Peoplebuilding Hemel Hemel Hempstead
The first speculative office development built under tough new environmental standards
Peoplebuilding Hemel is sited on a 25 acre former industrial site that lies close to both the M1 and M25.
The scheme was the first speculative office building constructed in the UK after the tightening of Part L environmental standards in the Building Regulations. To reduce the amount of heat gain and sun glare to the building we proposed the use of reactive brise soleil - innovative motorised louvres that move with the sun.
Refining a technology first used at Chiswick Park, we installed large vertical brises-soleil on the south, west and east facades of the building. This approach allowed us to comply with the new Part L rules, while avoiding the need to clad Peoplebuilding in the heavily coated glass that would otherwise have been required to ensure solar shading.
Our trade contractors were charged with ensuring the most cost-efficient design possible and we constantly reviewed the specification to eliminate any potential problems.
The Peoplebuilding masterplan will see six 100,000 sq ft office buildings set along a central boulevard. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to move freely through the generous open spaces, which are attractively landscaped with mature trees, shrubs and seating areas.
Phase One of the project - a four-storey building, sports complex and mutli-storey carpark - is complete and occupied by three companies, two of which have made it their UK and European headquarters. Phase Two has secured planning consent, and will see a 96,500 sq ft office building constructed for Northgate Information Solutions.
