Typical 1960s office block transformed into Sheffield New Deal centrepiece » Communities » 24dash.com

A typical 1960s office block in the heart of Sheffield has been given a major sustainability makeover.

Sorby House, a 3,500 sqm community project building, forms the centrepiece of the Burngreave New Deal for Communities (BNDfC) regeneration programme.

Thanks to architects Bond Bryan, the former office building now incorporates many sustainable energy features, including twin wall façade technology to promote natural passive ventilation, and acoustic protection from traffic noise.

A Biomass boiler installation provides heating from locally sourced renewable fuel and the natural passive ventilation is marked at roof level by the striking lime green ventilation cowls.

These provide much needed personality to the building and present a new skyline feature visible from around the city.

The striking design acts as a visual catalyst for regeneration at the heart of this deprived ward.  Retaining the majority of the existing building structure is a major sustainability gain at a time when many buildings of this age, and newer, have been demolished.

The formerly forbidding, institutional building has been transformed to a colourful, vibrant and welcoming area, offering flexible and dynamic spaces for community use as well as serviced accommodation for new business start-ups.

The new design represents a major makeover with a striking twin wall glass façade to the main road frontage which provides exciting views into the new interior atrium.

Bond Bryan was appointed by Burngreave New Deal for Communities in May 2004 to undertake the major refurbishment of the office block on Spital Hill in the centre of Burngreave.

The process has been energised throughout by the close working relationship between the client and the architect's creative team.

Associate Director Stephen Mitchell from Bond Bryan said: "The brief was to provide a landmark building to act as a catalyst in BNDfC's 10-year strategy for the regeneration of the Burngreave district.

"The building was a typical 1960s T-shaped office block fronting Spital Hill and extending to Sorby Street at the rear. We have designed the 3,500 square metres of floor space to be a mixture of open plan and cellular offices.

"Interestingly, the heating is provided using a Biomass boiler using locally sourced wood chips and the existing uninsulated building now achieves modern thermal insulation requirements.

"We have also implemented external facades finished with sto resin through-colour based reinforced render systems. This will help extend the life of the building and protect it in the long term."