Portsmouth: Land Rover BAR leads the way in sustainable sport with BREEAM Excellent building

Land Rover BAR is forging ahead in its goal to become the UK’s most sustainable professional sports team, and is now believed to be the first professional British sports team to operate from a BREEAM Excellent building.The team’s new 74,000 sq ft waterfront home on Camber Quay received the accolade last week from the world’s leading arbiters of sustainable architecture.

Simon Guy from BREEAM said: “Congratulations to Land Rover BAR on achieving a first in the sailing world with the BREEAM Excellent rating for the Camber Quay HQ. BREEAM is an international standard that rewards exceptional sustainable design and construction – a real recognition of a strong vision and team effort from all concerned.”

The team has already seen its operations awarded the Olympic-inspired international standard, ISO 20121, providing a framework for delivery of sustainable operations throughout the team's activities. Land Rover BAR is the only sports team in the UK to achieve the certification across all its activities. Now it has added to this accolade by achieving BREEAM Excellent standard.

The team takes its responsibility for addressing the issue of climate change seriously, and reducing carbon emissions through the design and build of its team base is just one element of its commitment to sustainability. Working alongside exclusive sustainability partner 11th Hour Racing, and with the help of Land Rover, BT and Low Carbon, it is committed to becoming the most sustainable sports team in the UK.

Opened in June 2015, the building contains many sustainability features.

Renewable energy

432 solar panels have been installed on 100% of the available roof space, and these generate 130 Mwh/yr and 20% of the electricity used. The remaining electricity is supplied by renewable sources.

Roy Bedlow of Low Carbon, which installed the panels, said: “This project has exciting implications for renewable energy. Because the Land Rover BAR philosophy is about educating and engaging locally, the project will be a fantastic showcase for how large buildings can be sustainable.”

Ecology

69 new species now find their home on the site, compared to eight prior to the development of the building. Oysters were saved from a dredge site and relocated to 9m2 of protected oyster beds hosted on the team’s pontoon developed in partnership with our marina partner MDL Marinas to help restart a viable population of oysters in the Solent region.

“The team has made a particular effort with this site to provide ecological enhancements that are suitable for the habitat and marine environment in which the site is situated, demonstrating a long-term commitment to establishing a locally relevant enhancement of the species diversity of the site, and using best practice and marine ecosystem conservation management," said Tony Blunden, ecologist at Aluco Ecology.

 The atrium

"One of our favourite parts of the building is the Atrium,” said Vivienne Conway of HGP Architects.  “It allows a direct source of daylight to filter through from the top floor down through all levels to the heart of the workshop. It is also used to draw air up through the building, releasing it through glazed louvres to help regulate internal temperatures; all while providing visual interest and physical connection between the various functions and teams within the building."

The wrap

“A gigantic fabric wrap has been applied to much of the building façade, its translucency will still admit natural light to the interior, while reducing solar glare. It provides a layer of insulation, protecting the building fabric and retaining heat in winter like a coat,” said Phil Ward of environmental consultants Couch Perry Wilkes.