The South West’s first Net Zero Carbon in operation out-of-town development is fast taking shape. Commissioned by CEG and delivered by Beard Construction, 1000 Aztec West in South Gloucestershire near Bristol will create a new benchmark for office spaces, and South Gloucestershire council leader Toby Savage has visited the site to see the rapid progress of the £17m transformation.
The structure’s existing 1980s footings, frame and building structure have been retained, saving some 1.7 million kg of carbon and creating a pathway to a Net Zero Carbon Development. The savings have been made by a clever conversion of the existing steel frame and much of the preparatory work was devoted to shot-blasting a cement fire treatment from the steel, which was then given a rust-proof coating.
With the steel skeleton work complete, Beard is now removing the existing roof to create a new floor and roof, which will see the capacity of the building grow from 38,000 sq ft to 80,000 sq ft, creating space for an 850-strong workforce.
Councillor Savage, who is also cabinet member for the local economy: “South Gloucestershire is the economic powerhouse of the West of England and is a fantastic place to live, work and base a business. We welcome CEG’s confidence in this location, which, thanks to its excellent connectivity, is booming.
“This building is being re-developed and modernised with sustainability in mind and is in line with our own ambitious goal of tackling the climate emergency by becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The 1000 Aztec West redevelopment fits into a wider picture of significant investment in office, residential and leisure facilities in this part of our district – from the thousands of new homes being built on the former Filton Airfield, to nearby landmark leisure facilities like surfing centre The Wave, Bristol Zoo’s Wild Place and the recently opened ice rink Planet Ice.”
Matt Cooper, director for Beard in Bristol said:“Beard thrives on ambitious projects like this one. Repurposing the existing structure has not been without its challenges, but the energy of the initial build has not been wasted and we have saved a huge amount of carbon.”
Councilllor Savage visited the site as a guest of CEG to see the next, transformative stage of the work begin.
Paul Richardson, investment manager at CEG said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Councillor Savage to 1000 Aztec West so that he could see for himself the scale and ambition of the project, which will deliver a level of city-centre specifications not seen in out-of-town Bristol before.
“The development delivers the key requirements of contemporary tenants – environmental sustainability, staff wellbeing, on-site facilities and data connectivity, all of which respond to the requirements of businesses seeking to provide with people with the best workspace environment.”
Designed to meet BREEAM Excellent and EPC A, 1000 Aztec West will be powered by renewable energy and use energy-efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems.
A striking three-storey atrium will be added to the centre of the stunning new, all-glass structure which will include a secure cycle block with male and female showers and changing facilities to encourage sustainable travel.
A 1,300 sq ft gym and wellness facility will be the heartbeat of the building, with daily gym and yoga classes to help tenants balance their work and leisure commitments. Attractive indoor spaces will provide places to eat, meet, drink and work, with access to Wi-Fi and plug-in points.
Outside, a new café, decked terrace area and rooftop terraces will overlook Aztec West’s existing lake and parkland.
Completion of the project is expected in summer 2023. The agents marketing the development are Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), Cushman and Wakefield and Carter Jonas.
CEG offers an innovative, flexible approach to leasing, even providing fit-outs to reduce occupiers’ capital spend. Its Core and Flex model also allows a business to expand and contract within the space to help manage uncertainty, growth and seasonal demand.
The developer is creating an on-site Life team to make occupier’s lives easier and healthier. A dedicated smartphone app will be used to book meeting rooms, organise events, arrange dry-cleaning, book bike maintenance or fitness classes, as well as offer local shopping and activity discounts.
CEG has £300m investment properties currently under management across Bristol. As well as 1000 Aztec West, the team also manages The Crescent Centre and the Quorum in the city centre. Together, these offer more than 250,000 sq ft of office space. CEG is also bringing forward the flagship 200,000 sq ft EQ development at 111 Victoria Street.
The company’s Bristol portfolio offers the highest-quality city centre and out-of-town workspace for start-ups, scale ups or corporate headquarters.
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