65 Gresham Street: an all-electric office retrofit in the City of London retaining 70% of the existing structure and targeting a 66% whole life carbon reduction and operational carbon at 12% lower than the 2022 GLA criteria.
Sustainability
We are acutely aware of the vast impact construction has on the natural environment and current and future generations and are committed to actively curtailing climate change through both our business operations and the buildings we design. By creating elegant, practical and adaptable buildings that are sensitive to their surroundings, and by using robust materials and detailing, we believe our architecture has longevity and is therefore inherently sustainable.
Approach
Sustainable design is a collaborative process that considers and balances technical possibilities, existing context and social impact. At Squire & Partners, sustainability and wellbeing are our key design drivers, and we work closely with clients and like-minded consultants to ensure that all aspects of sustainability are integrated into a project from inception, to completion and beyond. We believe that designing and building responsibly is key to good design, adds value and makes for a better long-term investment.
Social Sustainability
We believe architecture should serve the community and foster local identity. Buildings last longer if they are designed for and are well-integrated within their community. On every project, we seek to reach out and engage with all key stakeholders and communities to ensure all voices are heard. To reach everyone, we go beyond the standard approach of consultations and workshops to foster a collaborative and unique engagement strategy for each project. We understand that creating accessible buildings means moving beyond box-ticking standards, and instead understanding actual needs as well as exploring new fields such as neurodiversity.As a practice we actively engage with our local communities in Brixton and wider London through school projects, tutoring, work placements and sponsored apprenticeships to ensure our designers and our industry as a whole improves in representing our society.
Our Solar Learning Hubs across the world for Computer Aid provide internet connectivity to remote communities
Squire & Partners has seen first-hand in our own developments that involving residents and organisations in the design process from the beginning of a project builds a rich local network and opens the profession to a wider audience.
In 2021 we launched our own flexible workspace development, The Department Store Studios, where we established an annual Residency programme which offers young local entrepreneurs access to free workspace, mentoring and amenities for a year.
We regularly lend our design skills to benefit our local community and charitable organisations across the globe. From realising Brixton Windmill Education & Community Centre and Noah's Ark Children's Hospice in London, to an Agriculture Technology Centre in Cambodia and Zubabox - solar mobile learning units across the world which provide internet connectivity to remote communities.
As a practice, we consider what impact we can have on young people on our doorstep – what skills, space or opportunities we can provide which will be useful to them now and in later life.
We have built a network of relationships with local primary schools and youth centres through regular creative collaborations, education workshops and studio tours. Our 40+ work experience placements each year offer 50% of opportunities to local secondary students, and we regularly host a stand at their school careers fairs.
To create opportunities for young people in higher education or entering work, we have set live design briefs on our projects, created social media challenges, and offered student mentoring. We work with numerous partners to support marginalised or disadvantaged young people, including Livity, Built by Us, We Rise, and Blueprint for All (formerly Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust) - for which we are mentors and ambassadors.
When we decided to move our practice to Brixton in 2015, we committed to creating meaningful connections in our local area. As one of Brixton’s largest employers, we wanted to be a positive and engaged neighbour to both the business and residential community. In 2020, we were awarded a Gold Charter Mark by Lambeth Council, presented to companies who make an outstanding contribution to their local community.
In 2015 and 2016, we created public street galleries on the hoarding of The Department Store during its refurbishment which showcased local artists' work, forming connections with the creative community before our arrival.
Since moving to the building in 2017, we have initiated an annual 'Winter Windows' lights installation in the windows of The Department Store - a collaboration with local school children which won an international design award in 2020.
Our dedicated events space is designed to be used by the practice as well as the local creative and business community. We regularly host publicly accessible events and tap into local annual events and design festivals to create platforms for community
collaborations.
As UKGBC members we commit to a minimum carbon reduction of 2.5% a year; measure our performance; look for ways to improve our performance; and promote all aspects of sustainability to our clients and colleagues.
Our Sustainability Working Group has at least one representative from each design team and keeps up to date with the latest thinking and best practice in the industry. The group hosts training, CPDs, sustainability reviews of projects and coordinates the office project register to monitor the office's performance.
