Building Details
Client Rivergreen Development
Cost £7.5M
Area 50,000 sq. ft.
Awards
Royal Institute of British Architects Design Award 2007, North East.
Awarded Excellent Rating: Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) for offices.

Set in a cruciform plan; 8 solar roof panels provide 60 percent of hot-water; low-flush lavatories use rainwater collected on roof; Europe's largest internal rammed-earth wall moderates temperature and humidity; flowering sedum roof blanket; annual emissions: 22.8kg CO2 per sq. m.

Pasted from <http://www.archiplanet.org/wiki/The_Rivergreen_Centre,_Durham,_County_Durham>

After visiting the Rivergreen Centre in Durham this year, I was truly inspired and excited to discover just how well thought-out the building was. I was given a guided tour and even went onto the roof of the building to find a large roof garden. Some of the interior walls are constructed from compacted clay the others from timber.
Not only does the build have the WOW factor from both inside and out, but it has an ever growing habitat for all kinds of nature and wild life. I was informed by the care taker that the building won the 2007 sustainability award.

The Rivergreen Centre is a building where the philosophy of ‘low impact’ has underpinned all the design thinking throughout the development. Every element from structure, services, recycling and landscape derived from this thinking. The reception area acts as a clear focal point and the rammed earth wall and adjacent street give a strong reference point across the two levels of the office. This circulation spine has plenty of natural light, is extremely calming and an enjoyable space to be in. The conference room and even the cellular offices, with their natural timber windows and carefully thought through ventilation strategy, provide humane working environments.

http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAAwards/Winners2007/NorthEast/TheRivergreenCentre/TheRivergreenCentre.aspx