engineering.
The project – designed for Railpen, with Socius as development manager, by architect AHMM – introduces a host of industry-leading green and smart features in addition to a BREEAM Outstanding specification, as part of Cambridge’s vision to become net-zero by 2030.
Botanic Place is a landmark commercial development that will further strengthen the city’s vast intellectual capital. This important scheme has now been unanimously approved by Cambridge City Council.
The site connects between the busy Hills Road and the adjacent, Grade II-listed Cambridge University Botanic Garden, which also contains the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning Sainsbury Laboratory (which AKT II has already designed).
The new development at Botanic Place will now introduce a pair of thermally efficient mid-rise buildings that will together provide a 70% reduction in operational energy usage when compared with traditional office stock. These will be powered by renewable sources.
The site’s extensive former car-parking will also now be replaced with a newly permeable public realm, while 1,500+ new cycle spaces will be provided as part of the site’s new basement: helping to move Cambridge onto sustainable modes.
Finally, the site’s existing and historic pub The Flying Pig will then be restored and renovated to become a 24/7 civic anchor for the entire, renewed urban quarter.
