One Station Hill (“ONE”), the landmark office development in Reading, has been awarded an AirScore D&O (Design & Operation) Platinum rating, making it the highest design specification of any new build office.

The AirScore D&O is AirRated’s comprehensive review of the proposed design and operation of a building’s HVAC system. A Platinum rating shows that ONE is set to create an exceptional indoor environment.

The AirRated assessment found that the design and operation specification for ONE displays an exceptional commitment to upholding healthy, safe and productive indoor environments throughout the lifetime of the building.

Multiple enhancements in the building specification, namely the addition of high ventilation rates, high-efficiency particulate filters and active carbon filters, demonstrate how the design goes above and beyond minimum guidance and regulation. By designing and operating the building to optimise thermal comfort, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide (CO2) performance, ONE will be one of the most productive office developments in the UK based on building specifications at the design stage.

As a result, ONE has been assessed and certified as meeting the highest standard of specification appropriate to the external environment in this geographical location and is designed with the future in mind.

“ONE is currently under construction and will be ready for occupation in early 2024.”

The new development with exemplifies how to integrate the highest ESG credentials – including reducing environmental impact and driving wellbeing and social value – into a beautiful space that encourages better engagement, collaboration, and new ways of working.

The highest levels of energy efficiency are at the core of ONE, which as part of the wider Station Hill development, will transform Reading town centre and create a new focal point for the borough with sustainability and community at its heart.

A key aspect to the community offering at Station Hill is the substantial two acres of public realm, which will provide landscaping, improved pedestrian accessibility, and a central piazza for the public to enjoy. The community will further benefit from 95,000 sq ft of lifestyle-led retail and leisure space.

Alex Aitchison, Managing Director at Lincoln Property Company UK, said: “We are delighted that Station Hill has again outperformed the industry to achieve a Platinum AirScore D&O rating. This is tangible proof of our commitment to deliver a best-in-class sustainable community for Reading. Occupiers and residents are right to demand the very highest standards of environmental credentials      for where we live, work and play, and the accreditation makes Station Hill another UK first to demonstrate our long-term approach.” 

Francesca Brady, CEO at AirRated said: “It is only in the past couple of years that indoor air quality has been truly recognised as a fundamental factor in the built environment. From impacting our health and wellbeing to our comfort and productivity; the quality of the air we breathe affects everyone. Our latest research suggested that over 70% of people would have their decision to come into the office positively influenced by a healthy building certification that offered transparency regarding the health of their working environment.

The design of a building often has the most significant impact on resultant indoor air quality. Whilst there are a multitude of factors pushing sustainability up the agenda, it’s important that this is achieved alongside creating spaces that promote our health. Station Hill is an example of a well-executed ‘balancing act’; bringing healthy building design into the fold with sustainability, aiming to deliver the optimal working environment.”