EDGE, a leading specialist and developer of innovative, healthy and energy-efficient office buildings, reveals its designs for its new London project. The name of the new sustainable development at St Thomas Street on London’s South Bank is EDGE London Bridge.
In line with EDGE’s mission and previous successful projects, this state-of-the-art development aims to turn the ca. 255,000 sq ft nia (23,500 sq m) tower featuring 26 floors of commercial office space into London’s most sustainable office tower. EDGE London Bridge is designed to achieve both BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum certification, which would make this the only office tower in London to receive both accreditations at this level.
In June 2019, EDGE announced its entrance into the UK commercial property market with the acquisition of 60 St Thomas Street on London’s South Bank. As a global hub, London is both a natural choice for EDGE’s next location to establish an office and a great starting point to bring the strong EDGE ethos, design and technology platform to the UK.
EDGE believes in building better buildings that are not only inspiring and healthy workplaces but also address the climate change emergency. This is what will be delivered with EDGE London Bridge, while working closely with stakeholders to align on the long-term views and ambitions for a more sustainable Southwark.
With a planning application submitted to Southwark Council, EDGE can now reveal the design of EDGE London Bridge by architects Pilbrow and Partners.
Designed to bring the outside in
Image courtesy of EDGE
The strong focus of each EDGE development is not only on its users’ health and wellbeing, but to also create a benefit for the general public. Therefore, EDGE has taken a big step by adding a new public park with beautiful landscaping right next to the building. The park connects to a vibrant and publicly accessible base of the building which adds further amenities not only for the building’s users, but for the wider community.
The façade of EDGE London Bridge celebrates the character of Bermondsey’s Victorian engineering heritage and provides the building with scale and hierarchy. Environmentally, the proposed façades carefully balance good internal daylight with shading and closed elements to avoid unwanted thermal gains or losses. This contributes to a reduction in regulated carbon emissions above 50% on-site.
The green landscaping surrounding the building continues into the building with generous displays of green inside, as well as planted balconies. Underfloor air supply in combination with natural ventilation will provide optimal air quality, which, together with good natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows and radiant cooling, will provide a healthy environment for the building’s users and are essential to receive the WELL Platinum certification. The green podium will offer an inviting and lively entrance area to meet and connect, whilst the upper floors offer excellent views of the city. Furthermore, the building will offer several facilities, which include a tenant’s club with a large terrace, a gym, high quality bike parking and best-in-class associated facilities to encourage sustainable modes of transport, and a publicly accessible coffee bar on the ground floor.
Finding strength within
Image courtesy of EDGE
EDGE London Bridge will encourage the movement of its workers with a striking wooden staircase that will dominate the triple-height entrance area. The staircase leads to an auditorium which can be used by both the building users and the local community. The base of the building has been designed to create a vibrant mix of uses, to stimulate interaction and to connect the building and its users with the wider community. Flexible zones on the office floors will be constructed in timber, which allow users to easily connect floors in the building with atria and interconnecting stairs to stimulate collaboration and to promote healthy lifestyles.
The Team
According to EDGE’s COO Boudewijn Ruitenburg:
“These trying times make importance of healthier and more sustainable buildings even more clear. We will continue to address this in working with all our stakeholders and partners. We aim to make EDGE London Bridge the most sustainable office tower in London, offering high quality office space with the highest wellbeing standards. We aim to make a significant and sustainable impact on further development in London, without losing sight of the history and heritage that is part of London’s appeal.”
EDGE is working with architects Pilbrow and Partners, who share the company’s design ethos and strong focus on sustainability. Pilbrow and Partners are specialists in sustainable construction and progressive workspace design. As Fred Pilbrow from Pilbrow and Partners says: “Our collaboration with internationally renowned Dutch sustainability pioneers EDGE has been a fantastic experience for Pilbrow and Partners. Together, we have shaped the first of a new generation of London tall buildings that combine the highest standards of sustainability and wellbeing. The base of building, where a new park is drawn into the publicly accessible interior, marks an equally significant departure from the standard London office model.”
Simten Developments, EDGE’s local development partner for the project, has drawn on strong local experience to build a great team, helping to secure the site and advance the planning for the most sustainable office tower in London.
Edward Beaver, Partner at Simten Developments, said “Having delivered a number of innovative schemes in London, we are delighted to go even further with EDGE, bringing their deeply sustainable approach to the London market. Looking after staff and providing healthy workplaces has never been more important.”
CBRE and Knight Frank have been appointed as leasing agents and have closely worked together with the design team to make sure that the office spaces are designed to the highest standards in the market.