University of Bradford achieves top BREEAM Outstanding rating

The Bright Building is the latest building on the City Campus to achieve a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating, which firmly places it within the top 1% of UK buildings in terms of sustainability and reducing environmental impact.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) is the world’s longest established method of assessing, rating, and certifying the sustainability of buildings.

The Bright Building is at the cutting edge of sustainable construction, the vast majority of the building products being either natural or recycled . It is the world’s largest building built of monolithic hempcrete, a mixture of hemp shives and natural lime. Like other plant products, the hemp crop absorbs carbon dioxide gas as it grows, retaining the carbon and releasing the oxygen.

Andy Hague, University of Bradford’s Project Manager for the Bright Building, said: “The impressive BREEAM score for this iconic building shows just how much can be accomplished. The project is a fantastic testament to the Estates Team’s determination to achieve a high rating and to the project’s innovative and highly committed delivery team.”

The £6.5 million part EU-funded building, designed by Leeds-based architects Farrell and Clark, achieved a Post Construction BREEAM credit score of 95.2% the highest BREEAM score for a University Building in the UK, surpassing the adjacent BREEAM Award-winning ‘The Green’ Student Accommodation, which achieved 94.95% in 2012.

The University’s Engineering and Building Estates Manager, Russell Smith, said: “The project has taken over seven years from inception to completion and everyone involved can be extremely pleased to have given the University another landmark world-class building. It is a true testament to dedicated team effort”

Barry Rankin, director of GWP Project Services and BREEAM Assessor for the Bright Building, said: "The building overcame a number of challenges, including the use of cutting-edge technologies, an aspiration to design one of the most sustainable buildings in the country and the liquidation of principal contractor GB Building Solutions. Yet through the perseverance, goodwill and expertise of the whole design team and the University of Bradford, the Final BREEAM Certificate demonstrates the building is an exemplar in sustainable design."

This project has been funded by ERDF, HEFCE and the University. The project has attracted £2.32 million capital grant investment from the European Regional Development Fund,as part of Europe's support for the region's economic development through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.