No

G4-8

11

No

G4-9

10, 29

No

G4-10

29

No

G4-11

29

No

G4-12

27

No

G4-13

12

No

Strategy and Analysis G4-1 Organisational Profile

G4-14

10

No

G4-15

31, 33

No

G4-16

33

No

G4-17

12

No

G4-18

6

No

G4-19

8

No

G4-20

7, 8

No

G4-21

8

No

G4-22

9

No

G4-23

9

No

G4-24

7, 14, 33

No

G4-25

7, 14, 33

No

G4-26

14

No

G4-27

15

No

Identified Material Aspects and Boundaries

Stakeholder Engagement

34

Report Profile G4-28

6

No

G4-29

6

No

G4-30

6

No

G4-31

6

No

G4-32

6, 35

No

G4-33

6

No

12

No

4, 30, 31

No

Governance G4-34 Ethics and Integrity G4-56 SPECIFIC STANDARD DISCLOSURES Material Aspects

DMA and Indicators

Omissions

External Assurance

DMA

12

Not applicable

No

Economic Performance

EC2

18

Not applicable

No

Materials

EN1

26

Not applicable

No

Energy

EN3

24

Not applicable

No

Water

EN8

26

Not applicable

No

Emissions

EN15

26

Not applicable

No

Effluents and Waste

EN22

26

Not applicable

No

Products and Services

EN27

18, 19, 20, 22

Not applicable

No

Training and Education

LA9

31

Not applicable

No

LA11

31

Not applicable

No

Diversity and Equal Opportunity

LA12

30

Not applicable

No

Customer Privacy

PR08

31

Not applicable

No

Generic DMA

35

Bennetts Associates Architects Bennetts Associates Limited Registered in England and Wales No. 2710265 1 Rawstorne Place London EC1V 7NL • T +44 (0)20 7520 3300 • F +44 (0)20 7520 3333 • E [email protected] • W www.bennettsassociates.com

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