The site for the new Graham HQ, in Hillsborough, County Down, is hoped to achieve the highest award for sustainable building, the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent rating.

Architects from the Building Design Partnership, planning consultants White Young Green and PR consultants Strategic Planning are all involved in the project.

Included in the plans for the eco-friendly HQ is a biomass boiler and a sustainable urban drainage system.

Michael Graham, executive chairman of Graham, spoke about the BREEAM ratings, saying: “It involves details such as orientating the building to minimise heat gain from the sun to allow the use of natural ventilation, therefore cutting down on energy costs.”

He also explained how sustainable materials, the collection of rainwater, an appropriate landscaping will be used to make the building energy efficient.

“The centre of the building has a full height atrium, that helps with natural ventilation and spreads daylight throughout the building,” added Mr Graham.

BREEAM is a family of assessment methods to help construction professionals understand the environmental impacts of development they design and build.

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe