One Carter Lane

WELL Building Standard - Gold Certification

SKA for Offices - Gold Certification

One Carter Lane was the first project in Europe to achieve the WELL Building Standard. It puts the health and wellbeing of the occupants at the heart of building design.

Cundall’s new London office at One Carter Lane is more than an office fit-out. It is an expression of our belief that great design should inspire a creative, healthy and
collaborative workspace. During the design process, several sustainability assessment tools were identified for their various unique approaches to identifying and acknowledging a project’s characteristics:

- One Planet Living - Principles adopted: towards zero carbon, zero wastage, energy efficient white goods, locally sourced products
- WELL Building Standard - Gold Certification achieved: focus on occupant health, wellness and indoor environment quality
- BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out 2014 – Excellent rating at 74%: for efficient systems, low emissions, low embodied energy materials and good management
- SKA for Offices - Gold Certification of 81%: for materials reuse, responsible product procurement and fit-out best practice
- JUST program – Principles adopted: towards the creation of a more equitable business environment
- Living Building Challenge - Principles adopted: towards material transparency, bringing nature into the internal space, improved air quality, thermal and visual comfort
- Energy Performance Certificate – 61 C rating: to reduce CO2 emissions and encourage energy saving

Cundall designers started the sustainability quest by minimising the actual alterations included in the CAT A fit-out, (e.g. by retaining the ceiling tiles) before considering the detail of the design:

- Waste has been separated into recyclable and non-recyclable streams, with paper being streamed separately.
- Continuous monitoring and recording of zonal space temperature, humidity, lux levels, indoor air quality (TVOC and CO2 concentration).
- Minimising maintenance and management activities, e.g. with modern T5 fluorescent lighting reducing the need of regular lamp changes.
- Minimising costs-in-use by using efficient lighting with passive infra-red occupancy detection and daylight dimming controls.
- Where old light fittings were replaced, the units have been stored to act as replacements for when any of the old fittings fail.
- The fan coil units (FCUs) are the VAV (variable air volume) type to further save energy.

WELL BUILDING STANDARD
As well as embracing BREEAM and SKA, Cundall designed One Carter Lane to be the first project in Europe to achieve WELL Certification.

An initial review of the objective of WELL indicated that they aligned with many of Cundall’s existing values and outcomes, both in terms of workplace and organisational goals. Some of the requirements of WELL had already been implemented within Cundall as part of their commitment to staff welfare. Cundall decided that the best way to fully understand the implications of this new standard was to apply them to the One Carter Lane fit-out and assess the impact on the design.

WATER QUALITY. Clean water is a given in the UK and everyone assumes that what comes from the tap is fit for purpose. Cundall engineers tested the water coming from the tap and were surprised that the results indicated that it was exceeding the limits for nickel content recommended by the World Health Organisation. To counteract this and to deal with the demanding standards of turbidity, toxins, etc., Cundall purchased a large filter to provide clean water to the cafe.

AIR QUALITY. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have an exceptionally negative impact on the human body. Cundall undertook a rigorous process of identifying potential sources and eliminating them. To this end bespoke furniture was made locally, and the designers specified low VOC paint, adhesives, chipboard, and low VOC Bolon floor covering. Cundall realised that specifying low VOC materials and products was just a first stage, which had to be taken through into day-to-day cleaning and maintenance practices. Low VOC cleaning products and air fresheners also had to be identified and used, in order to prevent VOCs being absorbed into, for example, the carpet, only to be emitted subsequently into the air.

NOURISHMENT. The need to provide cafe facilities for 30% of the occupants offered Cundall the opportunity to consider elements such as the provision of fresh fruit throughout the day, as well as more basic concepts such as limiting processed food and clear labelling to indicate artificial ingredients and potential allergies.

MIND. This element of WELL considers how an occupant’s mental and emotional wellbeing can be enriched. In addition to artworks and personal items, quiet places and social areas, Cundall has applied its research on biophilia - the instinctive bond between humans and nature. Integrating plants into Cundall offices is not new but the company used the new office fit-out as an opportunity to increase the number and format of plants throughout the workspace. As well as individual plants and a green wall which has been modified to draw air through the plants, Cundall has also installed beautiful living moss panels in one of the meeting rooms, using a vibrant green natural moss which is visually very appealing and has a very relaxing effect on the occupants.

LIGHT. The lighting at One Carter Lane is designed to provide proper levels of light for staff to see clearly as well as maximising comfort and alertness. All this whilst minimising disruption to the body’s circadian system. In addition to desks being positioned to make the most of the natural daylight and using light-reflecting Bolon carpeting, the lighting is on dimmer switches which start to reduce artificial lighting at 300 Lux and switches off the fittings at 600 Lux.

COMFORT. Cundall has considered every aspect of staff comfort, taking a holistic approach to address the different factors at work – ergonomics, acoustics, electromagnetic fields, hygiene, temperature control and air flow – applying a range of measures to enable staff to be comfortable, both physically and mentally.

