The Entopia Building

The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s new international headquarters are transformed from a former 1930s telephone exchange into contemporary, vibrant and collaborative office spaces. The exemplar retrofit shows what can be achieved within a typical office refurbishment budget with a clear focus on cutting carbon, while creating beautiful and healthy places to work.

Location

Cambridge, UK

Area

2,939 m2

Status

Completed

Year

2022

Client

Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Set within a conservation area the attractive Neo-Georgian brickwork façade of 1 Regent Street has significant architectural qualities, but the compromised, dark and uncomfortable interior spaces, most recently used as offices, were poorly performing and energy wasting.

Accommodating up to 375 visitors for special events, the office spaces include sitting and standing desks, tea-points, exhibition and presentation spaces alongside meeting rooms and flexible workspaces. The five-storey building is designed to allow occupants to interact with corporate partners, academic staff, fellows and support staff.

A special incubator hub – The Canopy – accommodated in dedicated areas around the building provides flexible spaces for eco entrepreneurs and small businesses. The double-height entrance space is a welcoming and practical space, with 3D printed feature lighting shining a light on innovation. On the rooftop terrace, a canopy of photovoltaic panels on a reclaimed steel frame provides shelter for events and an anticipated electricity supply of 11,740 kWh per year, which is fed back into the building’s electricity supply.

The Institute is a global leader in sustainability, and with the design team developed challenging environmental and wellbeing targets for EnerPHit (the Passivhaus standard for retrofit) WELL Gold and BREEAM Outstanding – believed to be a world first for all three standards.

This is a clear winner, showing how retrofit and refurbishment can, with determination and skill, achieve extraordinarily high environmental standards. All parties: the client, architect, and contractors are commended for not only setting but maintaining the vision for an exemplary and game-changing approach. The aim from the start was to feel normal while being deep green. The process has been recorded and operating standards are being closely monitored with the aim that others can both copy and better it.

CFCI Judges

Vision

All vision

Is demolition and rebuild always the solution?

Crafting High Performance Retrofit

Circular Economy

Is demolition and rebuild always the solution?

High environmental ambition delivered efficiently through imaginative, carefully considered interventions has delivered a landmark retrofit project that sets a new standard and is inspiring change.

Going beyond circularity in building design

Transitioning to a Circular Economy

Circular Economy

How do we break down barriers to deliver imaginative circular economy solutions?

The Entopia Building is an exemplar of circular office design, celebrating the creative reuse of waste materials across every aspect of the project.

Design

I am often amazed at the thought that went into it, from the provider selection to the interior decorations. Second-hand and circular economy can be done in fashion. From Entopia, to the world! The atmosphere floating in the air is special. It is as if we all knew that Entopia is the place from where change is being made. It makes me feel proud and motivated.