Wooden Tops Come To Fountain Street

In the commercial centre of Manchester, 35 Fountain Street is about to be refurbished and have two storeys and a roof garden added using timber construction methods.

The additional floors will be constructed using mass timber products which assists in aiming for an exceptionally low embodied carbon design-target of 350kgCO₂e/m² of upfront emissions.

The consented scheme will deliver c. 65,500sq.ft Net Internal Area.

BREEAM, NABERS, WELL

Fountain Street is set to achieve exemplary environmental standards, including BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5.5*, WELL Platinum, along with an EPC A rating.

The project’s upfront embodied carbon is just 371kgCO₂e/m², dramatically lower than the typical new build average of 1,000kgCO₂e/m². This results in a substantial saving of 629kgCO₂e/m².

Such a remarkable reduction is chiefly due to the intelligent reuse of the existing building structure and the incorporation of a low-carbon timber hybrid extension, demonstrating the effectiveness of sustainable construction methods in cutting carbon emissions.

Locking away

The timber hybrid structure plays a crucial role in sustainability by locking away 618 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). This carbon sequestration is a direct result of using responsibly sourced timber, which stores carbon throughout its lifespan. To put this achievement in perspective, the amount of carbon stored is equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of over 600 mature trees, underscoring the substantial positive environmental impact of the project’s design and material choices.

Picture: 35 Fountain Street will see timber floors added and new glazing throughout to improve natural daylight flooding into the building.

www.bywater.group/projects/35-fountain-street/