FITNESS. Here, some WELL features were incorporated into the planning of the building, for example changing facilities, showers and cycle racks to facilitate activities like cycling to work. Others are more concerned with day-to-day office life and activities, like weekly yoga classes.

BIOPHILIA
With sustainability as a core service, Cundall has been conducting its own research on biophilia, to prove the positive impact that plants can make in a workplace. This research has found practical expression in Cundall’s new London office. A striking planted trellis and green walls initiate conversations about how office spaces can be healthier as well as more sustainable.
In addition to the planted trestle trellis, Cundall has installed active green walls. These green walls have an innovative mechanical element - fans in the plenum behind the planting pull air from the office space through the plants. This filters and cleans the air to improve the air quality in the office. Whilst not a new idea, Cundall is taking the opportunity to test how it performs as a filter and to see how it can be used to improve air quality in an environmentally friendly way.
In addition to the trellis and the green walls, the open shelving offers the opportunity to have individual plants around the office.

MATERIALS AND QUALITY
Build quality and quality of materials were seen as being of major importance in creating an inspiring workplace. The design team collaborated closely with local fabricators, engaging early in the design process to ensure desks, kitchens and flooring, etc, were of the highest quality and made from sustainable materials.

Materials were also key in pursuing the WELL Building Standard™, by using only products that contain very low or zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and avoiding other materials that could give off unhealthy emissions.

Materials with excellent durability and outstanding sustainability credentials were carefully selected, with melamine finishes and veneers studiously avoided and replaced with, for example, solid oak cupboard doors and desk edging, solid Douglas fir, a stunning brass café counter and recycled plastic flooring by Bolon. The longevity and ageing of the materials were dominant in the selection process, ensuring not only low or no maintenance under daily wear and tear, but, when the time came, the materials could be sanded or treated to bring them back to their day one glory.

The Bolon flooring also works to improve the natural light penetration into the heart of the office. Its reflective quality bounces daylight further into the space which serves to create a better working environment across a large floorplate.

The use of brass in the kitchen and café areas, in addition to harmonising with Cundall’s focus on natural materials, gives the additional benefit of being extremely hygienic. Copper alloys, like brass, are antimicrobial. They have an inherent ability to kill a wide range of harmful microbes rapidly and with a high degree of efficiency. They prevent surfaces becoming “reservoirs” for harmful microbes.

However durability and sustainability could not always be reconciled. For example, water-based paints were used extensively in the office because of their low VOCs content, even though water-based paints will not be as durable as oil-based.

TRAVELLING
There is only one unused parking space at One Carter Lane. Conversely, there are 115 staff cycle racks and additional visitor cycle racks.
All staff use public transport or, better still, walk and cycle, and Cundall’s Green Travel Plan sets out transport nodes, bus routes and Boris bike stations.
A profusion of changing and shower facilities support more of Cundall’s staff in living healthy lifestyles; cycling to work, attending the gym and generally improving their health. A weekly yoga class has also been arranged to help staff exercise and relax.

COMMUNICATIONS
Innovation was also extended to the equipment installed. Telephones were replaced with Skype for Business (formerly Microsoft Lync®), revolutionising communication and extending the workspace beyond the four walls of the office itself. HD video cameras, audio headsets and dual monitor screens support low-cost immersive video-conferencing and interactive desktop sharing.
This is improving communication between Cundall offices globally, supporting agile home working and encouraging an unprecedented level of working relationships with clients and collaborators who also have the technology.

WELL SCORECARD: features achieved within each concept

Air quality standards (P)
Smoking ban (P)
Ventilation effectiveness (P)
VOC Reduction (P)
Air filtration (P)
Microbe and mold control (P)
Construction pollution management
Healthy entrance
Cleaning protocol (P)
Fundamental material safety (P)
Air flush
Increased ventilation
Humidity control
Direct source ventilation
Outdoor air systems
Combustion minimization
Antimicrobial surfaces
Cleaning equipment


Fundamental water quality (P)
Inorganic contaminants (P)
Organic contaminants (P)
Agricultural contaminants (P)
Public water additives (P)
Periodic water quality testing
Drinking water promotion


Fruits and vegetables (P)
Processed foods (P)
Food allergies (P)
Hand washing (P)
Food contamination (P)
Artificial ingredients (P)
Nutritional information (P)
Food advertising (P)
Special diets
Responsible food production
Mindful eating


Visual lighting design (P)
Circadian lighting design (P)
Electric light glare control (P)
Solar glare control (P)
Low-glare workstation design
Color quality (P)
Surface design
Right to light
Daylight modeling


Interior fitness circulation
Activity incentives programs (P)
Structured fitness opportunities
Exterior active design


ADA Accessible Design Standards (P)
Ergonomics: Visual and Physical (P)
Exterior noise intrusion
Internally generated noise (P)
Thermal comfort (P)
Reverberation time
Sound reducing surfaces
Sound barriers


Health and wellness awareness (P)
Integrative design (P)
Post-occupancy surveys (P)
Beauty and design I (P)
Biophilia I - qualitative (P)
Business travel
Self-monitoring
Stress and addiction treatment
Altruism
Biophilia II - quantitative