Designed by 3Dreid for The Co-operative Group, One Angel Square is a sleek and sustainable office building in Manchester, United Kingdom, the first in the country to achieve a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating

At 70 metres high, it is also the largest commercial office building in Manchester. It was awarded the A+ Energy Performance Certificate, and incorporates many sustainable features that have helped it achieve an 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions, and a 50 percent reduction in energy consumption.One Angel Square ceiling3DreidThe building features 300,000 square feet of exposed concrete, which acts as a thermal sponge and absorbs heat in the building, reducing the amount of energy needed for cooling. Another key sustainable feature is its ventilation system, consisting of the bright, contemporary atrium that forms the main core of the building.

Each corner of the atrium features three concrete tubes located underneath the building, which suck in fresh air from the landscaped open space by the entrance. The open atrium faces south to collect heat and stunning natural light from the sun, a clear example of passive solar building design.One Angel Square interior3DreidA rainwater and greywater harvesting system keep water consumption low throughout One Angel Square, while a heat recovery system in the building collects and recycles excess heat.

One Angel Square’s energy requirements are fulfilled by an impressive combined heat and power (CHP) system fuelled by waste cooking oil and rapeseed oil, the latter of which is produced at The Co-operative’s own farms.

Overall, the space practices several resource efficiency, biodiversity and health and wellness initiatives that make it live up to its prominent sustainability accolades.