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PROJECTS - COMMERICAL - OFFICE
Charters Yard
Purpose-Built Sustainable Headquarters in Guildford, Surrey
Commercial Development | Design & Build | Reinforced Concrete | CLT | Zinc Façade | TABS | GSHP
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Charters Yard is a purpose-built headquarters for a local technology company, designed to balance sustainability, contextual sensitivity and long-term performance.
Located within a sensitive riverside setting in Guildford, the building combines fair-faced concrete, cross-laminated timber (CLT), zinc cladding and high-performance building systems to create a robust and enduring workplace.
Designed by K.G.A Feakes RIBA and delivered by Ivett Design and Build Ltd, the project reflects a commitment to sustainable construction, material efficiency and contextual responsibility. Every element of the development was carefully considered to optimise environmental performance whilst creating a high-quality working environment for its occupants.
Project Type
Commercial Office Development - Cat B
Location
Guildford, Surrey
IDB Role
Design & Build Contractor
Architect
K.G.A Feakes RIBA
Structural Engineer
VKHP Consulting
www.vkhp.co.uk
MEP Engineer
Flatt Consulting
www.flattconsulting.com
Electrical Design
Project Design.io
www.projectdesign.io
Structure
Reinforced Concrete Frame &
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)
Sustainability
EPC = A4 Rated Building
Air Tightness = 0.82 m³/(h·m²) @ 50 Pa
Building Fabric Performance
Roof - 0.13 W/m²K
Cladding Walls - 0.16 W/m²K
Windows - 0.79 W/m²K
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
67 Solar PV Panels providing on-site renewable Electricity generation
GSHP - Ground Source Heat Pump
Low Carbon heating and cooling
Tekna Group
Thermally Activated Building Structure (TABS)
Energy efficient heating and cooling via the structures thermal mass - Rahau TABS
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)
High quality indoor air with reduced energy use using thermal wheels
On-site Water Well
Sustainable water source for building use
Tekna Group
Recycled Construction Materials
Materials reclaimed from existing buildings
50% GGBS Concrete Specification
Lower embodied carbon in concrete
Cemex GGBS
High-Performance Thermal Envelope Excellent insulation and airtightness performance - Salmon Solutions
Passive Enviroment Design
Optimised orientation, day lighting, shading, fabric first and thermal mass
Enhanced Biodiversity
Native planting, ecological habitats, bird boxes and bat boxes delivering a substantial increase in green space and ecological value.
MATERIAL-LED DEISGN
Charters Yard was conceived around a material-led architectural approach that celebrates the honesty of construction. Fair-faced concrete, exposed structural elements, cross-laminated timber (CLT) and standing seam zinc cladding are expressed throughout the building, reducing the need for applied finishes and creating a robust, timeless aesthetic.
The careful selection of durable, low-maintenance materials not only enhances longevity but also contributes to the building's environmental performance, delivering a workplace that balances architectural quality with long-term operational efficiency.
DAYLIGHT, COLABORATION & WELLBEING
A central multi-storey atrium forms the heart of the building, drawing natural daylight deep into the floor plates and creating visual connections between departments. Generous glazing, open circulation spaces and carefully considered communal areas encourage interaction, collaboration and knowledge sharing amongst occupants.
The combination of abundant daylight, natural materials and high indoor environmental quality creates a healthy and productive workplace designed to support occupant wellbeing throughout the working day.
EXPOSED STRUCTURE
The structural frame remains visible throughout much of the building, showcasing the quality and precision of the reinforced concrete construction. Exposed concrete columns, walls and stair cores are complemented by carefully integrated CLT elements, creating a clear expression of how the building is assembled.
By allowing the structure to form part of the finished architectural language, material usage is reduced whilst celebrating craftsmanship, construction quality and engineering excellence. This approach reinforces the building's honest character and contributes to its long-term durability and sustainability.
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Client