South West Tour – Environment Agency, Horizon House, Bristol

The relocation of over one thousand staff from five properties spread across three sites in Aztec West, Westbury on Trym and Bath concludes a five year programme of work to bring staff together and improve efficiency.

Horizon House won the 2010 Best BREEAM Office Award with 85.06%, and uses a number of sustainable technologies to support the building, including:

• a ground source heat pump, expected to produce 18% of the building’s energy needs
• a mixed mode ventilation system providing both the savings of natural ventilation and the control of a mechanical system
• rainwater is harvested from the entire development roofscape and is used to flush the toilets
• solar thermal and photovoltaic panels help to heat the water and provide electricity

Working closely with internal designers, The Harmsen Group, the Environment Agency has created a building that will support both their staff’s needs and a high utilisation target of 80%.

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The atrium, café and open plan design are bringing people together and breaking down previous geographical and departmental barriers. The modern, light and temperate space together with the facilities provided to support staff are exceptional. The introduction of new ways of working has played a crucial role in increasing space efficiency and individual effectiveness.
 
The developer, Westmark, and the Environment Agency worked collaboratively with a shared vision to deliver a commercially viable environmentally excellent development. The strong relationships formed by the teams helped ensure a very tight programme was delivered on time and to budget.