Green light for BRE Open Innovation Hub 14.11.18

Planning permission has been granted by St Albans Council for the new BRE Open Innovation Hub, the first major new building to be constructed on the leading research institute’s Garston campus in twenty years. The Open Innovation Hub, part funded by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, will provide office and collaborative space on split levels for large organisations, SMEs and start-ups to come together to work and develop new technologies and processes for the construction industry. Daylight and thermal comfort, alongside passive design strategies, have been intrinsic to the project since inception; reflecting the BRE’s mission, the Hub’s design will represent a partnership between architecture and engineering, and demonstrate the BRE’s own standards and tools – fittingly, it will be the first building in the world to target BREEAM Outstanding accreditation using the updated and more stringent New Construction 2018 assessment.