No. 1 Riverside - Winning for Rochdale

Rochdale’s new municipal offices are a key component of the overall regeneration of the town. Not only that but the Riverside building on the site of the main former council offices and Yelloways bus depot is also proving itself as a clear winner.

No. 1 Riverside has just been awarded the British Council for Offices’ National Award for the best UK workplace of 2014, and best UK corporate workplace. As Phase 1 of the overall regeneration, the landmark building is a strong catalyst for future investment in the region, combining several former council facilities previously located at various sites and delivering around 28,000m² of local authority office space with a brand new public library, council customer services point and a café. The awards were presented earlier this month in London, and follow the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Building of the Year Award for 2013 received earlier this year.

RPS provided mechanical and electrical engineering design including construction monitoring, acoustics advice and BREEAM services consultancy for No. 1 Riverside.

The BREEAM Excellent building benefits from a biomass boiler, solar thermal panels, photovoltaic energy technology and mixed-mode ventilation. All these technologies compliment the strong sustainable credentials of the building. Use of more open-plan working and public spaces reduces overall energy use in the offices and public spaces as well as optimising accessibility and flexibility of use.