1 Angel Square, designed by the firm 3DReid for Manchester, England is a building set to revolutionize sustainability in the commercial building sector. Actually designed to become more efficient as the climate changes, right off the bat the building will deliver a 50% reduction of energy from the existing Manchester offices of The Co-operative, as well as an 80% reduction on carbon.
© Daniel Hopkinson
Among the many innovative features incorporated by the scheme, three stand out and exemplify the rest. The use of a buffered, double-skinned facade reduces the heating and cooling load of the building by creating an insulating air layer between the building’s interior and the outside elements and has been designed to be able to cope with a potential 3-5 degree increase in average summer temperatures.
© Daniel Hopkinson
Concrete thermal mass is employed throughout the building’s structure, sucking heat away from surfaces and inhabitants in the summer months while absorbing and slowly releasing this heat in the winter months. The utilization of a natural stack effect created within the massive central atrium for air circulation and ventilation negates the need for space-wasting extract risers in the core and is coupled with buried concrete tubular volumes which make use of naturally occurring geothermal preheating and cooling for incoming fresh air.
© Len Grant
The building will feature a high efficiency CHP power plant which makes use of locally sourced rape seed husks as a fuel. This power plant will provide energy for the building and and the surrounding development as well as power an electric car charging pool and an absorption chiller for additional building cooling.
Project info:
Architects: 3D Reid
Country: United Kingdom, Manchester
Area: 328000 ft²
Year: 2012
Photographs: Daniel Hopkinson, Trevor Palin, Len Grant
Manufacturers: Plexwood, RENSON, Alusommer, FastLane
Main Contractor: BAM Construction and Engineering
Structural Engineer: Buro Happold
Project Manager: Gardiner & Theobald
Quantity Surveyor: Gardiner & Theobald
Budget: £110 million
Mechanical & Electrical Services Engineer: Buro Happold
Matt Davis is a Virginia Tech graduate and one of the founding editors behind Arch2O. Launching the platform in mid‑2012 alongside fellow Hokies, he helped shape its identity as an international hub for design innovation and critical dialogue . With a foundation in architectural education and a passion for uncovering unconventional design approaches, Matt has contributed significantly—both editorially and strategically—to Arch2O’s growth, ensuring that emerging architects, academics, and creatives have a space to question, explore, and elevate the built environment.