What Does "Green Office Space" Really Look Like?

At IQL, we consider how we can power our buildings in an efficient and low carbon way, right from the design stages. Our buildings are designed to use less energy through triple glazing and air tightness. They generate some of their own power with solar panels on rooftops, and benefit from the area’s CHP heating and cooling network which produces energy with a lower carbon footprint than traditional gas systems. Our buildings are designed to use less energy through triple glazing and air tightness. They generate some of their own power with solar panels on rooftops, and benefit  from the area’s CHP heating and cooling network which produces energy with a lower carbon footprint than traditional gas systems.

Office buildings with an abundance of secure cycle spaces built into the surrounding area, hot showers and changing rooms all encourage employees to get their pedal on and cycle to work. There’s even our Life@IQL app which offers employees information on local sustainable travel opportunities, like the nearby Stratford station, just 5 minutes’ walk away.

Smart building technology supports sustainable offices here in Stratford. Like our building at 2 Redman Place, where rainwater is recycled, and internal temperatures are kept at an ambient level through intelligent design and software, or the upcoming Turing Building which is proud to be a pioneering NABERS pilot project.

Some of our office buildings were built on sites where local, on-site vegetation, preconstruction was nil. We then built things like green roofs and living walls into the buildings which, in turn, improved the biodiversity of that specific area. We used plants that are native to the area and built-in bird and bat boxes to encourage local populations of wildlife in East London, with the added benefit of supporting cleaner air quality in the area.

All timber used in the construction of our buildings come from sustainably managed forests and are certified to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard. Other building materials like steel and concrete are procured from ethically certified sources and all electrical fixtures and fittings that we put into our buildings meet high efficiency standards. VOC paints and sealants maximise internal air quality.

Ultimately, isn’t this what it’s all about? The offices are designed to make working life better for all those occupying our buildings. Natural light and fresh air flows throughout, as well as a minimal amount of ambient noise. Flexible use spaces foster collaboration (see Workable as a working example). Workable was designed as a microcosm of the broader IQL offering – with a diverse mix of spaces to inspire and delight, and spaces to restore and re-energise. And it’s not just about the building. Integrated in to a 560 acre park, the neighbourhood is designed with spaces to meet and work that encourage people to spend more time outdoors during their workday. These are things you don’t find in any old office building, but you do find them in our green offices in Stratford.

The climate conscious and Covid-weary workforce are hyper conscious of where and how they will work in future, and the workplace offering that supports their organisation. The country is also experiencing increased heat in dense urban environments and the disruptions of flooded streets, which can add to psychological stress. IQL’’s open, modern, nature-led environment mean that workers won’t be facing the worst impacts compared to many older, denser places in London. The future workplace needs to be in an environment that offers workers clean, green and toxin free choices, and that nudges a healthy, climate-friendly way of life.

For more information about our office space across IQL, please visit the Workspace section of our website.