Biotecture has supplied BAM UK with three living hoarding systems for CEG’s EQ development in Bristol City Centre. The project at 111 Victoria Street, close to Bristol Temple Meads Station, is one of the largest speculative office developments underway in the south of England. Once complete, the building will offer 200,000 sq ft of high-quality offices and accommodate over 2,000 people. Architect Aukett Swanke designed the building with sustainability, amenity, health and wellbeing at its core. The development is targeting BREEAM Outstanding. It incorporates photovoltaic units on the roof, rainwater harvesting, efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems, extensive cycling parking, electric vehicle and e-bike charging points. Selecting Biotecture’s living hoarding system extends this commitment to sustainability and biodiversity to the very start of the project.
Project Brief
CEG was looking for ways in which it could demonstrate itself as a responsible developer that takes into consideration the concerns of local residents and businesses, who felt they could be impacted by construction activity. High up on these are concerns, and common to all construction sites, are unattractive works, noise, dust, pollution and graffiti on traditional hoardings.
BAM UK, the main contractor, required a very short schedule for deployment of the living hoarding system, with just three days allocated to the erection phase. This was due to the site needing to be ready to receive construction materials immediately after completion of the living hoarding system.
The overall schedule for the living hoarding from order to handover was just 4 weeks.
Another challenge at the EQ development was deploying a living hoarding system that would integrate with a physical vehicle barrier, which was specified to create a hard perimeter and protect road users from construction equipment.
Usually, sand filled blocks are used to create the physical barrier with the hoarding system mounted onto this. However, CEG was looking for a more robust method of preventing site equipment encroaching onto the busy road outside because the construction site will remain live for three to five years.
Highlights
- Located in busy city centre near Bristol Temple Meads Station
- Deployed in prominent position with integrated advertising panels
- Project delivered in four weeks to meet client's tight schedule
- Living hoarding system attached to concrete baulks with restraint fixings
- Plants selected to attract pollinators and trap particulates
- Construction work is due to complete in 2023
Our Approach
Biotecture supplied three PlantBox living hoarding systems at 7m2 wide and 2.4m high. The fact that the system is freestanding meant that it could easily be positioned on existing hoardings already at the Bristol site – all that is needed is support restraints.
Concrete baulks were chosen in preference to sand filled alternatives because they create a more robust barrier for construction equipment. It was then an easy process to deploy the freestanding PlantBox modules onto these baulks
The three-day timeframe allocated for installation of the PlantBox living hoarding system was again achieved because of Plantbox’s freestanding design. The modules were delivered to site pre-planted and being stackable meant they could easily be put into positioned.
Biotecture operates a growing nursery and always holds plants in stock. This enabled them to meet the 4-week overall schedule set out by BAM UK. The plants were selected on their ability to add biodiversity, foliage interest as well as their physical attributes in trapping particulates and attenuating noise from site.
The PlantBox living hoarding system is deployed on the main frontage of the site. At 2.4m standard hoarding height, plus the height of the baulks, it is proving a very effective method of screening off building work and vehicle movement, whilst maintaining privacy for the site.
Nearby resident and business concerns have been addressed because Biotecture’s living hoarding system is densely populated with plants, which can reduce the level of machinery and vehicle noise coming from the site as well as creating an attractive aesthetic.
As a responsible construction company, BAM UK is now able to demonstrate how the Biotecture living hoarding system aids biodiversity, providing valuable forage for pollinators such as butterflies and bees. For example, the flowering plants will support declining populations of bumblebee by offering them a welcome source of nectar and pollen. Within a few days of being installed, a white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) was spotted in the foliage.
Biotecture worked very closely with our contractors during deployment of the living hoarding system in Bristol city centre. They demonstrated a keen understanding of our requirements as a responsible developer and provided us with an integrated solution with the signage supplier and on a tight schedule. We are confident that the living hoarding will support early interest in this development.
Paul Richardson Investment Manager, CEG Ltd
Key Benefits
