NOMA’s 4 Angel Square breaks NABERS rating ceiling in Manchester
The 200,000 sq ft office building is the first in the city to secure a five-star design rating from the energy efficiency assessor, according to the Building Research Establishment.
BRE operates the NABERS UK scheme, which uses the prominent Australian method for configuring operational efficiency for office buildings.
Situated within the NOMA estate in central Manchester, 4 Angel Square secured its NABERS Design for Performance target rating of five stars this winter. The NABERS Design for Performance assessment is made by an independent design review.
Factors that helped the 11-storey 4 Angel Square land the Design for Performance rating include its use of air source heat pumps and onsite sustainable energy generation from photovoltaic panels. Other sustainability and well-being initiatives include having 212 cycling spaces, 26 EV charging points, and a tenth-floor terrace.
However, 4 Angel Square will be unable to claim the full NABERS Energy score until it has been operational for a year. Since the building won’t be complete until this spring, those interested will have to wait until at least 2024 to see if it can deliver the efficiency promised by its design.
Designed by SimpsonHaugh, 4 Angel Square has already received a BREEAM rating of Outstanding for its design.
MEPC, the developer behind NOMA and 4 Angel Square, is targeting an EPC A rating for 4 Angel Square.
“With 4 Angel Square, we’ve really set the benchmark for energy-efficient, smart-enabled, high-quality office space, and being accredited as the first building in central Manchester to achieve the industry-leading NABARS standard is testament to that,” said Dan Hyde, development director at MEPC.
“4 Angel Square is a building that is truly sustainable for today and tomorrow and it will help occupiers attract the next generation of talent. The building will deliver lower occupational costs, as well as future-proofed, cutting-edge design,” he continued.
“Given the completion of the building is fast approaching, the first half of 2023 promises to be an exciting time as we build out our plans for 4 Angel Square and the wider NOMA estate.”
4 Angel Square is not MEPC’s only building to land a five-star NABERS Design for Performance target rating. Its 11 & 12 Wellington Place in Leeds has also secured the honour.
While 4 Angel Square is the first, it will not be the last – Bruntwood Works’ Ev0 in Didsbury is aiming for a 5.5 NABERS rating. Over in nearby Salford, English Cities Fund’s £36m Eden is also shooting for a 5.5 NABERS rating.
Sadly, this looks awful in the flesh. It’s a really poor design and it looks incredibly dated.
By Heritage Action
Looks good. Who said the office was dead ? just shows the right product in the right place will rent.
By Anonymous
Don’t care if it looks dated etc.
It fits the bill for modern way of life. More of the same inways of efficiency and sustainability please.
By Stephen Thomas
to think there used to be an architecturally stunning pub and car park here
By UNESCO rep
Everybody needs good NABERS 😊
By MrP